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It was one of those days. One Avery was excited for. See, Avery just got out of college and she was celebrating both being free from college until her senior year and also officially turning 21. To celebrate the occasion, her and a couple friends went on a roadtrip to Texas so she could finally check something off her bucket list. Having a drink or two at Jensen Ackles’ Family Business Beer Company. Now Avery wasn’t the biggest fan of beer to begin with, she was more of a cocktail type of girl. Give her a Whiskey Sour or a Manhattan and she’d be set for the night. Beer is something she only really saw her dad drink or some of her older friends, like Nate. Even though he was 25, not too much older than Avery. Either way, Avery knew she’d have a good time at the brewery because even if she didn’t like the beer itself, she’d have her friends and some good food to get her through the day. “Y’all ready or you just gonna keep fixing your hair all day?” Nate yelled from the door. Avery rolled her eyes at him, letting out a breathy chuckle as she looked at Adrianna. They were all new friends, only knowing them for a few years but she loved each of them a lot.Adrianna, she met in college in one of her junior classes, it was something basic like Biology that Avery decided to take later in her college career and it seemed Adrianna had the same idea too. She had tanned skin, dark wavy hair, and a couple tattoos at the time. Now, she has more but besides the tattoos, she looks the same. Avery opened the door and let Adrianna walk out as she closed it as well. “Eat shit, Nate. It’s my birthday, I can fix my hair as I damn well please.” She rolled her eyes, starting to leave for the elevator. They got a nice hotel in Austin that, thankfully, wasn’t too far from the brewery. Now Nathan, Avery knew for the longest. Before she went to college, Nate was her boss at a retail shop she worked at. And, somehow, they became friends. Mainly because Nate likes bothering people and it just so happened that Avery’s name appeared on that list. The man was tall, as he said a nice 6’2 on a regular day and 6’4 on a good one. He had light skin, freckles, ginger hair, and a matching scruff on his chin. He looked like a nerd but intimidating at the same time because of his height. By extension, unfortunately, knowing Nathan came with knowing his friend Parker. Another basic, lanky, brunette white guy who gave off dad vibes somehow even though he was only a year older than Nate. They were a weird duo. But also, it made sense, they were both at their maximum weird when together.—-------Nate’s old truck got to the brewery fine, if by fine, one could say it made lots of weird noises and Nate had to keep turning the wheel ever so slightly to make sure it was straight then yeah…. Fine. Avery clamored out of the truck and breathed in the fresh air. It was musty in the truck too since it didn’t have a working AC anymore. “Please…. Get that shit fixed. I told you my brother could do it if you just bought him the parts but noooo.” Avery complained, running a hand down her face while her friend laughed.Nate smiled and patted the hood of his truck, “It adds to the charm, Ave, don’t like it? Could’ve taken your car.” He teased, nudging at Avery’s shoulders as they entered the barn-like building.“He’s never gonna change, thought you knew that.” Parker said as he rolled his eyes, letting Avery and Nate bicker in the background for a second as he found the group a table. They all sat down before he brought up the “real reason” they were there. “Now, Avery, what’re your chances of seeing the guy you came here for?” Adrianna let out a laugh but quickly covered her mouth.Avery narrowed her eyes at Parker, jaw clenching for a moment. “Very, very low. He’s usually only here for special events and I don’t think there’s any going on this week. But, uh, I wanted to come here regardless cause a lot of people say it’s good.” She explained, not nervous at all. Totally. Even though Avery knew the chances of seeing even a glimpse of Jensen was low, there was the nagging feeling of hope in the back of her mind. She’s been a fan of Supernatural for about six years or so but, never once, has she been to a convention. Although she caught Misha on his cookbook tour, he was very kind but she must’ve blacked out because she didn’t have many memories besides the pictures she took. Avery never had the chance to see Jensen in person even though she desperately wanted to when she was younger and would’ve done anything to get the chance. Now, while she still wanted to see him at the very least, it wasn’t the most important thing to her. Avery needed to get a job, or maybe continue her schooling as a graduate student. Having “Doctor” in her name always seemed pretty appealing.The girl adjusted her glasses as she looked at the menu, “C’mon, kids, we’re here for a reason. Not to bicker.” Avery interjected when she realized Parker and Nate were getting into a silly argument. Something she was sure Nate started because he found it hilarious just how easy it was to get Parker mad. “Alright, mom.” They responded, Nate rolling his eyes with a smile while Parker just stared at Nate with pseudo-hatred in his eyes.Adrianna shook her head, “It’s the straightness, it’s a disease. Makes ‘em like this.” Avery’s eyes widened as she let out a laugh, running a hand down her face.Eventually, though, the waitress came by and got their orders. She looked at the table before her eyes set on Avery, “Can I get your ID real quick?” Generally speaking, Avery did look the youngest.The girl was tall but had a young face with rounded cheeks, barely any lines on her face, and thick, winged eyeliner that kind of gave her away. Also, the dyed blue hair. But Avery was growing out her natural color so it was mostly just the tips.Avery nodded and quickly got out her ID, handing it over. “Birthday? Well, hope it’s a good one.” The waitress smiled, handing the ID back to Avery. “Those orders should be out soon, beer before the food because all beer is on tap.” She explained after asking if they’d been at the establishment earlier.—------The waitress, named Tess, put the order in the system and hummed before she went back to the distillery part of the brewery where they’d occasionally hold tours of the place. “Hey, Jay! We got a birthday.” She exclaimed, spotting the man fiddling with something by the big kegs. “Just turned 21 today.”The man shot up from where he was bending down and pursed his lips, “Is that even legal? Uh, actually, nevermind.” He ran a hand through his hair and set his “Family Business Beer Co.” hat on top of the messy hair. “And what would you have me do? Kiss their toes?” Jensen joked with a smile. He wasn’t that opposed to meeting fans, in fact, he liked to. Most of them were nice and really cared. But sometimes he just needed to get away from all the glamor, have some time to himself. And working behind the scenes in the brewery usually helped. “Awww, c’mon. She’s really pretty, if it counts for anything.” Tess teased. It’s no secret that Jensen’s been divorced from Danneel for a little while at that point, almost two years. And he didn’t date much. Jensen wasn’t stuck on her or anything, the divorce was mutual, he just hadn’t felt the need to date. No one, besides some fans who thought they’d get lucky, were really throwing themselves at Jensen anyway. Not that he’d want them to.Jensen shook his head at the younger lady, “It really doesn’t, kid. But if you want me to, I guess I should since you’re the boss.” He teased back.“Damn right I am.”—-------As promised, the beers and other ordered drinks came out first. Which added an extra…. Unknown variable to their conversation. It was the middle of the day but Nate could get drunk at any time and place. And he was a chaotic drunk, telling people he loved them, kissing random girls, smelling Avery’s hair, etc. He was a lot. So the other three knew they had to limit the other guy.“So, Ave, how’s the beer?” Nate asked with a smirk as he watched her take her first sip. He was pretty sure it was one called “Golden Age.”The girl hummed for a bit after tasting the first one. She got a flight of different ones, not wanting to get full sizes of all of ‘em just so she could have a taste of each. “Better than I expected but still…. Bleh. I’m still not a beer girl.” Avery laughed before Nate grabbed the one she had to take a sip.“Mmmm! And I am a beer boy and I can tell s’quality.” Nate said with a smirk.Parker nursed his own beer, taking small sips cause he wasn’t the biggest fan of alcohol but he wasn’t gonna miss out either. “You just stole her beer! Apologize.” He ordered jokingly.“ Apologize .” Adrianna mocked, shaking her head. “Try the second one, it’s the one I have. ‘Eyes Like the Sky,’ it’s pretty good. Shame it’s not blue.” She frowned before a smile crept on her lips.Avery took a sip of the second on her flight, nodding a bit. “S’better. Still a bit…. Bitter. But wait! The next one is ‘Rainbow Road!’” The name made her laugh, covering her mouth for a moment.“It’s probably fruity, like you!” Nate chuckled, nudging Avery on the shoulder.Parker groaned, “You beat me to that joke by like a second!” “Gotta be quick on the draw, young gun.” Nate winked.“I’m older than you.” Parker pursed his lips.“Stop saying that.” Avery said at the same time as Parker.Then Avery lifted the glass full of Rainbow Road to her lips before she set it back down. “I could drink this. But, um, might be too sweet for me. Feels a bit like a seltzer. Like you kinda can’t taste the alcohol so you drink too much but then you end up on the living room couch with no idea how you got there.”“Sounds a bit too specific.” Adrianna chuckled, cocking her pierced eyebrow. “Been there before? I’m surprised, you’re such a goody two shoes.” She teased.Avery pursed her lips, realizing she was caught. “All I’m gonna say is that the Rainbow Road is dangerous.”“That she is, Ave, that she is.” Adrianna clinked her glass against Avery’s before taking a sip of hers. Eyes Like the Sky was enjoyable for her but, then again, Adrianna could drink practically anything while Avery still had a hard time drinking any sort of Tequila. Avery took a breath, hoping the last one would be good. After all, it’s the one that everyone seemed to like. “Cosmic Cowboy.” She hummed, looking at it for a moment. Lifting the glass to her lips, Avery took a sip. “Oh, I like that one. I like it a lot.” She admitted, taking a bigger drink.“Ding, ding, ding! We got a winner!” Nate exclaimed, making a hand motion that he was ringing an imaginary bell. “We might need to supply her with cans of it if this reaction is anything to go by.” He added, watching as Avery kept taking sips of it.The girl shrugged, “I mean, I wouldn’t complain. Would make for the best birthday present known to man. Grab a girl a couple beers to take home, nothing like it.” She said wistfully, letting out a laugh a second later. They were so distracted in themselves, they didn’t even realize their food was coming out. And, more importantly, who was carrying it. As soon as plates started hitting the table, Avery went to thank whoever it was, assuming it wasn’t Tess anymore. “Thank– Fuck.” The words died on her tongue.