peaceonearth | Time is always on my side

Time is always on my side

Ruby hadn't gone into the case blindly. She knew she was facing a witch, but it was a witch she'd never heard of; a witch that wasn't that powerful or that old, so she thought. The with had been stealing bits of lives, but Ruby hadn't realized that the witch had been spooling up time, not life force. It was a complex and intricate distinction that she'd missed.

And missing it had cost her. The blast of power had knocked her out and Ruby hadn't immediately realized the full consequences of that. She'd woken up disoriented and had thought she'd been moved. Her head ached, but she'd gotten up. The condemned brownstone she'd been in wasn't condemned or abandoned anymore. She could hear people upstairs, one of them snoring loudly. She rubbed at her head and did a quick scan of the downstairs. The family cat gave her a disinterested stare, yawned, and went back to sleep. Where ever the witch had moved her, it was somewhere she wasn't.

Her car wasn't outside and her phone wasn't working. She had to walk a couple of blocks before she found a bodega on the corner. She popped inside, bought a cup of coffee for far more than she'd expected to pay, and that was when she started to panic. Even when she'd confirmed that she'd somehow been unconscious for fifty years, she didn't immediately understand what was going on. After several hours and a great deal of research on a computer in a library (thank Jack those were still around), she'd figured out that it was a time spell that had blasted her into the future. She had very little money and very few resources. She googled Sam Winchester and was rewarded with Dr. Sam Winchester's office number and address. She also discovered he was married to one Ruby Winchester, who still seemed very much alive.

One bus ride later (and the rest of her money), she stood at the office entrance to Dr. Samuel Winchester's house. She peered through the side windows and didn't see anyone in the waiting area. She wasn't sure if he had a receptionist or not. She'd already decided that if he did, she'd tell her that she was related to Dr. Winchester's wife. She pushed open the office door and stepped inside. A bell sat on the counter, but rather than ring it, she decided it was best to give Sam a little bit of warning and called out 'Hello, I'm looking for Samuel Winchester.'

Of course, he'll probably enter the waiting area with a weapon, which is why she puts her hands up immediately.

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Sam had told her she could call him if things went awry. Witches always made him nervous as he learned the dangers of black magic when he opted to become one. Though if he were to be more honest with himself, he was worried about Ruby going out on her own ever since the scare with the vampire ripping open her stomach. The old magic of the witch Ruby was hunting would be the least of his problems. His problems started when his messages and calls to Ruby had started to default to an unlisted number.

There wasn't much he could do to reach her so in a panic he called his parents to fill them in. "Ruby went on a hunting trip. She hasn't been home in a few days... Mom, her phone number is disconnected."
----
Fifty years in the future had seen inflation sore, but Sam and Ruby had very much remained constant in each other's lives. Of course the house had some renovations, including the addition of his office facing the back of Bobby's former junkyard. There were signs and a path welcoming patients walk around; glass windows from top to bottom so the office wasn't entirely private. However, the curtains closed to give it some privacy as his listed office hours were reaching an end. The door was still unlocked for Ruby to open it and close it behind her. Samuel hadn't expected anybody but upon hearing her call out, he opted to tell her to take a seat from the room next door to it. "I'll be right out." Of course as soon as he said that, he realized with some certainty that voice had been his wife's.

Contrary to what she assumes, he steps through the threshold without any noticeable weapon. If he needed, there was one just a few feet away hidden under his desk. He knew it couldn't be his wife as Ruby had run out with their son on some errands. Getting a good look at Ruby, younger with long hair again, stopped him in his tracks. Compared to her, his age was showing with greys at the side of his ears where the frames of eyeglasses clung to his face. "State your business here or leave before you do something you will regret." That was the only warning he'd give.

Melissa Smith had been asleep when Sam had called, but she'd immediately woken at the sound of his panicked voice. She sat up, reaching over blindly to alert Theodore that Sam something was wrong. He's a little slower to rouse as Sam explains to his mom what's going on.

"Okay, call the bunker and get them working on it. Your dad and I will head that way. Tell me what she was working on." Because obviously, they're going to be there with him. She's already up out of bed and throwing things in a bag as she continues to talk to Sam.

----

"It's me, Sam. The first time you helped me when I was hurt was Halloween. You were 17 and you'd been at a party with your friends. You were dressed as Clark Kent. I called because I'd dislocated my shoulder on a hunt. You came over and popped it back. You almost kissed me. I almost let you and we watched movies the rest of the night." She pauses, giving him a moment to absorb that. "I was hunting a witch that I thought was stealing life force. I think she was stealing time. She blasted me with a spell, knocked me out and I woke up...here. Now? I need help getting back to my Sam."

Edited (dad's name) 2022-08-11 00:53 (UTC)

The sound of the answer machine picking up so he could leave his message had made his heart sink a little, but his voice didn't crack until his mom caught him speaking mid-way into it. She was every bit as calming as he needed her to be. Deep breathes, she said. Start from the beginning. He ran through events as best as he could without racing back to the fact Ruby wouldn't just drop her number. He fills her in about the witch that had been taking about and the notes Ruby left behind.

Rather than get off the phone with her, he puts her on speaker and texts the bunker at the same time. He informs her of this, taking in another steading breath.
---
Time is a finicky thing, but as Ruby describes all these memories they come back to him as if they were just yesterday. He really had been close to kissing her that night had she not stopped him. The whole time they watched that movie together, he had trouble keeping his thoughts down. Would she have kissed him if he wasn't too young? That was drawing a line, of course. Or maybe she didn't think of him like that. He had been so uncertain of where they stood as his memories were only just catching up with him at that tender age. She's not wrong to let him absorb it. What's more is that he does start to remember the summer where she had vanished and Ruby had simply explained it in a way that spoilers would effect the timeline. Things were starting to make more sense. He remembered his mother's words from that time. Breath.

"I believe you. I...I never told anyone about what happened during that Halloween. But you're going to have to refresh my memory. What year was that? Let's start there." They could start there. Time magic was never precise so if they wanted to get her back as close as possible to when she left, they would need to start there. "We need to find an item that has strong ties to the year your from. That's already going to be a problem." He knows Ruby understands magic. It doesn't need to be said that the item must have focused magical qualities too.