“Not usually how people greet me, but y’know, things happen.” Jensen laughed quietly, holding his tray between his arm and the side of his body. Jensen looked more or less the same as what Avery thought he would. Soldier Boy hair on full display, a bit shorter than usual, with his matching beard. Maybe it was the makeup they put on him as Dean but she didn’t quite expect his freckles to be as prominent as they were. And they weren’t just on Jensen’s nose and cheeks, they scattered up his forehead and down his neck. And his eyes…. Too many people lied and said Jensen’s eyes were candy apple green, something a person could see from miles away, but they weren’t. From far away, they looked almost brown. Up close was a different story. They were a deep green, it was like getting lost in a forest. Everyone else at the table, while still surprised, covered their mouths to keep from laughing at Avery’s dumbfounded face. Nate was the first to uncover his mouth and, it was an immediate change, went into “cause chaos mode.” “Y’know, Avery has watched your show since she was fifteen. Quite embarrassing phase in her life, like she had pictures of you on her wal–” Avery scrambled to shove Nate away from her. “Uh, please ignore him. I mean, who does that? Certainly not me. I don’t even have posters in my room.” That’s a lie.“It’s okay.” Jensen said it so sincerely that it almost made Avery believe him. She wasn’t sure Jensen appreciated people telling him they found him so attractive all the time. It had to be weird, to some extent, to have a feeling or an idea that you might just be someone’s wet dream. The man cleared his throat, “Well, how’s the beer so far? Tess told me you got a flight of some of the all time favorites.” Jensen would’ve labeled himself as insane if he didn’t do what Tess told him. Avery, he presumed was the girl who turned 21, was beautiful. She had light, freckled skin, black painted nails, blue eyes with sharp, thick eyeliner underneath thin framed glasses, shoulder-length brown hair with blue ends and dark lined tattoos scattered across her arms. With the way Avery was dressed, in a cropped t-shirt and some mom jeans, Jensen could see tattoo lines just above the waistband of her jeans and a lean pair of abs. Did he have a thing for strong women? Well, he did now.Avery blushed softly, coughing a bit as she found her voice a little better and tried to calm down. “Um, I like Cosmic Cowboy the best. And Rainbow Road but that one seems a bit too dangerous.” She explained, not wanting to hurt Jensen’s feelings in case she said something too harsh.She knew Jensen wasn’t one to overreact about things unlike some other people he knew but…. That didn’t mean Avery was all cozy and friends with Jensen. He was still a celebrity. One she wasn’t friends with. More of… An appreciator. If tweeting about Dean constantly on twitter could make one only an appreciator. “Wholeheartedly agree.” Jensen let out a breathy laugh, one that enraptured the attention of anyone near him. It certainly caught the attention of Avery. “I had a party at my house a few months back and we had a shit load of cans of Rainbow Road and, y’know, mixing drinks is bad so I decided it would be my drink of choice for the night. And well….. Let’s just say I don’t remember much of that night except waking up in the middle of the night with my shirt hanging off me by a thread.” He chuckled, fiddling a little with the tray in his hand.Avery smiled at the story, letting out her own laugh. “I told you.” She teased Adrianna who just rolled her eyes. “It was, um, nice to meet you…. Jensen.” She never thought she’d be able to even say that. Wanting to go to Supernatural Conventions seemed like a distant dream and being able to meet someone she adored so much was even further.“Right…. Work.” Jensen let out a slightly nervous laugh, quickly turning away to go into the back. He was sure he let out a breath of relief as soon as he stepped through those doors. It was too much, but not enough all at once. Tessa caught Jensen’s eyes as he finally looked up instead of at the floor. “Told you.” She said in a sing-song voice before leaving to get to the main dining floor yet again.Jensen didn’t want to admit it but maybe Tessa was right. He was throwing himself too much into work, movie after movie, TV show after TV show, and now it was shift after shift at the brewery. When he and Danneel were together, he would make time for her and go out sometimes to relax. But without her, Jensen couldn’t find it in himself to try and relax. He needed to be busy, craved it even. And his family was starting to get concerned, especially with bags under his eyes that seemed to be more permanent and even when Jensen lifted simple things, they could tell his muscles were aching. And maybe Jensen was right, the divorce was mutual. He did feel himself drifting away and didn’t feel as in love with Danneel as he originally thought. But they were still friends. He was able to calm down around her, not need to go as fast as he thought he needed. Jensen always lied when he said he was a “go with the flow” kinda guy, he was so anxious it hurt him sometimes. What else was Tessa right about? That girl. Sure, it was her 21st birthday that day and, sure, it was all kinds of wrong since he was 44 and, what? That made their age difference about 20 years? Yeah, it was messed up. But Tessa had a knack for knowing things. Knowing that maybe Jensen could just let himself be. With Avery. Maybe she could teach him a few new tricks, something he was missing in his life.—-------It was around 5:30 when the group decided to leave, which was kinda perfect because that’s when more people started piling in. Avery didn’t know why, but she hadn’t quite expected the brewery to function pretty similarly to a regular ole local bar. But it did. Granted, it was probably 45 minutes away from any real house or town, but it got the job done. Lots of locals came, but she noticed there were plenty of fans too. Avery expected that. What she didn’t expect was a call of her name as she left the main doors. The rest of the group were still walking to the car but that voice was too familiar so she stopped and turned. Sure enough, Jensen was now in front of her, fiddling with one of the beaded bracelets on his wrist. Avery smiled a little as she noticed the gesture. “Hey–”“Are you still in town tomorrow?” Jensen asked, the words jumbling out of his mouth before he could even think about them. He also may have let it slip that Tessa told him her ID was from out of state, but he’d deal with that later. He also just noticed how tall Avery was since they were both standing. She seemed about the same height as he was, maybe an inch or so shorter. God, did he have a secret thing for tall women too? Well, he definitely did now.Avery’s eyes widened in surprise. He was talking to her? That was…. Not expected. Sure, Jensen talked to her earlier but only about the beer and how she liked the different flavors. “I, uh, yeah. I’ll be here for the rest of the week.” She told him, sure there was a bright blush across her cheeks. If Jensen noticed it, he made no indication that he did.“Nice, um, you free tomorrow?” Jensen asked shyly, suddenly realizing what he intended to do. He was gonna ask this younger woman to go on a date with him…. And he was pretty sure he was old enough to be her dad. He coughed for a second, trying to get his thoughts away from that. Because he deserved to be happy so sue him. “For a date.” Jensen clarified.That didn’t help Avery’s rapidly beating heart at all. “A date.” The girl repeated, pursing her lips for a moment as her brain went blank. This couldn’t be happening. Could it? Sure, she’s practically loved him since she watched the first episode of Supernatural but she knew that could never happen. “I’m bisexual.” Avery confessed, afraid Jensen might not like her if he knew so it was better to get it out of the way first.“That’s okay.” Jensen cocked his head for a moment, not really catching onto why Avery would be concerned. “So, uh, can I have your phone number? I’ll text you.” He promised, pursing his lips to try and get the nervousness out somehow.Avery blinked before she nodded and gave her unlocked phone to Jensen. She was getting Jensen Ackles’ phone number. She took a deep breath as she watched the man enter his number into her phone. This was surreal, too surreal. The girl snuck a pinch to her side and, nope, she was awake. It made her laugh internally, next thing I know I’m gonna see Charlie Cox on the streets of South Carolina. Doubtful. “Here.” Jensen handed Avery’s phone back. “I’m thinking sometime at 2 tomorrow, if that’s okay?” He asked, a light smile on his face. Most people–fans–thought Jensen was the most confident person in the world, especially when it came to relationships. Hell, he’d cheated on a few girls when he was young and reckless and when being in Days of Our Lives meant you had to be included in some sort of drama to keep up the buzz of the show. But that’s not him anymore. Some, who knew Jensen very well, would say he was loyal to a fault to the point where he couldn’t see the flaws in some people. And, after a while, lying became way too tiring. Avery swallowed thickly and nodded, “Sure. I should be…. Free tomorrow.” Then she heard a familiar honking of a car horn. She pursed her lips, face falling, “Unless they have plans.” She grumbled as she glanced back at her friends in the car.“‘Course, just…. Let me know.” Jensen said, leaning backwards a bit. “And I…. do have a brewery to get back to.” He laughed quietly, hoping the nerves weren’t evident in his voice. “See ya tomorrow?”“Definitely.” Avery smiled softly, nodding at the man before she turned and left. As she walked to the huge truck, much more akin to a boat, Jensen heard the woman’s voice berating the others in the vehicle like they were children. Hell, he even caught a glimpse of her slapping their arms and yelling at them to “shut the hell up.” Yeah, he’d be looking forward to their date.—------Jensen would be lying if he hadn’t felt like a fangirl that night, looking up any and all connections “Avery Cairo” had on Google. But, unfortunately, the only thing that matched his Avery Cairo was an obituary posted on a funeral website for her grandmother who died a few years ago. He wasn’t sure what else to do. No social media or anything came up that had to do with her. But then Jensen realized he could add people by their contact number. He was a middle-aged guy, so fuck him for not knowing. But he doesn’t really need to. Until now.So Jensen pulled all the apps he had, which were really just three. Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook. Instagram was first since it seemed to be the easiest. He clicked the follow button as soon as he saw the name “Avery Cairo.” Second thing Jensen noticed was her username, pickledpascal. He cocked his head at it, wondering where the hell that came from. Most people he knew just used their full name for their username, including himself. Next was Facebook which was surprisingly a bust. Maybe it’s because Avery was one of those people who said “Facebook was for old people” and Jensen couldn’t really argue on that. Then there was Twitter and Jensen had to admit he was surprised to see a Charlie Cox profile picture with a layout that was much more thought out than his would ever would be. He clicked the follow button without a second thought before he scrolled down her profile, seeing a couple tweets in particular he laughed at.avery @pickledpascal im going to texas yall !!! going to jensen's bar too oooooo !!!avery @pickledpascal PEDROS HAIR !!!!! i need himThe man laughed softly. Now Jensen knew where the Pascal part of her username came from. avery @pickledpascalpeople who are able to listen to jensen sing live are so lucky !!! why can’t that be me !!!That one made Jensen smile so he liked it without thinking anything of it as he exited out of the app. He was already prepped for bed so he just set his phone on his nightstand and looked up at the ceiling before he closed his eyes and drifted off.—------When Avery woke up that day, her phone was blowing up with thousands of notifications she couldn’t keep up. She rubbed her eyes and put on her glasses, her fuzzy sight leaving as she looked at her phone. Her mouth dropped open, blinking. Jensen followed her on everything. But her Twitter was the one blowing up because…. He liked one of her tweets? About him too. God, that was embarrassing. She could feel her face heating up as her head fell back on her pillow. Avery’s follower count jumped from about a thousand to a little over two thousand overnight and some of her mutuals were freaking out and messaging her. She let out a breath, not wanting to deal with that.So she didn’t. The girl was sure there’d be people asking why the hell Jensen would follow some stan on twitter but she reasoned that it’d be better if she didn’t tell anyone the man asked her on a date. Maybe Avery just wanted to keep Jensen to herself for a little while. It may be selfish. But Avery was a protective lover.—------Jensen actually felt light that morning, he made himself a good breakfast as he thought about what they should do. Something public would probably bring attention to them, even if he tried to find a more private restaurant he was sure some of the staff would want to take a picture with him. Which Jensen wouldn’t but he didn’t want to expose Avery to that kind of attention on the first date. So he ended up deciding to have the date at his house. He could grill some burgers or something and they could hang out by the pool.The actor quickly relayed the information, advising her to bring a swimsuit, to Avery who sent over a simple “gotcha. see ya soon!” which made Jensen feel even more nervous, heart hammering against his ribs. No one affected him this badly, even when he and Danneel were in their honeymoon phase, it never felt this….. Intense. As Avery set her phone down, excitement rolled off her form in waves. And it seemed her friend noticed too because she smirked at her as she munched on some fries from the hotel room service.“He so wants to see your body-ody-ody.” Adrianna winked, rolling her shoulders to add to the embarrassing comment she made.Avery’s cheeks went red, “AJ! Shut up!” She complained, burying her face in her pillow before she rolled over. “I don’t even know what I should bring. I’m not that put together, I think the only suit I have is a one piece.” She continued with a whine in her voice.“That’s all you need. What happened to the confident flirt Avery who could get anyone with a simple look? Huh? I mean, sure the guy is hot and if I didn’t swing the other way, I’d definitely hit that. But, c’mon, Ave, this is a guy!” Adrianna snickered, shaking her head before she pulled Avery from the bed. “Guys are easy, just gotta shake a little ass and he’s yours. Or is he too old for that?”A smile broke out on Avery’s lips which then turned into a full on laugh. Adrianna was a good friend and, in some ways, she acted like a mom to her. “He’s just…. Different.” Avery admitted, letting out a breath. “Besides the fact he’s my longest lasting celebrity crush, I dunno, this feels real. Plus, he might be the hottest person I’ve ever laid my eyes on and I just….” Adrianna hummed in agreement, listening to her friend with a light smile. “You don’t want to mess it up.” She finished for Avery. AJ has been Avery’s friend for a while, four or so years. And in those years, Avery only had one relationship that lasted longer than just a few months and wasn’t just a fling she could call if she needed something. And weirdly, Jensen Ackles was a constant through all of them. Unfortunately, though, if Avery talked about him at all with any of them, it was a turn off. Guys hated just how much she adored him and girls questioned if she was really bisexual. Which is something you definitely shouldn’t do. So flings happened more often. Avery didn’t need to talk to them that much, didn’t need to build a relationship which ended sour just because she liked things so passionately. “Yeah.” Avery breathed, looking down at her legs before Adrianna pulled her up yet again to stand. “AJ–”“Ah, ah, ah! I’m gonna help you out. We’re planning out an outfit then I’m gonna call an Uber for you before you bail, okay?” Adrianna said firmly, daring Avery to decline. But she knew better, Adrianna could be like a tyrant if you didn’t do what she told you to. So that’s how most of their morning went, not giving a single fuck what the boys were doing. Probably out gambling like the old men they secretly were. Adrianna had Avery put on her swimsuit and made her try on different outfits over, gauging if they would be comfortable or not. Eventually, they settled on a cropped sweatshirt and some jean shorts. Adrianna smiled as Avery put her hair up and did some light makeup, though it’d probably come off in the pool anyway. “There you go! Looking good.” She smiled, patting Avery’s shoulders. “Uber should be here soon, can’t wait to see the mansions.” She teased.“You’re coming with?” Avery blinked, not thinking she would.Adrianna scoffed, “Someone has to give you support. And if Nate was here, he’d go just to embarrass the hell outta you. Probably say something like ‘bring her back at nine.’ While I, your bestest friend,” She smiled, but there was smugness behind those eyes, “Just want you to have a good time.” Before Avery could respond, Adrianna shut her up. “Oh, look, the Uber’s here. Right on time!”—-----Much like Avery, Jensen had a small panic of what to wear. Which didn’t happen much anymore. The man did take pride in making himself look good but he was usually calm about it. He’d look through his closet and meticulously pick a few things out. Not that day. He’d taken what seemed like a few thousand different shirts. Sure, Jensen had originally sorta brushed off the fact that Avery was bi but now it was thought at the forefront of his mind. Did she like slutty men? Maybe she liked feminine guys? Jensen knew he had a speedo somewhere…. Deep, deep in his closet.Eventually, he reminded himself to calm down. And he did. Slowly. Jensen took a few breaths, feeling his chest rise and fall as the air exited his lips. He put on a simple dark, faded band tee and a pair of deep blue swim trunks that were a little tight in certain places, thankfully, it wasn’t uncomfortable enough to make him want to switch them out. The man gathered his thoughts as he went downstairs, trying to keep his mind off the fact that this would be his first date since he divorced Danneel. Tessa, who’d somewho wormed her way into Jensen’s heart and become something like a little sister to him, was begging him to get back out there and even sent a couple women his way. Evidently, none of them stuck. Until Avery. Someone Jensen wouldn’t have ever thought would take his heart so easily, but she did. With a few simple words and a smile that Jensen could compare to the sun but even the sun didn’t come close.Just as Jensen set down a plate of cooked burger patties, he heard the doorbell ring. He swallowed thickly then let out a breath, he’d be fine….. Even though nothing he’s done in the past two or so years ever came close to this. Was it normal to be this anxious? He’d have to ask a therapist about that.But once he opened the door, most of his worries drifted away at seeing the woman in front of him. “Uh, hey.” Jensen said warmly, widening the door so Avery could enter before he closed the door behind her.“Hi.” Avery greeted back just as warmly, happiness sparkling in her eyes. Then she took a whiff of the air, the happiness deepening. “Smells good, I love burgers. But, then again, there would have to be something wrong with a person to not like burgers.” She joked, careful not to start rambling. Past partners didn’t like that.Jensen chuckled, nodding. “Can’t argue with that.” He led Avery into the kitchen where the counters were filled with plates of toppings. “Wasn’t sure what you liked on yours so I just…. Grabbed whatever was in the fridge. Help yourself.” He explained, bringing a hand up to his neck to rub it. Avery hummed, nodding as she grabbed one of the plates Jensen set out and started to make her burger. Usually, she’d toast her bun but she felt that would be too much of a hassle and she didn’t need a toasted bun that badly. Jensen watched as Avery started to build her meal. The way she liked it was simple, two to three pickles, some rings of onions, and ketchup. Easy to remember. Jensen would remember it even if it was complicated, he’d decided.They ate, mostly in silence. The few times a conversation did spark was initiated by Avery, who told a few memories of her dad making burgers for Fourth of July or even for her birthday. They were a treat to her, even if they were a totally normal food to have. But Jensen understood. They held a special place in her heart, like biting into a memory. After their late lunch, the pair went outside and–as promised–they settled by the pool. Jensen lifted his shirt over his head and sat at the edge of the pool with his head leaned back, the water up to his knees once he dangled his feet inside.Avery let out a small cough, suddenly feeling very lucky she was able to see Jensen like this. Relaxed and, well, so hot. It distracted her enough that she almost forgot she was still fully clothed. The girl let out a breath, taking off the sweatshirt first before she shoved down her shorts. She could have kept them on, they were short enough that they wouldn’t get soaked if she just sat next to Jensen. But it felt more…. Intimate without them. Avery made herself comfortable on the cemented edge of the pool next to the man, hands barely touching but close enough that if they