He starts by pulling one book and another and another from his shelves as he moves around the room. Once he thinks he has everything related to time, Sam ends up sitting on his patients couch with room just enough for her to sit beside him. He looks at her expectantly, asking her to join him with just his eyes. He watches her closely for the things that are the same and the things that have changed in the last thirty years. Her nineteen year old appearance remains the most jarring thing about her presence. He diverts eye contact for a split second before she sits to sort out the look that he must have on his face.

Memories are funny too; they can fade to almost nothing then come back in a rush with a smell or a sound or with prompting. Ruby knows that's been a long time for Sam, but she had to pick a strong, important memory as well as one that he wouldn't share with anyone (save maybe Gus, who had proven he could keep secrets). Of course, she doesn't (yet) know how she handled this in her time, but she'll be pleased to know she gets back to her time. For all she knows, she's stuck here and she will have missed out on thirty years with Sam. Worse yet, he would have to live thirty years without her.

"We just moved into the penthouse a few months ago." So yes, finding a magical item with great importance is going to be difficult. So much of those things were lost in the fire. She gives Sam the date and year of the day she'd gone to hunt the witch. "I don't know the exact time, but if we can get anywhere within a few days, Sa-you'll be okay."

Ruby does some looking around while Sam is pulling books off the shelf. In an act of pure willpower, she turns the photograph frames on his desk face down without looking at them. She smirks a little sadly at Sam. "You like Sci-Fi. I've seen and read a few stories about time travel. You really should stick to romance. It turns out much better in those."

Without hesitation, Ruby sits next to Sam. This is easier for her; he's always just Sam to her no matter how old or young he is. She bumps his shoulder with hers and lets her knee brush his. "Hey. I'm still me and you're still you," she says quietly.

The wedding ring on his finger indicates much to her never going missing for thirty years. As for these memories, he never even shared them with Gus. There was something deeply personal about trying to kiss Ruby and being told to wait. Sam has no trouble remembering the penthouse either as that time had been comforting again after a traumatic ordeal and the extra luxury in their lives had made sense with Ruby to show all the reasons why it did.

The more Ruby provides about his past, the easier it is for him to relax around her. If it was a trick, it wasn't like any one he encountered in either of his lives. Sam picks up a notepad from the table and starts scribbling down the important dates of everything Ruby can come up with; the year, the mouth, penthouse, everything. He turns his eyes up to her, a sympathetic smile on his face. "Let's start with the mouths after moving into the penthouse. You still made things for hunters, as I recall. Anything magical that you ended up keeping?" He pauses because she's clearly worried about the college aged Sam she left behind. He's touched. "There are people that help me get through it," he tells her after some consideration.

Facing the photographs down should have been the first thing he considered doing, but at his age, it slipped his mind. Most had been removed by his wife anyhow to reframe them. Pure coincidence? As he watched Ruby move around out of the corner of his eye, he realized it was likely intentional on his wives part. The frames on his desk in particular only had the girls and the family dog in them. DJ and familial photographs had been removed from the room. He smiled at Ruby's will power though, the care she had for not breaking time more than she needed to. "You seem to be following the lessons you learned from time travel anyway. What you should already know is that my romantic life is doing fine." He is definitely telling things will be okay in the end. There's just an uncertain road from A to B to get her back there.

Her words help him remember that simple truth. It's never been hard to be around her. He can tell her anything. He can be himself. He sighs as if to let go the rest of his pent up caution in the situation. "I'm sorry. You're right. Can you say 'there's a first time for everything.' There's a few things you should know. There's a whole lot of people around this weekend for a reunion and we need to be careful. Keep out of sight. But you don't have to worry about me helping you. We'll get you home."

Well for all she knows she went missing for 30 years and he married someone else. Of course, she'd hope that wasn't the case, but she couldn't blame him if it were. It's a good time in their lives and Ruby wants to get back to it. She's glad that he remembers it fondly.

She paces a little as Sam writes down the details. She rakes her hand through her hair, a spot on the back of her head still tender when she touches it. If she were human, she'd probably have a concussion. She shakes her head at his question. "I don't think so. Right now it's mostly protection pieces. I don't have all of my stuff for powerful pieces I'd keep." She adores Sam. Her Sam, this Sam, but she also knows how he functions without her and it's not good. Of course, she's worried about him. She looks up at Sam at his reassurance and takes a deep breath to steady herself. "Okay." She stops herself from asking too many questions, but she wants to. Badly.

Probably not a coincidence. Ruby can see herself leaving reminder notes for herself in places she'd have found them recently or making a note on a digital calendar to remind herself. Of course, she doesn't know that she took most of the photos. At his reassurance about his romantic life, her gaze flickers to the wedding ring on his left hand and back up to Sam. She grins, feeling a bit better about things at his words. "Well, that's disappointing. I should hope you'd describe your romantic life in my time much more than fine," she teases.

"As long as we're doing the firsts together," she says because she likes being his first everything, including his first time travel experience. Her brows go up at his reveal of the weekend plans. "A reunion? What kind?" She doesn't comment on staying out of sight because she's got every intention of preserving the time line as much as possible. She loves her life and she wants it to stay that way.

He could never marry someone else even if it were the case that she went missing 30 years ago. It could be the reincarnated soul of Jessica and he still wouldn't be able to move on. But it's a fair assessment to think he might have married someone else. Unfortunately, there's only so much he can hint at. It was up to Ruby to draw her own conclusions from his words. He doesn't try to think about how much it hurt when she went missing either. He remembers the confusion though as it's similar to seeing her show up looking younger but in a contrasting way. His younger self doesn't know where she is, his older self misses the years her physical looks have grown more beautiful. "Are you hurt?" he asks, noticing her touch the back of her head. It's almost second nature when he glances at the first aid kit on the wall, but he quickly recalls this version of her is still a demon. She's built differently. "We'll think of something. There's always something," he assures her. "But we should look at the protection pieces just in case. They're all over this house right now." He leans forward briefly to pull one out from under the table. "This one?" He'd of course be lying if he told her that he slept easy during those nights when she disappeared, but he hadn't. Those nights were the hardest for him in his life to get rest. His mother had to give him herbal tea to help. (Little did he know that she actually dosed him with a natural sleeping aid.)