moved even a little that they would touch. The prospect made Avery’s mind buzz but she didn’t want to push. The older man gave Avery a light smile. “You’re….. So different than anyone I’ve had before.” Jensen admitted. Part of it was her age, yeah, but it was something deeper. Something good. Not to mention the aesthetic difference from women he’s been with in the past. Avery wasn’t some petite little thing that could be easily manhandled. No, she had well-defined, strong arms, a sharp jawline, beautiful eyes that were accentuated by her glasses, and what looked to be the softest hair known to man. “Not the first time someone's told me that.” Avery said with a slight sad smile. But she could tell how Jensen meant it. He meant it in the ‘you make me feel something I haven’t felt in a while’ kind of way.Jensen slowly intertwined their fingers, finding approval in Avery’s eyes to do so. He took her hand firmly then hesitantly brought it up to his lips to kiss her knuckles. It looked like a simple gesture from an outsider's point of view but it meant the world to each of them. It’s been so long since Jensen let himself love someone in that way. The question pondered his head if he would ever be able to again. Being with Avery melted away all those thoughts. He’d be fine, he’d known deep down but he’d finally accepted it as the truth.This up close, Jensen could see Avery’s face in much more detail. He finally noticed the light dusting of freckles on her nose, the crystal-like shapes in her ice-blue eyes, the different beauty marks on her cheeks and chin. She was truly beautiful, even if she did have some red bumps across her skin. Jensen knew no one was perfect, he had first hand experience of some fans thinking he would be taller or had more freckles or even greener eyes, maybe even thought he’d have more muscle. But shit like that, he couldn’t keep that up in the long run.Thoughts should have been running a mile a minute in Avery’s mind. She would have thought that’s what was going to happen, that she’d be too nervous and she’d be shaking with anxiety because Jensen Ackles asked her on a date. She didn’t. She was simply looking into a beautiful pair of eyes accompanied by a beautiful face, no nerves to be seen. It felt like she’s known Jensen forever when, in reality, they’ve only known each other for a day. Could just be Jensen’s effect on people, always making sure they felt welcome and comfortable. But this had to be different, the actor didn’t go around asking just anyone on a date or else Avery would have known about it somehow. Twitter is a weird place after all.Jensen’s eyes trailed down to Avery’s lips, a slightly muted deep pink shade with a somewhat pronounced cupid’s bow and perpetual smile lines at the edges of her lips. Or it’s just that she was happy with him. Either way, they were perfect. They were close enough that he could feel her breath faintly on his face. Before Jensen could even attempt to lean in closer, Avery took the reins and closed the gap for the both of them. Now, there were no fireworks going off in their heads or the feeling of getting hit by a train. Just them. The feeling that being with each other was right. Not necessarily ‘meant to be’ but something close to it. Not to mention, Jensen’s lips were about the softest pair Avery’s ever felt in her life.Soon the kiss got heated, the girl pushing Jensen down gently as he adjusted his position so he wasn’t uncomfortable. Avery cupped the man’s cheek and held down one of his arms as she nipped softly at his lips which elicited a light moan from the man underneath her. She wanted to make him do that again, so she pushed her lips into his a little harsher. Jensen gasped into the kiss, running his free hand through her hair. As he suspected, it was softer than it looked. A doorbell rang. But they continued kissing, feeling each other's bodies. A bit too distracted in themselves before it rang again. And again.They finally stopped after the third ring, grabbing some air as they brought their foreheads together. “I should…. Probably go get that.” Jensen breathed, slowly opening his eyes to see Avery already staring at him with a light smile on her now reddened lips. He could only imagine how much worse he looked.“You don’t have to, it is your house after all.” Avery teased but got off Jensen anyway, sitting off to the side of him instead.Jensen let out a small laugh as he sat up, “It is. But it’s probably Jared and I don’t think he wants to walk in, finding a girl on top of me.” He joked softly, pressing a kiss to Avery’s cheek without really thinking about it. “I’ll shoo him away.”Avery nodded, humming for a moment as her eyes drifted to the pool, “Okay.” Jensen cocked his head, was she mad? She couldn’t be, right? It wasn’t Jared’s fault that he was interrupting possibly the best day of his life in the past few years. No, it wasn’t any irritation like that. Her voice seemed genuine and Jensen knew just how much a voice could give away how you were feeling. It had to be something deeper. Maybe he’d ask about it later, when his best friend wasn’t ruining his chances.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Tossing and turning in her bed, it was safe to say Avery was awake. She let out a sigh, looking up at the ceiling as she let her arm edge off the bed. The previous day felt like a fever dream and, yeah, maybe she was only up because her heart kept leaping out of her chest and her mind was being haunted by a certain someone. Avery let out another huff of air and sat up in bed, glancing at her friend in the bed next to her as she stood up to get some water. As soon as she did stand, though, there was a knock on the door.Avery’s eyebrows furrowed, Nate would be asleep by now. She slowly approached the door as if she was afraid whoever was behind it would pounce if she opened it. She looked through the peephole before slapping a hand over her mouth to muffle her own gasp.“What are you doing here?” Avery asked in a hushed whisper after she cracked the door open. Jensen shrugged, hands in his pocket as he looked up at Avery. The actor was clad in the ‘perfect’ disguise. Sunglasses and a baseball cap. Cliche and, well, sunglasses at 3am in the morning? “You said I could come anytime I wanted.” He teased softly. “Not at any time.” Avery grumbled which gave Jensen time to admire her sleep attire.The younger woman wore what looked like running shorts and a cropped Deadpool shirt. The shirt gave Jensen a glimpse as to what tattoo was on her side, some sort of building with foliage on the side. In fact, the plants seemed to be overgrown and wild. “Eyes are up here, buddy.” Avery said, an amused light in her eyes as she adjusted her glasses. Then a smug smirk broke out on her lips, “Oh, you wanna kiss me so bad, huh?” She teased, voice still quiet to be conscious of her roommate for the night. Jensen’s eyes narrowed for a moment before he leaned into Avery’s lips until there was maybe an inch separating them. “Yeah. I do.” He whispered before pressing their lips together. Avery let out a small gasp, wrapping her arms around Jensen’s waist out of reflex. Most of her other partners were shorter than her. So, much like how Jensen having a partner his height was new to him, it was new to Avery as well. Or maybe they just had a thing for short people. “Guys, could you not do that in front of me.” Groaned Adrianna from behind Avery, adjusting her body in bed.Avery let the door open wider, face dropping as she looked at her friend. “How long have you been up?” She asked accusingly. “Enough to see you two sucking face. Ew.” Adrianna gagged as she turned away from the door. “Can you hurry up your midnight escapade so I can get some more sleep?” She huffed, turning her head so the light from the hallway didn’t reach her.Jensen let out a light laugh. “Actually, um, I was wondering if you’d like to come home with me?” He asked softly, suddenly feeling nervous. “Of course, you don’t have to! Just thought I’d ask, especially since my bed is more comfortable than these hotel ones. Not that I expect you to sleep in my bed or anything–”“Okay.” Avery hummed.Jensen cocked his head, “Okay?”Avery nodded with a light smile. “Let me just get my stuff, okay?” She left the door open and went to grab her bags as well as to put on a jacket since it did kind of get cold during Austin nights. Plus, her jacket was sort of a security blanket; something to keep her grounded and in the real world. “I’m good.” She smiled, adjusting the backpack strap on her shoulder.“Don’t get kidnapped!” Adrianna's voice came again.Jensen rolled her eyes, “Don’t worry, you’ll see her again.” He hummed and grabbed Avery’s rolling suitcase as the hotel door closed. The two of them made their way down to the lobby quietly as Avery occasionally leaned against Jensen. She was still tired but at least she could stand, that would have been bad if she couldn’t.After setting Avery’s bags into the trunk of his car, Jensen opened the door for her and pecked her lips softly. “Thanks.” She said softly, settling into the seat. “It’s warm in here….” She sighed happily. Jensen let out a small laugh as he got into his side of the car, “Well, I wasn’t gone for too long. Maybe that’s why.” He suggested softly, turning on the ignition. Then they made their way back to his house, music lightly playing in the background since it still was barely 3:30 in the morning.—---------As Jensen helped Avery into the car, a camera shuttered in the distance. Somewhere off in the bushes around the hotel area. It was as if they were following Jensen around to see what he was doing. That’s how it felt to be followed by paparazzi most of the time, but this was on a different level. Almost stalking if not seen by the ‘correct’ people. They looked at the pictures taken, scrolling through them on their camera with a light smile. They knew what they were doing. It was a bit unfortunate they couldn't catch a picture of the woman's face. Jensen was blocking her…—---As Avery woke up, she had to remember what happened last night. Or was it technically earlier that morning? She slowly opened her eyes, vision fuzzier than usual as she became conscious that a hand was around her waist. Jensen.She yawned, stretching a hand out as she just laid there for a while. Jensen had quite a warm body, firm yet soft enough for her to want to lay on. He certainly wasn't built like a rock. Which was nice for her. Avery let out a sigh as she glanced at Jensen. He was still soundly asleep, breath tickling the back of her neck. She reached over to the nightstand and began scrolling.Jensen was practically draped across her and Avery knew she wasn't strong enough to get him off. So she'd wait a bit. After all, it was only 9:30. They had time to sleep in. Opening Twitter, Avery absentmindedly scrolled through tweets. Most were about other actors or movies she was interested in. Rian Johnson was already writing the third installment in the Knives Out series. Huh. That man worked fast. And then she saw a few pictures of Jensen.From last night. With her.Well, the pictures didn't show her face but some random woman getting into his car with luggage was suspect. And caused a lot of Avery's mutuals to speculate on who it could be. Thankfully, it was dark enough that even Avery couldn't pick out the streaks of blue in her hair."Well, fuck…" She breathed. Jensen grumbled slightly in his sleep. "What?" He was clinging onto sleep as much as he could."'Mystery Girl and Jensen Ackles Leave Hotel at 3 AM in the Morning.'" Avery said. It was one the few news articles that posted the pictures of the two of them. That woke him up. "Shit." Jensen sighed."Yeah." Avery sighed as she sat up. "I'm gonna change." She got up from the bed and went to shuffle through her suitcase. She didn't pack a lot of "good" clothes, mostly just t-shirts and shorts because she didn't expect… this. Jensen nodded. "I'll… make breakfast. Yeah…" He left the room to give Avery some time to change. And also figure out what the hell he wanted to do. Avery was going to be staying over at his house but she was in Texas with her friends . Surely they had plans or something for the rest of the week and he didn't want to impose if that was the case. He was flipping a few pancakes on a plate when Avery finally came downstairs. She wore a white tank top printed with some sort of old car on it—Jensen couldn't tell which one—a pair of shorts, long socks, and a pair of colorful sneakers. "Pancakes and sausage, I'm being treated well." Avery teased softly. "If the pancakes didn't have chocolate chips in them, then we'd have a real problem." She grabbed a few pancakes and links of sausage and began to eat with a happy hum.Jensen let out a small laugh. "I have to agree. Pancakes aren't pancakes unless you have chocolate chips." He took a few for himself and observed how Avery ate hers. She had a nice helping of syrup on the side as she dipped carefully torn off pieces of the pancake. The only reason she had a fork and knife were for the links. She cut those into small disks and dipped them in the syrup as well. "So, me and my friends have plans to go into the city today." Avery said after a while, glancing at Jensen. "But I'll be free around five." Perfect. Jensen's eyes brightened. "Nice. There's this restaurant nearby. It's pretty low-key." Meaning he went there a lot and there usually wasn't a lot of paparazzi there. Avery cocked an eyebrow. She wasn't opposed to being with Jensen in public but she knew that it could be hard to be publically in love with him. The man was single, any woman seen with him would be speculated to be fucking him in some way or another. "Okay." She smiled.—----"We have to get you something to wear!" Adrianna exclaimed as soon as Avery told her their plans for later. Avery immediately shushed her. They were in public. In the middle of a mall. And people were staring… They were going shopping either way, just not intentionally for a date. Nate and Parker laughed behind the two girls."We have to do a shopping haul like in all those early 2000s movies." Andrianna smiled widely, wrapping an arm around Avery's shoulder. "Why are we even here?" Parker sighed."Moral support." Nate punched Parker's shoulder with a smirk.Avery shook her head at Adrianna. "Those movies all have some sort of scene where the girl takes off her glasses and suddenly she's beautiful." Adrianna pursed her lips. "Yeah, well. You're hot with and without glasses.""Why can't I say something like that?" Nate frowned."Because you're like my dad, you idiot!" Avery sighed.Adrianna wasn't gonna let this go. Avery was gonna get a dress or something she didn't really need and wasn't going to wear again but Adrianna would be happy. That was partly why she would go along with whatever she wanted. "I mean… if they want a show, why not give it to them?" Adrianna whispered with a mischievous smile.—---Deciding to meet at the restaurant, Jensen arrived a few minutes early just to get a table in the corner. There was a clear line to look at the front door so he could see when Avery came in. He ran a nervous hand through his hair. It was styled the same as every day though he trimmed his beard a little so it fit closer to his face. He wore a short-sleeved black button-up with dark-washed jeans and boots. It was a little more clean than what he wore earlier. The restaurant itself wasn't fancy, in fact, it was far from it. It was nice and cozy. More of a tavern than a restaurant. Jensen knew most of the staff besides the younger kids who'd come in for a summer job. At least, he was more calm than the day before. Jensen glanced up at just the right time to see Avery walk through the door. She was stunning.Like his own clothes, she wore something simple. A short-sleeved white button-up, a deep blue skirt that went down to her shins, white socks, and a pair of loafers that had small bows on them. It was youthful yet had a feeling of an older time.Avery spotted Jensen and smiled at him as she walked to their table. "Hey.""Hey." Jensen breathed. "You're beautiful." He couldn't help but say.Avery smiled bashfully and instinctively adjusted her glasses. "Thanks. You're not too bad yourself." Jensen glanced down at his menu and bit his tongue a little. "So… you're still a college student?" He asked softly. "What's your major?""I'm an English student." Avery shrugged. English wasn't the best major, especially if she wanted to make money but it was what she liked. She wanted to be an author eventually. "I want to get my doctorate which means I have to do a bit of teaching at a university but I have a year to figure that out." Jensen's eyebrows furrowed. "Do you wanna be an author?" It wasn't every day he ran into someone with an English degree."Yeah." Avery chuckled. "I write a lot in my free time. Haven't published anything officially yet. But I might plan on it soon, just to have a bit of income on the side when I start teaching." If Jensen was honest, he maybe read a few books a year. He could imagine that number was a lot higher for Avery. Jensen could go months without reading anything longer than a hundred pages but he was partial to sci-fi or detective stories. Maybe it was the fact he liked Batman. Avery glanced up from her menu. "What about you? I mean… any hobbies you haven't told fans or interviewers yet?" She joked softly."Not really, no." Jensen hummed. Everyone already knew he played the guitar, that he could sing, that he had his own band and that the brewery was somewhat of a second home. "I'm doing a bit of songwriting in my free time, though." That piqued Avery's interest, a smile on her lips. "Nothing much. Mostly just chorus'." "It's never just a chorus." Avery shook her head. "I love listening to your voice. It's nice and soothing when you want it to be but it's also so…" There were stars in her eyes. "So powerful and, I don't know, bluesy I guess. Not so country. Like Chris Stapleton." Music was something Avery loved. She knew how to play the guitar as well but it was never something she wanted to do anything in particular with. Listening to music was her favorite pastime. The way certain songs made her feel… It was special. Jensen wasn't sure what to say in response. As long as he's been alive and been doing what he has, he still wasn't used to compliments. He'd take them in stride, simply nodding a thank you and not thinking about them too much. But he was grateful either way. "You're… way too kind." He flushed."I don't think I am." Avery smiled. "It's not like I'm saying you're the best singer in the world. I just like the sound of your voice." She said it like it was nothing. It really wasn't anything huge. Yet it felt like it."Would you like anything to drink?" The waiter decided it was best to intervene at that moment and Jensen couldn't have been more grateful.Avery hummed, "A rum and coke, please.""Yeah, uh," Jensen coughed to try and clear his throat to get his words out clearer. "I'll take whatever drink special you have." The waiter scurried off to grab the drinks.Avery crossed her arms on the table and took a sip of the complimentary water that was already set out. Jensen noticed a bit of discoloration on the back of her hand. A scar? He wondered what it was from. "You mentioned you're from South Carolina, what city do you live in?" Jensen had been to South Carolina a few times, partly due to the fact he had a few cons there and in the neighboring North Carolina in Charlotte. "Columbia. Cause that's where my University is." Avery explained with a small smile. "I live with a few friends in a house. Not the friends you've already seen. These ones… they're busy." She chuckled softly.A house? So Jensen could visit her if she wanted… That sounded like a good idea. For later. "Do you usually take girls out from your brewery or am I just special?" Avery asked with a smirk.Jensen pursed his lips. He didn't want to sound cheesy but he had truly not asked anyone out other than Avery. It was partly Tessa's fault though. "The head manager, Tessa, had been trying to set me up with girls for a while." He admitted softly. "I'll humor her, take out some food or drinks but that's usually it. Until you…" Avery hadn't expected him to be so sincere. And honest. Maybe she'd have to thank Tessa. Make her a bridesmaid or something. Not that that'd happen anytime soon. Setting their drinks down, the waiter got out his notepad and gave a courteous smile. "Are you ready to order?" "I think so." Jensen smiled back.Avery nodded, glancing up at Jensen. "I know I am."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Summer started to die which meant Avery's senior year of college was bound to start. However, she had a few weeks before that. Ever since her stay in Austin, Avery and Jensen had been talking nonstop. Whether it was a few texts a day or calling each other when they had a moment to spare. It was… nice. Avery hadn't experienced anything like it. But she was getting a little… sad wasn't the right word. Disappointed. It's been quite a few weeks since she saw Jensen in person. Now she understood what one of her roommates went through. Avery yawned as she walked down her driveway to grab the mail. It was all part of her morning routine. Half the time, there was nothing but she liked to check anyway. She opened the mailbox, eyes catching a few different envelopes. On her way back inside, she looked at who they were addressed to. One for Elena. One for Mercer.And one for her. Strange. It didn't look like a bill and she would've remembered if she bought something. Avery set the ones for her roommates on the counter and began to open her envelope as she took a sip of hot coffee.Her eyes widened as she realized what she held in her hands. Three tickets to a Supernatural Convention in Chicago. One that she didn't remember buying tickets for. One that was happening this weekend. There was one last piece of paper besides the tickets and a 'Thank You' note. She quickly grabbed it, thankful there was no one else in the kitchen as she read it.