Some days Sam wouldn't have the shirt on his back if it weren't for his amazing wife working around his busy schedule. Ruby has a habit of being there when he needs her and helping make sure life doesn't unravel. He makes a mental note to thank her. Surely the universe wouldn't unravel by tipping Ruby off on his romantic life. The ring is the same one Ruby kept of him and for him all those years ago. He rolls with her words, taking them as a joke with a simple laugh. "Poor choice of words, sorry. There's lots of words I would have said about it 30 years ago and still would. But like you pointed out, time travel is not fun."

"Or seconds. We've done a few firsts together twice over," he says fondly. There's only one other time he had a travel experience and that was previously in his former life. However, Ruby was the first time traveler to visit him. It's hopefully a small enough detail that he can get away sharing the weekend plans. The threat it was to Ruby coming in and out was more prudent. "Celebration of a birthday. A lot of close family from all over are staying close by for the weekend shindig." It's best she doesn't. Sam felt his heart almost squeeze but what he couldn't tell her was the party was for their son turning 16. That boy would be such a big part of her world and his.

On one hand, Ruby would want him to be happy, but she's jealous enough to also *not* want him to marry someone else. There's enough of familiar scent about Sam paired with his words and his body language for her to guess that he's still married to her. She regrets the pain and confusion Sam went through while she was gone (or will go through as the case may be) but it's hopeful that he's here and not treating her like he hasn't seen her in 30 years. It means she got back. Somehow. They just have to figure the 'how out now. "I'm fine. I hit my head and it's tender, but no blood. No blurry vision or dizziness," she lists off the symptoms of a concussion. She's helped him study often enough that she knows them by heart. She takes the protectioon piece he offers and looks it over, judging by feel more than anything. She shakes her head a little. "I don't think this one is old enough. I don't use this sort of thread." She pauses a moment. "Yet? But if you think it's from anywhere near that time, it's worth keeping in mind." She'd rather miss a few mnths (years) than miss 30. She'll be gla to find out that he stayed with his parents during this time. Sam doesn't do well alone. She can see him getting focused and forgetting to eat and sleep.

She does recognize that ring, but it's his easy laughter and words that help reassure her more than anything. Her Sam wouldn't be able to hide from her if he were married to someone else or if things weren't good between them. She likes to think he hasn't changed that much. "Better answer," she responds, pleased with his words.
She smiles nostalgically. "A few," she agrees. With any luck she'll be the last time traveller to visit him. She hesitates then nods. "Okay. I don't have much cash on me and obviously I can't use my credit cards or my phone, but if you'd like I can disappear for the weekend. Come back on Monday?" She glances around the office. "Ooooor if you're not working this weekend, I can stay here. Load me up with books and a notebook, I won't snoop. Much," she jokes.

He never would if that were the case. He'd somehow end up with a lot of dogs over finding someone else to fill that space in his life. He uses a lot of his wife's products. That might be why? Of course over time Ruby has made new scents and better products. His curls are a testament to that. The pain and confusion of her disappearance will be nothing to the flood of emotions that come following her return (in this case, also yet to happen the version of himself waiting for her.) He quietly assesses her pupils for focus and nods. "If there's anything you'd like me to look at, let me know." he can't help but be concerned for her wellbeing. "I'm not sure who made this one," he chuckles. "There's a lot of them around the house and I honestly never kept track." Funnily enough Ruby (his wife) was more or less responsible for the protection upkeep. "Give me some time and I can gather more of them." Neither would be the same had it ended up 30 years or a few months. Other than his parents, Ruby is the biggest part of his life.

He's never been able to lie to her as his body language gives everything away. He's glad she can see through what he can't say and find reassurance. He was never good at playing hide and seek with her when he was a toddler either. He was much too curious about what she was doing to keep himself from poking his head out. All that still applies, now and every day. He's a little closer to how he was in his first life, but really there is not much difference there either. She's not changed much with her sense of humor either. "Always aim to please," the words slip out before he can stop himself. No matter the time between them, talking with her is easy.

"Stay here," he insists. It's as much her home as it is his. Rather there's enough room to accommodate her and he'd like to have her close despite the risks. "Nobody is going to come in here over the weekend. There's a couch; I can grab a blanket and pillow from upstairs. Plenty of room to make yourself comfortable. Only... Snoop when we're asleep. The library is where Bobby's office, my old office used to be."

They're doing their job then because he looks very good. She'll recognize those products when she goes to take a shower. She half smiles at his offer and nods. "I think the real intended damage has been done." Of course, that also leaves the matter of the witch stealing time from people still in the past. She hopes Sam is careful if he tries to deal with her. Ruby turns the protect charm in her fingers. "I might have. Later," she says because she does recognize some of the work, but the material she used is slightly different. "Okay," she agrees. Right now, finding something magical and important is their best bet. "Do we still have a storage room of magical items? That might be a good place to look too."

His words make her smirk and she sighs in dramatic relief. "One of my favorite things about you. Glad that hasn't changed," she jokes back. It is easy being with him, but right now it's also very different. She's keenly aware he's not her Sam yet and she's doing an excellent job of keeping her hands to herself. It's not even something that's on her radar right now. She's focused on getting back to her Sam.

She nods, relaxing and clearly relieved that he's not going to chase her out. "Okay. Once the house has gone quiet, I'll go there and see if I can find anything. You can leave anything out there you think might be useful if you can't bring it here for some reason." She glances around the office to find a stack of notepads. "Is it okay to use your computer for searching things. I promise not to google us. Just things related to time spells. Girl Scout's honor." She wants him to feel comfortable knowing that she's got no intention of messing up his life here or her future.

His face is sometimes the model for her products. He matches her energy with deeper concern lingering in his eyes. He knows exactly what she means. "It doesn't mean that I can't try to make you comfortable while you're here. If you need anything, anything at all - just ask." Sam has his parents and a network of hunters in the past to make sure he doesn't do it alone. He was raised with a greater sense of community that he won't attempt to either. The same applies now. Working with Ruby is all he knows. He glances briefly to the charm in her hand then back to her. "You could be right." Had it been the girls own work, the stitching would have not been as nicely done. He also had been aware that (his) Ruby set up his office security herself. "In a few spots actually." He rubs the back of his neck. "The most dangerous stuff is in the panic room in the basement and the protective items are upstairs in the bedroom closet. You can cover the basement, I'll cover the bedroom?"

"That right there is what I like most about you," he compliments her in turn. What he means can be taken anyway she likes. For the most part, he likes when she pushes past the crap she must be feeling (in this instance at least) to make things right again. The goal is definitely making sure she gets back and experiences the life she deserves with him. It's easier to do that when she reminds him to be light.

He visibly smiles seeing her relax in her own home. "I'll bring it all in here for you if I can," he adds to her idea. No one will think twice about him pulling some things into his office during the weekend, certainly not Ruby or DJ. He glances back to his main laptop on the desk. "You can use the one over there. My password is the same one as it was in College." The numbers of Ruby's phone. "There's not much you will find on the internet anyway." He tilts his head in thought "Other than a 'what are they up to' article and so on." The world was still obsessed with what big money individuals did. Most of it didn't pertain to him as his parents were still alive and well. He has every bit of trust in her not to go looking where she shouldn't now that she was aware of the party.

As it should be. She half smiles at Sam and nods. "If you get the chance, I wouldn't say no to fries, but only if it's not an imposition." She really doesn't want to inconvenience him any more than she already has and will in her quest to get home. True, stitching wasn't something she made the girls practice the way she'd had to practice embroidery when she was human. Setting up the security for his office and their house seems exactly like something she would do. After all, she's done it in the penthouse back home as well. She nods at his suggestion. "Assuming the panic room hasn't changed, I'll start tonight."

She can't help but smile genuinely at the compliment and she bumps his shoulder with hers. After a moment, she puts her head on his shoulder. "I'm glad you were here. I don't know how I would handle this without you." It's a little show of vulnerability and the chaos that she's feeling underneath that defense mechanism she's got set up. Later when he's gone she'll probably have a little breakdown and be fine by the time he sees her later.

"I'm glad you keep a low profile and that you're predictable," she tells him teasingly, a fondness in her voice that takes any sting out of the words. "I'll hang out here, read, do some research, watch some tv when my brain starts to dribble out of my ears." She glances at her watch and back at him. "You should probably be getting to dinner." Even if she doesn't eat, she knows he needs to and presumedly he has her waiting on him to pick at his plate. "Will I see you later tonight?"

"The party is tomorrow. If you can wait a while, there will be plenty of food for you to choose from." Nothing as simple as fries is an imposition, and he'll do almost anything for her anyway. "More immediately though, I can have hashbrowns for you in the morning." The girls had their own interests in which they nurtured. Embroidery wasn't one of them. They still had successful marriages even so. Dated world views never could stop them. Never a day passes that he isn't grateful for having Ruby in his life. He nods. "It's more demon friendly now so you can step inside." He will have to share the how later. A blood spell he created tied to Ruby's blood is what allows her and their half demon to step inside. He doesn't think twice about her shoulder touching him, bumping hers back with equal measure. What she will find is that her head resting on his shoulder doesn't scare him; rather it encourages him not to move for many moments, only sit there and breathe and listen to her voice almost as if it was in his ear. From what he can guess, it brings her comfort. "You'd find me anywhere," of which he is certain. The only thing he is certain he can't do is take away all her pain and he feels that heavily already. "I'm glad you were able to get here. I should be able to set you up with anything you need, just ask."

Ruby isn't wrong about that, which makes him chuckle. He is very predictable and he likes outcomes to be more certain. There is no sting as Ruby's tact is something he is used to and finds oddly charming. "There's an AC unit for that," he jokes back with her. "I find some reading material more to your tastes so that doesn't happen." Of course he'll check over the printing dates but there are some old novelettes he can pull. He agrees with her assessment of the time with saddened eyes. "It's about that time, yes." Sometimes his wife is gracious enough to do the dishes for him. They make an effective, domestic team despite their strengths in hunting and practicing medicine. "I'll see if I can pop back in," he promises before he leaves the room.

Later in the evening only works out for a brief stop in, but true to his word, he brings her a small stack of romance. He comes later in the morning with a plate in one hand and his other keeping the door from swinging too widely. "Are you decent? I brought you hash browns with ketchup and a fruit cup." He doesn't know her situation too well but time travel always had a way of depleting the energy of those that experienced it (ie. Cas wasn't immune to the effects of time travel).

"Cake and ice cream?" she says hopefully. "Seriously though, I'm not going to starve to death. Don't worry about me." Marriages aren't dependent on things like embroidery now anyway. He should tell her that at some point because, at this point in his life in her time, she worries that he'll regret not going for something more normal. This situation right now is proof that life with her won't ever be normal (even if she is human). "That will make things much easier," she tells him. Once she sees and feels the security system in the panic room, she'll definitely have questions about the spell. Being close to him gives her a great deal of comfort; it always has, and she's grateful he doesn't move away or exhibit any signs of discomfort at her closeness. She huffs a little in amusement at his confidence in her. "It's my specialty," she agrees. Even in this lifetime when he doesn't have a drop of demon blood in him, she can find him. "I will, but you know I don't need much." Only ever him. She can get by without everything else.

She half smiles a little at him. "I'm sure I'll be fine. I still prefer the heat." Her body is very much alive, but she's always gotten cold easily. "Hmmm, I'll make sure not to write in the margins," she teases him. There probably isn't a lot of harm in her reading trashy romance novels from the future, but she doesn't blame him for sticking on the safe side. She nods. "I'll be okay if you can't," she assures him. She can't help wanting him close though.

The stack of romance novels is appreciated. By the time he gets back, she's got a notepad full of her loopy handwriting and a headache that's probably from the blow to her head but is exacerbated by the study. She accepts the books gratefully as well as the blanket and pillow. She plans to spend the rest of her evening curled up on the couch with her books. In actuality, she falls asleep for several hours before she sneaks down to the panic room to pilfer through some of the things there.

She hears Sam heading her way before he opens the door and slides into her jeans; she's buttoning them up when the door swings open. "As decent as I ever get," she greets him. She practically groans at the sight of the food. "You know it's your fault I like hashbrowns," she greedily accepts the plate from him, noting that he hasn't forgotten strawberries are her favorite. "Everything go okay last night?" she means with her more than with the information gathering, but that too.