Hey sweetheart,

I thought it might be nice to be able to see you again and I know you've been wanting to go to a con for a while so why the hell not? I can introduce you to the cast, whatever you want. I'll do. And you can bring two friends. I did this for mostly selfish reasons but, well, I will be busy most of the weekend. Didn't want to bore you.

Have fun,

Jensen

P.S.

I can pay for whatever plane tickets, just let me know. I look forward to seeing all the places you love.
Avery set the note down. She could feel the blush on her cheeks. Not only did Jensen get her tickets to a Supernatural Convention but one in her home city. This might've been the kindest gesture she'd ever gotten. This could also be an excuse to finally take her friends to Chicago like she'd been saying she wanted to. She put the tickets and note back in their envelope and almost ran upstairs to knock on Elena's door. "God… why are you pounding on my door at 8 AM?" Elena groaned from inside the room before she opened the door. She rubbed her eyes.Avery glanced Elena up and down. She almost forgot it was early as hell. "Are you free this weekend?" Elena's eyebrows furrowed as she scratched a hand at her head. "Yeah. I got nothing going on, why?" They would hang out a lot on the weekends but they wouldn't plan anything in particular."We're going to Chicago." Avery smiled widely, practically vibrating. "Woah, woah, woah. Huh?" Elena's eyes widened. Yeah, that woke her up. "What the hell? Explain?" She knew Avery had something going on but she would never say anything. Just a guy, she'd say. Or a friend. Elena doubted that. Especially with how secretive she was being. Avery was open about everything with Elena. Either Avery was turning to drug dealing for money or something else fishy was going on. She suspected a weird ass boyfriend. "I, uh, won plane tickets!" Avery lied. Horribly. Elena pursed her lips, the doubt showing. "Okay, uh…" She laughed nervously. How could she explain this? It was easy to explain to Nate. Because he was there. "Well, remember when I went to Texas? To Jensen's brewery?" She rubbed her wrist slightly. Elena's eyes narrowed as she nodded. "Yeah…" "He was there." As soon as the words left Avery's lips, Elena slapped a hand over her mouth. "He asked for my number. We went on a few dates. Kissed. I went over to his house. And I think we're dating now. Actually, yeah, we are." She was beginning to ramble because of how silent Elena was. Avery stared at her, unsure if she should poke her out of her daze. Elena brought a hand to her forehead, relaying the information Avery just told her. "You met Jensen, you're now in a relationship and he's giving you plane tickets to Chicago ?" She couldn't believe it. "This feels more like a sugar daddy." The words just slipped from her mouth. She had a habit of doing that."It's actually… tickets to an SPN con." Avery held up the envelope and handed it over to Elena. "But he did say he'd get us plane tickets too. I just think we have to tell him which ones we want." Elena looked through the envelope, opting not to read the note. Might have personal stuff in there and she didn't need to get scarred. "There's three in here. Anyone else you thinking of inviting?" She asked. "Probably Nate." Avery thought. "Or Mercer.""Let's go with Mercer.""Yeah, okay."Nate had a retail job. Manager. So he couldn't just call out of work unless he was sick or got into some kind of accident.Mercer was another one of Avery's roommates and, while he had not a care in the world for Supernatural, he would go simply because Avery and Elena wanted him to. A good friend like that. —---Avery, Elena, and Mercer flew into Midway on Thursday morning. The flight itself only took a few hours but Elena was excited all the same. It was the first time she had ever been on a plane. She grew up in South Carolina and only traveled by car if they ever went on vacation outside the state. Avery was similar when she was young but due to some family issues, planes just seemed the better mode of transportation. Plus she'd been outside the country a handful of times. Can't drive overseas. "So where's Jensen supposed to be?" Mercer asked as they went to baggage claim. They each had a backpack and a suitcase. Strangely, his was the biggest so they had to wait for him.Avery had her carry-on next to her and her backpack on her shoulders. Elena was the same. "Just outside here. 'Said he was in a white Lincoln." She was looking at her texts with him just to make sure she was right. Once Mercer saw his luggage on the belt, he grabbed it. The trio nodded as a signal for Avery to lead the way. None of them have been to Chicago before so they'd be looking to her as the lead for a lot of this trip. As soon as they stepped outside the airport, they were all hit with the smell of city . South Carolina cities were not like this. Not so… congested. Hell, even Charlotte was nowhere near this. Cigarettes, CO2, and the overwhelming smell of car emissions. Elena coughed as a car sped off once their family member was inside. "Shit." Elena sighed.Contrary to Mercer and Elena, all Avery felt was a wave of nostalgia fill her chest. Memories of getting off the plane from Disneyland or to get to a family reunion with her parents and brothers. Then she just felt sad. Mercer nudged Avery and nodded his head in the direction of a white Lincoln. A white Lincoln with Jensen's face through the windshield.They made their way over to the car. Avery knocked on the passenger door and smiled when she realized she scared Jensen. Only a bit. He was typing something on his phone. Quickly, he unlocked the car and made his way outside to give Avery a hug. She felt a bit suffocated in his arms. In a good way. She laughed.Jensen pressed a kiss to her cheek and then registered the other two people behind her. "You must be Elena," He offered her a handshake. "And Mercer?" He sounded a bit unsure. Mercer was an unusual name. Mercer simply smiled and nodded in response."Nice to meet ya but…" Elena shook his hand then motioned to the car. "We'd like to have some AC."One thing she already hated about Chicago was how the heat felt so incredibly sticky . Wasn't this supposed to be the Windy City? Where the hell was the wind? Jensen curtly nodded and helped them get their luggage in the trunk. Thankfully there was enough space with the backpacks and suitcases. Avery smiled in thanks and Jensen's heart skipped a beat. He couldn't help it. Mercer and Elena shared a look. Then let out a laugh. They could tell just how whipped he was because of a simple smile. They all climbed into the car, Avery got passenger while Elena and Mercer had the back seats to themselves. "You know, you didn't have to come in this early." Avery whispered softly as Jensen drove off. She knew Jensen was usually only at a con for Saturday and Sunday, she couldn't imagine that changing."Well, I wanted to." Jensen smiled, glancing at Avery as he ringed his hand on the steering wheel. "Plus, I get more time with you.""And my friends." Avery pointed out with a laugh."Yeah, don't be doing any funny business!" Elena tried her best to sound like a stern dad but failed. Jensen chuckled, "A small price to pay." It really was. He'd meet Avery's other friends and get to know more about her, hopefully. He knew there was still a lot about her that he didn't know. And he was okay with that. Their relationship was still fresh. Jensen just hoped it would last long enough for him to know just about everything about her. The hotel they were going to stay at had a parking garage attached so they could easily park and check in.Elena let out a whistle as they entered. "This is the largest building I've ever been in. And the fanciest." She pointed out one of the crystal chandeliers hanging in the lobby.The floors were smooth, glossy, and made of marble. There were even a few pillars that led up to the mirrors that made up the ceiling. Fancy was an understatement. It was where rich people stayed. Which was what Avery and her friends were not. What could he say? Jensen wanted the best for Avery. And maybe he wanted to show off a little… just a little."Check in for Ackles." Jensen said to the receptionist, an easy smile on his lips. They nodded, going through their computer until they saw his name under their reservations. "Two rooms?" Jensen nodded. "Alright." They took out four cards and gave them to him. "Do you plan on switching cards to pay?" "No. Thank you, though." Jensen checked his room key. 708. Same as Avery's. He gave the one labeled 707 to Elena and Mercer. Elena whispered to Avery as they made their way to the elevator. "If this is where I find out I have a fear of heights, I blame your boyfriend."Jensen had to act like he didn't hear that. But it was hard. Boyfriend? That sounded nice… He wasn't sure what Avery was calling him to the people in her life. He didn't say Avery was his girlfriend per se… just his girl. Maybe he should start. Once Elena and Mercer made it to their room, Elena let out a yell. "Shit! This room is huge!" Avery laughed and shook her head. While it was bigger than the places Avery was used to staying at, the size was about standard for places in Chicago. Two queens, a bathroom, a closet, and a small kitchenette with a microwave and a mini fridge. Avery could see how it might be considered fancy. Avery and Jensen left for their room