"How does ice cream cake sound?" It was going to be a big party and their son insisted the cake was the best of both worlds. The noteworthy thing about that? DJ and Ruby were very similar in matters of taste. "Right. No. I know you're not going to starve, but I'm being polite." He might have actually forgotten on a subconscious level that she didn't need to eat as well. It's better for society that marriages don't rely on embroidery or musical ability anymore. Sam would be disgusted by a world that would treat Ruby or his girls as baby making factories. Normal isn't what he wanted when he chose to marry her anyway. He opens his mouth but immediately closes it. Some things he can't share. He sighs at having to hold his tongue. "Let me know if you need help finding anything." There was a lot in the panic room and his system wasn't the same as the one he used in college. There was one point where she did make him uncomfortable but that was already another lifetime ago. His confidence in her comes from decades or centuries of knowing her. "One of many," he weighs in. It was never the demon blood that strongly connected them to each other. It was their souls. "That's besides the point. Anything, anything at all." There was still a line to that promise but the deeper meaning included his own company.

His smile drops for half a second before reappearing as if it hadn't. "I'm sure you will be too. There's enough in this room alone to keep you from becoming bored at least." It is a reminder that this was the first night away from him for her and she would spend it without him. She would have to. The thirty something beauty he married would be colder without him. "Please don't. I can get you a notepad to write on if you need it. The walls are off limits too." Notes and Ruby were just two things he knew that coincided. His offer was genuine and teasing. He's glad she understands that he is being cautious with the timeline. There's a lot to protect even without sharing as much. "I'll do my best," he tells her.

If she will allow him when he comes to poke his head in for a few moments, he'll spend a moment absorbing some of her notes. Nothing as changed. There are some things that give him some ideas of their next moves and some ideas that are more reserved for the bedroom (not with her, not yet anyway.)

His footsteps would be all too familiar to her with a quickened pace to the door (the location where she always is) and then a slow half step to allow her a moment to dress. He doesn't immediately look at her when he enters out of respect. "Fair enough" he looks at her state of dress. Everything that should be covered up is to maintain the boundaries of their past and future relationship. He hands the food over delicately. "Your point? " He muses with a sheepish grin. He wanted to make sure she knew the good in the world wasn't just fries and ketchup. "No one questioned me, if that's what you're asking. Did you get a look in the panic room?" Unfortunately, he can't tell her about her. He does nod if that helps answer the unspoken question of his wife being filled in (safety).

"Like the best of both worlds," Ruby responds about the ice cream cake. Similar tastes and opinions about food. She half smiles at him. "I appreciate it. The politeness and the food and you being you." She hopes not. Eventually, she comes to accept that, but her Sam is 20 years old with his entire life ahead of him. She nods a little, agreeing with that sigh and the way he holds his tongue. She gets it and she hates it. "If I can figure out what I'm looking for, I will," she promises. She takes a deep breath at his offer, knowing there's a limit to that offer and knowing neither of them will cross that line. She does lean in and kiss his cheek. "Best. Boyfriend. Ever. Nerd," she whispers against his skin before pulling back.

She definitely not looking forward to spending the night without him and she worries even more about him spending the night without her. That being said, she wouldn't ask him to stay with her overnight, not knowing that he's got a family (and suspecting that it's her). "No walls. No books," she promises. Writing helps Ruby think. Typing on a computer isn't the same thing. She still writes on his skin as well. In fact, he's probably got a faded 'Ruby' on his forearm back in her time.

If he didn't look over her notes, she would request that he look them over and give her his thoughts on them. At least two of them will have fun? It's entirely possible that she'll write Her Sam a letter at some point in the night (she'll probably also leave this Sam a letter in his desk but a different sort of letter).

She would have said something if she weren't covered up though she did sleep just her tee shirt. "You do always introduce me to the best things." She nods a little in response to his reassurance that no one questioned him. Of course, she wouldn't question him though; there's no question that she remembers this time in their lives. "I did," she says with a disappointed sigh. "You've got very cool toys, but none of them that were around thirty years ago, at least not in my possession. Did you think of anything?"

He smiles almost helplessly because that's something DJ would say also. Of course there's so many similarities between mother and child. It's a shame she can't know the true extent of it. "I think you know you're always welcome. I'm glad you came and found me." He allows himself to slip and smiles in that way that shows she is the world to him. It's an unfortunate byproduct of the timeline they need to uphold that he can't do more than smile. It eats away at him more than he can say. "I'll keep my mind on it, too." He nods. Neither her kiss nor comment cross that line that he finds himself simply suckered into leaning into it. Rather than say she has a way with words, he shows it by placing a kiss to the hand he steals from her side.

The hardest thing for him is realizing that Ruby has to spend it alone when all those years ago he had his parents to help him through. It simply isn't easy to have to choose her over her but they both seem to have an understanding. "Thank you for your understanding." He'll bring her as many notepads as she needs.

Looking through her notes is just a given at this point. He's curious to know what thoughts she had to share. Factually, the notes they gave each other were like their own conversations. Either Sam will read those letters with a keen fondness for the writer that left them. In any fairness, if she were still in only her tee, he would respectfully keep his eyes up. "I'll bring you more food to try out before we figure out how to get you home," he promises. Many, many years down the road, she can also realize that the food he brings her will be that of their son (from the birthday cake to desserts their boy made himself.) He shakes his head. "Not anything more than last night. It might take a while but we'll brainstorm together. There's always something that will come up." He has faith.

There will be times in her future when she wishes she knew even a scrap about DJ because it would make the journey to having him easier. However, if she knew maybe they wouldn't try as hard and maybe he won't be born at all. When she does discover all those ways that her son is like her, it will be a delightful surprise. It's comforting knowing that the way Sam responds to her doesn't change. It makes this feel more familiar and less terrifying. She curls her fingers into the palm of her hand when he kisses her and lets it end there when she would push things further if this were Her Sam.

She gives him a soft smile and nods. She doesn't like it, but she understands. Besides, she's got work to do and thinking to do.

Sometimes there are side conversations in the margins of their notes even. He really is the best husband. "Don't take it personally, but I hope you have very little time to bring me anything," she smiles at him. She'll realize it some evening watching Sam and DJ cooking, possibly even when DJ is a little kid. Ruby moves to stand next to Sam, looking down at her notes, her brow furrowed. She taps her fingers against the desk. "Did you move anything to the bunker when we moved here?" She's trying to think of places where they might have something stored away from thirty years ago.

That's the danger in her finding out even a shred of their son's existence. It would be much more devastating to them (the Ruby) in the here and now if DJ started to vanish before their eyes and the memories slipped away until there was nothing but a sense of emptiness without a memory as to why. DJ and her will be close to make up for the pain Ruby (past version) will eventually go through. So much has actually returned to the ways things were the first go around of their marriage. He can't help but ignore the indications and clues his behaviour is giving away. He takes her signal to return to the task at hand.

Getting her home.

It's those small conversations that bring a smile to his features often. Conversations with Ruby on paper always seem real in his head. "I think I understand what you mean." From her, it comes across as a little sexy. His Ruby will find his attention on her is a little more than other nights where he might be tuckered out from work. Of course he retires to bed only after showing affection every night either way. Their shoulders brush against one another and he keeps turned to his side, eyes on her and ears open to questions. "Everything as far as spell books and records. All the original copies of things are locked up tight in the bunker," he answers. "In terms of magical items, some are locked upstairs, and the girls have some relics and heirlooms they took."

She's not willing to take that chance for a little bit of peace of mind. At least her pain (their pain) has a positive outcome. They were happy in their first marriage; Ruby hopes they're as happy in their second with a lot less hunting drama.

Ruby is certain she appreciates that at any point in her future or past. She wonders if she talks with him about this, about what's happening, about how she felt. "Will you bring me what's upstairs?" She sighs at Sam's words. "Okay. I have an idea for a spell. I'm going to have to create it, but I'm pretty sure it'll work. I'd like to find a couple of things from my time so I could run a test. Send a note back to you then you can tell me if you found it. If I can send a letter back, we can send me back together. I'm going to need an inventory of the things the girls have. Are they coming up for the birthday party? They could bring what they have."

The party is being held outside and despite having many things to do to get ready for it, Sam has been relatively attentive. The girls are supposed to bring a few things that she thinks might have potential. She's antsy and can't stand being locked in Sam's office so she's outside in a bunch of bushes watching the party from afar. Sam had brought her a blanket to sit on and a promise to bring her a plate later. She's got her notebook as well and she scribbles on it occasionally. The appearance of her girls had prompted her to write them short notes for Sam to give them later. They haven't aged much since she saw them last. She watches the birthday boy from afar, mostly catching his back as h speaks to Ariel. He's got to be one of the greats because he looks far too much like Sam and has way too many of his mannerisms to be anything else. Winchester genes run strong.

They do talk about this in the past and into the future and sort out her feelings about what's happening. He'd do anything for her within reason but her words tell him she's saying something else. "When it's light out and everyone is outside, we can go upstairs together." He offers. No one knows better what she needs than herself and his age, sometimes long lists come up short.

The girls hand him the things he asked them to bring when they arrive. By this point, Ruby of the future is more than aware Ruby of the past is lurking around as she and Sam have talked. His wife is more than aware to keep her distance so as to not erase herself. The birthday boy might even have the same laugh as Sam. Every so often his pleasure with the flirtatious eyebatting of Ariel or birthday song reveals a hint of how similar he is to his father for Ruby to accidentally compare. The party flies by and before long Sam shows up with a little of everything on a plate. "You weren't in the office and this is the second place I thought you would be," he notes with a hint of concern. Had she not been hiding in the brush, he would have worried she had gone.

Good. She probably needs to talk it out in order to really process it. Her Sam probably needs to talk about what he experienced as well. As much as she understands the need to stay hidden, she doesn't like the passiveness it forces on her. It does test her patience. "Okay.That might work better," than the list, she means. She goes on her tiptoes without hestiation to kiss his cheek as a thank you. He's not that old and he's still very sexy.

The girls hadn't asked why, but they were curious about the reason for the request; it's an odd one. It's something of a relief to past Ruby that she is aware. She might have a good suggestion seeing things from the other side. The birthday boy definitely has the same laugh, a fact that Ruby doesn't miss. She looks up when Sam approaches, a smile on her lips. It had been good for her to get out in the sun and fresh air. "Yeah. I decided this would be a good place to watch from afar." She takes the plate and pats the blanket next to her. She notes the concern and will try to make it up to him. "You'd better warn the birthday boy that Ariel will break his heart. She hasn't done any kind of serious relationship since her boyfriend died a hundred years or so ago."

He's known her for two-hundred years and knows that her patience must be wearing thin by now. The least he could do is see that she doesn't get caught by keeping her close. "In the meantime, are you planning to watch the party all night? I can keep you company for a while."

He won't hide what is going on from them forever. Little does he know Ruby wrote them letters that will help explain things later. Sam casts a glance back at the party in full swing. He does his best not to act as if DJ is a secret if Ruby has already seen him and not connected the pieces. He's concerned nonetheless. Seeing Ruby evading a bad case of cabin fever is a plus. "I'm glad you didn't go far." His way of saying he would be worried if she had. The blanket on the ground explains where it had gone when he had checked his office. He carefully sits down next to her because he's old enough where his muscles might twist in an awkward way otherwise. "A tragedy, really. I will let him know." One day in the future, he might find himself asking Ariel to talk privately with him to ask that she let DJ down easy or be serious. He would let her know the rest isn't his business and he cares about her at the end of day as well.

He knows her well. She should be more patient by now. "Yeah. I think so. I've been caged up in the office too long. I'm starting to drive myself crazy." She smiles genuinely at his offer of company. "Best part of the party," she tells him.

It'll be years before she puts together all of the puzzle pieces she's seen today. Yes, DJ looks like a clone of Sam, but some of the greats resemble him as well, just as some of them resemble her. If she were here several years later when she and Sam had already begun trying for kids, she'd definitely put it together. "I would have told you if I intended to," she assures him. She doesn't want to worry him any more than she'd want to be worried. "It looks like a good party," she says once Sam has settled. She reaches out and takes a forkful of food off the plate he'd brought her. She takes a deep breath. "You look happy with your life." Her tone of voice and the carefully guarded expression on her face probably reveals to Sam alone how invested she is in his answer.