right next door. That had one king bed. She glanced up at Jensen and wondered if he had planned this. She didn't mind because of that one time but, for some reason, she expected to get her own bed. Jensen was in the middle of shrugging off his backpack when Avery stepped inside the room. Jensen flew in from O'Hare just a few hours before Avery and her friends did so he didn't have much time to get to the hotel. He needed to get a rental anyway. "Have any plans for the night?" He asked softly.Avery set her bag down and shrugged. "Not particularly. But I was thinking about going to this restaurant…" She trailed off but Jensen could tell she wanted to say more. There was a shine of excitement in her eyes. "It's, um…" He waited for her to continue. "It's called the Purple Pig and it's delicious." She sighed at the memory of it. "They change their menu depending on what ingredients are available to them but the desserts never change. They have this thing called the Sicilian Iris that's basically a huge donut filled with ricotta," Jensen noticed a hint of an Italian accent when she pronounced ricotta. "Mixed with chocolate chips and it's heavenly ." She sprawled across the bed.Jensen laughed softly, lying next to her. "It's that good?" He admired the way her eyes fluttered shut and seemed to revel in the memory. Suddenly, he craved this dessert."Mhm." Avery hummed, opening her eyes to meet Jensen's. "Anytime I come here, I have to get it." Jensen pressed his lips to Avery's, brushing a few hairs away from her face. He loved it when she rambled. Something about the passion in her voice or the twinkle in her eyes. He only wished he could be the object that made her feel so passionate. Perhaps he would become something like that. "Woah there, buddy." Avery gasped after their kiss.Jensen pursed his lips in annoyance. Avery had a weird… affliction of calling him "buddy," "pal," or "friend" and he blamed it on her age. Which she accepted wholeheartedly. She thought the concept of calling a lover "buddy" was hilarious. "One day you'll call me something normal.""Keep dreaming, brother." Avery teased, a horrible Southern accent coming out of her mouth. "That's so much worse." Jensen rumbled, opting to lay on his back. Avery let out a laugh. Her whole body shook with it. It was one of the many things Jensen loved about her. Whenever she did something, she used her entire body for it. When she smiled, her fingers would curl out of instinct. When she frowned, a crease would form between her brows and her shoulders would slump slightly. When she was disappointed or skeptical, an eyebrow would raise and she'd set a hand on her hip. Avery laid on her side to face Jensen. "Want to come with?" She asked, lifting a finger under his chin. "To the restaurant?" He wanted to clarify. She nodded. He had no plans either. Jared wasn't arriving in the city until Saturday morning and Misha had panels and photo ops he had to get to. "Well, I got nothing else going on…" Jensen looked into her ice-blue eyes and imagined himself getting crushed by a glacier. Avery chuckled. "I would hope not." She then grabbed her phone to shoot her friends a quick text. "It's almost noon so we could go for lunch. Maybe go for a walk and—" She cut herself off with an abrupt laugh. Color Jensen intrigued. He moved so he was flush against Avery to see her phone.  avery: wanna go to the purple pig then walk around?  elena: yeah !! mercer: bean ? avery: we can go to the bean mercer elena: this way mercer can finally find the clit mercer: we're this close boys !! Jensen let out a surprised laugh. Avery's dynamic with her friends was… interesting to say the least. She quickly typed a response on her phone. avery: you do NOT want to touch the bean, it's nasty mercer: but i must complete the mission :(( Avery set her phone on her stomach and looked at Jensen. "You good being a tourist for a day?" She knew people would see him. Fans. And she had a feeling most of them were doing tourist stuff like going to the Bean, waiting for the days Jensen was supposed to be at the con. He was the main attraction after all. "I'm a big boy. I can handle it." He didn't think that response through.Avery's eyes darkened momentarily. "Yeah, I can tell." She stood from the bed and pulled him up so fast that Jensen felt dazed. "Come on, Elena and Mercer are already on their way to the lobby." She rifled through her backpack to find a pair of sunglasses and a small Indiana Jones-like satchel that held her wallet and keys. She put her sunglasses on in exchange for her regular ones and promptly stuffed her room key and glasses inside the satchel. Jensen grabbed a baseball cap from his backpack. A Cubs hat. Hats were one of the only souvenirs he'd get for himself. It just so happened he actually liked the Cubs. "Perfect way to blend in." Avery teased softly on their way to the lobby. She noticed his hat in the elevator.Jensen rolled his eyes as he took her hand. "Don't you like baseball?" "Only to see their asses." Avery shrugged.Jensen bit his tongue. Slowly, Avery and her preferences became clearer and clearer to him. She would date basically any woman but men… She had a specific type. Dark hair, bearded, tall, broad shoulders, small waist, and a nicely shaped ass. A nice accent would be nice but she wasn't picky about that. Of course, there were a few exceptions to the rules but they were few and far between. They noticed Elena and Mercer sitting next to each other and laughing. Probably about something they saw on their respective For You Pages. "Hey, kids." Avery waved. The pair stood up and made their way towards Avery and Jensen. "You know how far away this place is from here?" Elena asked."It's literally the first thing I looked up when Jensen told me where we were staying." Avery hummed as she pulled up the directions. "It's a ten-minute walk!" Mercer let out a relieved sigh. "Thank God. I barely ate breakfast and the snacks in our room were not enough." "A growing boy." Avery cooed which turned into a laugh halfway through. Mercer just stared at her. He had the disappointed dad look down already. The walk to the restaurant was nice. Scenic. Elena looked up at all the tall buildings with wide eyes. Avery, Elena, and Mercer bantered. Jensen would join in occasionally. He didn't hang out with younger people much, but it was slightly refreshing. "Are we gonna eat on a fucking ledge?" Elena blinked as they arrived.Avery shook her head with a laugh. "I mean, we could if we wanted." She nudged Elena to bring her out of her trance. The actual restaurant was inside a twelve-story building that housed a lot of different businesses and did have an inside dining area but there was also a balcony that overlooked the busy street that was Michigan Avenue. The balcony had a gate with an arch labeled with "The Purple Pig" in deep magenta lettering. Jensen had been going to conventions in Chicago for nearly a decade and he was surprised he'd never heard of this place before. Or even seen it. It seemed hard to miss. Or maybe he had seen it and wanted to go but simply forgot. Both options were very likely. Avery led them inside. "Reservation under Cairo." The host glanced behind Avery. Where Jensen stood. "Do you prefer indoor or outdoor seating?" They asked. "Outdoor." Elena answered for her friend. "Outdoor." Avery confirmed. The host smiled as they grabbed four menus and led them to their table. They set their menus on the table. "Have any of you been here before?" The group quickly sat down. "I have." Avery responded.The host looked at the others. "Great, well, for you guys. This place is basically Mediterranean tapas. Small plates that can be shared but there are some single-serve dishes. Our chef also noted which wines would go well with each dish on the menu. Hope you guys like it." They walked off after their little spiel. "Wine sucks." Elena wrinkled her nose in disgust. "I'll probably stick with Sprite or something." Mercer was the first to take a glance at the drink menu. "They have cocktails. And," He let out a laugh, "A whiskey of the month." Jensen eyed the menu. There was a lot to choose from. The whiskey sounded nice but he didn't like to drink that early in the day. "What do you suggest?" He looked over at Avery who was eagerly looking at the menu. "Two appetizers, at least. Three mains. And a dessert." Avery explained. "Well, for the outline of our food. Actual dishes…" She glanced back down at the menu. "I'd say the fried mozzarella and whipped ricotta for an appetizer." There was that hint of an accent again. "We can choose as a group for the mains, see what looks best, then uh… I need to get the Sicilian Iris." Elena let out a laugh. "I forgot just how much you fantasize about it." Avery rolled her eyes. Elena looked at Jensen to explain to him just how much Avery craved the dessert. "She brought it up in the exact same breath she would talk about wanting to take us to Chicago. Like a past lover or something that she missed. 'I want to show you around Chicago and I also want to destroy this fucking donut so bad.' It's carnal!" Mercer brought a hand to his forehead to hide his smile. "It's the best thing I've put in my mouth! When you try it you're gonna think the same thing." Avery defended. Jensen simply watched their argument, amused.Elena narrowed her eyes, "So you're gonna share?""I never said that. When did I say that?"