It's a trait that she never really grows into, fortunately for him: part of him also enjoys searching her out rather than hiding her away. "You're half right. The birthday song was the other half. He's sixteen now. They grow up so fast," he says fondly, easy to mistake as the words of a great great great grandfather.

Hopefully when she looks back on this moment, Ruby will remember what he said this night right here and now. There's so many greats that resemble all of them but there's just no love that can change the love for the children they've raised together. "Thank you." He is much more assured about hearing it from her. " He makes himself more comfortable on the ground with his older bones. He takes a deep breath and exhales after a moment, not divulging the small fact that it's been a number of years since he last tasted her sulphur lavender combination. "I couldn't ask for a happier life than this," he tells her honestly. He'd tell her more but he's almost certain looking sideways at her she can read from him that their life went back to the way it was before. They never stopped finding ways to be goofy with one another, took trips only either of them wouldn't deem as strange and kept each other engaged every single day without missing a beat. There was DJ there as well. Their adventures as a unit of three changed nothing.

And she enjoys being pursued as well. It's something that carries through their entire lives, both this one and the last. "Sixteen is a big age. Is he a good kid?" Definitely assuming he's a grandkid. Possibly a favorite. Maybe the son of one of their girls.

It's true though. She loves Sam at all ages and that includes this Sam. She doesn't want to cause concern. The deep breath doesn't strike her as odd in any way, though she does know that he is smelling her. It's something he's done often as long as she's known him. "Good. That's--that's good to hear." She watches him for a moment. "I don't know if you ever knew that I worry that you'll regret trading a very normal life for a life with me, a life that won't ever be completely normal." It's exactly the kind of life she wants with him.

There is some evidence that the girls have a close relationship with DJ in how they've been doting on or teasing him all night. "He's got a good head on his shoulders, for starters. Thinking about culinary school in the future." He can't tell Ruby that they plan to renovate the kitchen from Bobby's old standard one and add space to make it fitting for a beginner. Is he that bad at hiding it? Sam often tries not to give away more fondness for one in the family.

At best he can only hope she thinks of him the same way. His only clues are her tells which include that little faint smile she often doesn't even realize leads to her cat ate canary grin. It's not as long as the first yet he takes another whiff of her, holding it in for a few seconds before letting go. Best do the right thing and not forget he prefers a whole new scent now. Her words give him a thoughtful pause, however he doesn't allow it to be so long as to make her fret. "I think we had this conversation a long time ago," he starts, referring all the way back to their former life. "We decide what's normal." Did he just give away the future? By now, he's certain there's not much to hide about Ruby still being in the picture.

She smiles at his information about the birthday boy. "That reminds me of Dean. Though I'm not sure you could call anything he made culinarily," she jokes. It's only normal and natural to pick favorites even if people say it's not. They say that because it's what they think they're supposed to say and do.

He can be assured that she does. If things weren't complicated here, she'd be able to assure him of that with her actions, the way she's always assured him of her love for him. "I remember," she says quietly. Of course, it seems a bit more urgent now because he's had such a human (not hunter) life. He's not revealing any more of the future than she's already aware of just by watching him and her future self. "So far, I like our normal."

He notes how her smile is so similar to the one Ruby has today when DJ makes her proud. It's bittersweet not being able to share with her the birthday boy shares a nakesake with Dean. "His inspiration might have come from the stories I've told about Dean," he shares. "Dean did make a mean burger though." It's almost a trip down memory lane. There isn't a day he doesn't think about Dean but it's not very often Dean is the topic of conversation.

It definitely would put a damper on how comfortable he felt around her if she did act the same way as when she could easily tell him things by her actions. He barely can hear her whisper the words but he can lip read them all the same. He smiles, a mix of fondness and optimism. "It's not any different than I remember college being." Now that there's no use hiding the future, he's comfortable opening up. How things are like college she might wonder? He works about the same hours, always home for dinner and some time with family or alone.

Even with the different experiences, they are the same person. She can understand Sam's struggle though; if she were in his position, she'd want to spill everything about their lives. "He did," she agrees. "I've still got his recipes. I'm not much good at making those burgers though. I think it's because I don't have the patience."

She hopes he knows how she feels even without the actions or words. That makes her smile. "I'm not going to lie. College is fun," she teases, bumping his shoulder with hers lightly.

If their roles had been reversed, Sam would do his best not to let her slip up and spill everything. Even he is only known for so much will power. ~~Oops.~~ He smiles when she brings up the recipes and points to the plate in her hand. "That's one of those recipes right there." It isn't the burger but it is cooked by none other than Dean Junior himself. "The birthday boy made it for everyone." He's really careful not to add that it was last night as it might give more of an impression who DJ is.

He's a lot better at reading her now than he was before all his memories came back. He looks down then at her, remembering college fondly. He winks at her. "I can't lie and tell you that I don't miss how simple those days were. My favorite thing was remembering new things." There are still nights that she helps him out with work when he can't simply leave it at the door.

He's far better at the willpower thing than she is. His revelation about the recipe makes her smile broadly in an unguarded way that very few people see except for him. She takes a bite without further prodding, making an appreciative noise as she does, taking a moment to savor the food. "Mmm. I think he's got a future career as a chef. He might have done better than Dean." She takes another bite. "Or maybe he's just not as annoying, but that's an easy thing to manage."

The memories give him a lot more experience, and she's not the easiest person to read. She also might be a little protective of younger him (always him). She rests her head on his shoulder, quiet a moment before she confesses, "and I miss having you know all the ugly things about me and love me anyway." A slight smile tugs at the corners of her lips. "Maybe because of them."

She has her strengths as much as he has his. She needn't feel guarded around him but it never ceases to bring a lightness over his heart when he catches her at ease. Had she been the Ruby that belonged in this timeline, he'd have nudged her to share a bite or given her a knowing glance at how her noise sounds more than appreciative. "You might be right about that." Which part, he won't say. He feels already he's gone too far with fatherly pride and not unraveling time as they knew it. "Was there ever a time you didn't find Dean annoying?" Going down memory lane with her allows him to relax his mind again.

In some ways, he is jealous that his past self gets to learn Ruby's tells all over again. It's silly, he sighs wistfully. But he remembers all of it as if it were yesterday. He listens to her confession, taking easy breaths in and out. "No, not ugly. I wouldn't apply that word to the things I love about you." The last comment puzzles him. The party has made him tired. "Because of those days?"

She would have liked both of those things, but they would be awkward with her belonging to a different time. She would have responded instinctively and that wouldn't have been right for any version of them. Without an emotional investment in the birthday boy, she's happy enough to let it drop. She considers his question and responds, "when he was sleeping? No, he snored like a chainsaw then," she smirks. "Dean and I found our groove. Kind of siblings that maybe weren't sure they liked each other but loved each other anyway," she answers. "We both cared about you more than ourselves. That's what mattered."

She can actually understand that. She'd been so glad to be able to be a part of Sam's life growing up and get to know him from a different perspective. She lifts a shoulder, mulling over her words a moment. "Because of the dark things that made me...me," she answers, searching his expression to see if that cleared it up for him at all. "You--you don't know anything about when I wasn't a somewhat cuddly, tolerant of stupid people demon. You're still figuring out that you were responsible for turning me into a teddybear with a hard outer shell."

Fortunately, they can enjoy the little time they have together even with boundaries. He lets out a laugh as he could never forget that awful snore. "You insisted on our own room whenever possible," he recalled. She ought to know that he sees himself worthy of being cared about more than he used to but he would never say he's the only thing that mattered. He shakes his head just once but focuses on the sibling thing she mentioned. "You could say something like that. It took you two going out that one time and coming back with a black eye and busted lip to figure things out. Maybe it was a little before that. The bunker changed a lot of things for us."

He would be lying to say that he doesn't love seeing Ruby from two lifetimes and perspectives all the same. She's shaped his life as much as Dean, John and his other parents have. Sam already can sense her shoulder roll to mean her opening up about her past. "I remember what you shared that one time about Astaroth. I remember when I first met you at the graveyard. Whatever you were like before that, I never got the sense that you were out to start the end of the world for what that counts for. A hard outer shell is one description for what you were like. But not evil."

Ruby always appreciates the time she spends with Sam. "Can you blame me?" she asks in a teasing voice. She bumps his shoulder with hers lightly. "Besides, that snore wasn't the only reason I wanted our own room," she winks at him. She nods, going quiet for a moment. "In a lot of good ways." She smiles softly. "For the first time in a very long time for any of us, we had a home." She looks over at him. "And you let me be a part of it." There's gratitude to her tone of voice and expression. Her brow furrows a little. "Did you miss being on the road though?"

He knows her body language and expressions well. She chuckles slightly and shakes her head. "I might not have wanted to save humankind, but I never wanted to end the world. It has bubble bathes and fries; Hell definitely did not." She hesitates a little. "I guess you're right, though I've never thought about it. When I had the choice, I chose...morally grey which is mostly your fault," she points out. "I didn't even know about fries or incredibly sweet, tall men until I walked into that diner and stole your fries."

There was a time when they weren't attached to the knee, wasn't there? That life is so long ago now that Sam realizes he gets on with Ruby no matter where she's from. "I would never say that," he answers while glancing at her shoulder. She's taller with the heels than what he's currently used to. His Ruby wears sensible shoes now. "Definitely not. I seem to remember you preferred a little light reading." That's what they called it then. Dean certainly preferred it that way. He falls quiet as well and gives her room to say everything and himself the moment to answer thoughtfully. "At first, I thought so. But you and Dean and Cas and even Jack all ended up there, and that's what made it become home. Home is where family is." The bunker was just the base that made it happen. His smile is fond, thinking back on the memories, what they built and accomplished. He nudges Ruby right back.

He loves hearing her say that no matter how many (albeit few) he hears it. "I'll accept the blame for that. As for the rest, I think you said it better than I could. Your motivations still line up with what is right." His eyes have joy and a mix of amusement. He knows this is a hard topic for Ruby but reminding her is like complimenting her in their love language. "If you didn't care about more than you'd admit, you'd wreck havoc on this timeline already. But you're here. You made the choice not to step on any butterflies." He shakes his head with a chuckle at the last comment of hers. "Your only crime is that you still borrow from me without asking."

A very long time ago when they first met, but even then they had a hard time staying away from each other. One of the biggest reasons she wears the heels now is to be a little closer for kissing. Also, they look really badass. She smirks, chuckling softly at his comment about 'light reading'. She sobers again at his observation of home. He's right so she nods a little. "I don't think I realized that until I lost you the first time. I had the girls, but they had their own lives. I think I'm more of a pain in the ass than that. Surprise, I know. Home is where you are."

"Psshhh, I'm just selfish, Samuel. I want my life back and that includes the 30 years I've lost by jumping here," she assures him with a soft smile. She nabs a strawberry from his plate to illustrate his point and takes a bite of the strawberry, eyes fluttering closed as she takes a moment to savor it. "It's my way of flirting with you," she reminds him.

There was definitely a connection he couldn't piece together when they first met and over time he learned it was because they were both lonely souls. Heels or no, nothing could ever stop him from leaning down to bridge the gap in their heights. He wasn't trying to be funny by calling it light, but her chuckle has an effect on his lips turning upward at the corners. He listens to the details of her life following his death and holds back the solemness in his eye. "Home isn't complete without you too." Home for him will always come down to Dean and Ruby and their extended family that's grown along the way.

"We'll get you back, but for now let's take it a step at a time. Right now all we can do is eat," he smiles back while locking eyes momentarily before looking down at the food again. He finds that he isn't as full as he believed just moments ago. He picks up an apple slice but stops to watch her enjoy that strawberry a little too seductively. "You're enjoying this a little too much,'' he protests.

She's sure he had a great deal to do with her switching to more sensible shoes. He's always found their height difference charming. She likes the way he smiles because of her. She'd burn worlds for that smile. She nods a little because he's right. Home is the people around you more than the place. That being said, she's still got the deed for every home they've ever had: the bunker, Bobby's place, and the penthouse. She can't see a time when she'd ever get rid of them.

A smile tugs at her lips. "one of my favorite things to do with you," she says about eating. She can't help but get that cat ate the canary grin at his comment. She hadn't even been trying with that strawberry. She reaches out for another strawberry and twirls it between her fingers, her voice dropping a little to something husky. "I just really like strawberries," she responds then she actually puts efforting into making eating a strawberry look sinful.

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