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

"You… might have been right." Elena mumbled as they left the restaurant.After a bit of arguing, Jensen finally let Avery pay for their lunch. While it was nice that he got them convention tickets and bought their plane tickets, Avery didn't want to feel like she was taking advantage of his wealth. She knew she wasn't but there was still some guilt that ate away at her. "There's no 'might.' I was right." Avery punched Elena's arm with a knowing smile. Elena did end up getting a Sicilian Iris and shared it with Mercer. But it was a struggle. It was way too good to share. It was sinful. How the hell did that place sell it? They had to get a license or something for it. Jensen had to agree. The way Avery made a noise of satisfaction at the taste was sinful. His brain short-circuited as the noise made its way to his ears. "Sh! I see the Bean!" Mercer yelled, running the rest of the way. Sure enough, a few hundred feet in front of them was the silver bean reflecting the bright sun back onto the people around it. Elena thought about running with Mercer then realized… fuck it. She broke out into a sprint to catch up to him. Jensen and Avery shared a look. They didn't feel like running. "Sometimes I question how all my friends are older than me." She sighed. Elena and Mercer were already taking a few pictures but they waited for the couple before they did anything else."They're twenty-two?" Jensen looked from Avery to her friends. She simply nodded. She looked older. Not by much but by how she carried herself differently from Elena. Mercer seemed like the same age she was but he was a bit deceptive that way. Elena pulled them all close and held her phone up high enough to get them all in frame as well as the general outline of the Bean. "Smile!" They all did. Jensen wrapped an arm around Avery's shoulder while Elena and Mercer held a thumbs up. "Slay!" She laughed as she went through the pictures she took. Mercer got up close to the Bean, and as every man should when they make the pilgrimage, he flicked it."You finally found it!" Avery teased, nudging him slightly.Mercer nudged her shoulder back. "After all this time." He sighed jokingly.Elena's gaze shifted to Jensen by instinct. She wanted to ask him a question. A very personal one. But she knew they weren't at that level in their relationship yet. Hell, she met him today. Not very good to be asking questions about someone's sex life when you just met. Instead, she decided to take a video of Mercer flicking the Bean yet again. Avery guided Jensen under the arch of the Bean and looked up at their reflection, taking a quick picture. After a few, Jensen leaned in for a kiss. What he was feeling—it was all so domestic. Somehow. Like they were simply on a vacation together. They were. But not completely alone. Avery let the hand holding her phone fall as her free one rested on Jensen's shoulder. Any kiss they shared was nice. Intoxicating. No matter if it was a quick peck or filled with passion, Avery felt a bit dazed afterward.A camera shutter pulled them from their kiss. "I'm saving this for when y'all get married or something." Elena laughed. Jensen bit his lip. While being bound to Avery sounded nice, he didn't think they'd get married any time soon. He'd already committed to someone once and it didn't work out. He wanted to be careful in that area. As if a tidal wave was about to crash onto shore, Jensen noticed a few girls pointing and gossiping about him out of the corner of his eye. They all looked to be in their late twenties. He glanced back at Avery and gave her an apologetic look as she noticed them too. She simply gave him a small smile and backed away slightly. Jensen didn't need fans speculating on his relationship and asking him weird questions in public. Suddenly, Avery was very glad her dark sunglasses shielded most of her face. Sure enough, the girls found the courage to go up to him and talk to him. Avery could hear the jumble of 'I love you on Supernatural!' or 'I've watched your show for years!' and she thought she heard a 'Shit, you're hotter in real life.' Jensen took each comment with grace and chose to believe that last comment was simply a slip of the tongue and nothing more. "Are you guys in for the convention?" Jensen asked out of courtesy. One of them nodded. "Yep! We're from Wisconsin." "It's our first con too. Imagine our surprise when we meet you here instead of the con." The second girl laughed. A little too hard. Must've been the nerves. Jensen's been there. Avery was in the middle of making a joke with Mercer and Elena—yet another Bean-clit analogy—when one of the girls asked, "Do you mind taking our picture?" Elena had to resist the urge to give her a glare. Avery shook her head. "Not at all." The girl handed Avery her phone. She knew she had no right to be jealous so she tried her best to not let it get to her as the three girls got nice and close to Jensen. "I'll take a few." She smiled tightly.Once the girls were satisfied they said their goodbyes and threw a thank you Avery's way before they left them alone. Elena pursed her lips. "Do they not know what personal space is…" Her eyes narrowed."You're just overly conscious of space in regards to yourself because autism." Avery commented. Jensen felt whiplash at the way the conversation changed completely. Elena shrugged, knowing Avery was right. —---
[FRIDAY]
While Avery and her friends had tickets for the entire convention, which started on Thursday, they ultimately decided to go on Friday instead. The jet lag caught up to Elena later on Thursday afternoon so she didn't particularly feel like being around a bunch of strangers for the rest of the day. Avery had to agree. After their complimentary breakfast, Avery hopped in the shower. She was careful not to think about the man on the other side of the wall. But it was hard. Jensen sat in bed and sent a few texts to the cast and Clif. The one he sent to Clif was apologetic. It seemed to have slipped his mind that he was at a convention without the head of his security with him. But it was fine, Clif was gonna come tomorrow with Jared. He sent a few pictures of him and Avery to Misha and Jared.  Misha: You two look great in these! Are you sure you've only been dating for a few months? Jensen: Yeah, I'm sure.  Misha: Well, if this ever doesn't work out, tell her to come my way. ;) Jensen: I'll be sure to not do that. That actor let out a breathy laugh. He knew Misha was joking. He was also painfully single for someone his age. That was part of the reason he and Jensen bonded so well in more recent years. The door to the bathroom cracked open to reveal Avery. Her hair was still soaked but she was dressed for the day. In a flannel Jensen had left in her suitcase in July but it looked different from when he last saw it. Hand-stitched on the sleeves and down the front were stars, strawberries, and a few hearts in all different colors. The shirt underneath looked to be a simple black tank, her knees were exposed from the rips in her loose-fitting jeans—Jensen saw some black ink just above her knee that he hadn't seen before—she hadn't put on shoes yet but a pair of white socks adorned her feet. Part of Jensen wanted her to come out in just a towel but that was a fantasy for another time. Avery rubbed a towel against her hair as she sat in bed next to Jensen. "I feel sorry for you, your entertainment is leaving for the day." She teased. Jensen smiled softly at her. "I think I'll manage. Walk off breakfast or something, find a cute spot for dinner. That's what I usually do." He was close enough to smell the fresh scent of her shampoo. Was it cucumber? Or was it mint? Perhaps both.Avery cocked an eyebrow, a teasing smile on her lips. "You gonna share that spot for dinner?" "I dunno. Maybe if you're convincing enough." Jensen shot back, wrapping an arm around Avery's waist to give her temple a kiss. He ruffled her hair a bit. Avery rolled her eyes as she shoved him. "I'm your girlfriend, that's all the convincing you need." She countered. Jensen opened his mouth to speak before Avery stood up from the bed. "Elena and I wanna catch the Misha panel then spend the rest of the day around the con. So just let me know if you wanna do something." She smiled, pressing a kiss to Jensen's cheek.Jensen closed his eyes to revel in the feeling, just for a moment. Her lips were soft but they felt somehow softer when they touched his skin. "Will do.""Promise?" Avery held out her pinkie finger. Jensen chuckled lowly as he intertwined their pinkies. "Promise." "Nice." Avery hummed as she threw her towel back into the bathroom and grabbed her bag to put it over her shoulder. "Smell ya later, loser!" She winked as she left. Jensen pursed his lips, though it quickly formed into a laugh. He was in love with an idiot. And he was one too.On the way to the convention center, Avery was suddenly very glad she never posted pictures of herself on Twitter and the fact that she wore sunglasses. Elena had posted most of the pictures she took yesterday, a few included ones with Jensen. One where his arm was draped around Avery's shoulder and another where they were kissing under the Bean.The caption made her laugh even though her timeline was going insane. ellablanca: we did it boys!!! we found it !! The pictures were being plastered across Twitter but Avery chose not to dwell on them too much. She set her phone in her pocket as they got their wristbands. All gold tickets. Meaning they had reserved seats and priority in photo ops. But none of them chose to get ops instead simply wanting to be entertained by the panels throughout the day. Avery and her friends made their way into the panel room, finding their seats that were a row away from being right in front of the stage. The room had a few other fans sitting already, the panel still had about twenty minutes until it started but Avery wanted to be early. "You gonna ask any questions?" Elena nudged Avery's shoulder. Mercer was simply taking everything in, wondering how stimulated he would get. Avery pursed her lips. "I might be less anxious than you but that ain't happening." A scoff escaped her. She knew Elena wouldn't either, even if she wanted to embarrass Avery. "Fair." Elena shrugged, glancing at the posters beside the stage that had all the people that consisted of the cast on them. Jensen, Jared, and Misha were at the top while more background or recurring characters filled the rest of the banner. She wondered how weird it must be for Jensen to see his face plastered on all kinds of merch. Guess it came with the job.Soon enough, Rob and Rich came out from behind the curtain and did a bit before they introduced Misha to the crowd. A roar erupted as the main man himself got onstage. He waved, blowing kisses, as he sat in the center of the stage. It was a bit surreal, for Avery, to see Misha again. In person. Kind of like a full-circle moment. But because she just so happened to be dating his ex-co-star and friend. Avery wondered if what Jensen suggested would happen. Would she properly meet Misha? They only saw each other for maybe a minute when Avery saw him on his book tour. And she was sixteen. She looked a lot different. Would he recognize her? Probably not. Mercer set a hand on her arm. "You good?" He asked softly. Avery spaced out for a while, staring into some far-off place he wasn't attuned to. "Oh, uh, yeah. Sorry." Avery scratched the back of her head, letting out a single cough while her brain started to work again. They were in the middle of questions. A girl had the microphone and squeaked out a "hello" before she moved on to her question. "It's been speculation among fans for a little while now about the girl Jensen has been hanging out with, do you know who she is?" She asked.Avery bit the inside of her cheek. She forgot fans were bound to ask questions, no matter how invasive they might be. Misha's eyes flicked to Avery's spot and she swore her heart stopped. He knew she was here? His pause was shielded as him thinking. Nothing more. "No. At least not really, I guess. Jensen can be a secretive person if he really wants to be. I mean, he hasn't told me her name. Just sent me a few pictures and… He refers to her as 'my girl' which is disgustingly cute." He wrinkled his nose in false disgust. Avery could see it now. 'Jensen Ackles Dating a Nobody?' She let out a laugh at the idea of it. "So they're dating?" The inquirer said."No, they despise each other." Misha chuckled. The rest of the panel was a blur for Avery. There were no more questions about her for Misha but… Sunday was likely a different story. She couldn't stop thinking about how Jensen sent Misha pictures of them together. It was hard for her to grasp. Just the simple fact that Jensen liked her so much and wanted to send pictures to his friends. It was… fulfilling. Made her heart feel warm. Avery, Elena, and Mercer left the panel room only for Avery to get a ping on her phone. Jensen: How you holding up?  Avery glanced up at her friends who decided to lead the way into the merch section of the convention before she typed a response.  avery: good. misha told you? Jensen: Yep. Now tell me the truth. avery: …. im not upset. just a bit nervous i guess. some fans can be territorial and i don't wanna deal with that. Jensen: It's sad the band-aid feels like it's gonna rip off any day now. Avery let out a breathy laugh at his words. Jensen might find how she spoke funny but he used a lot of weird phrases too.  avery: chin up, bucko. i can handle more than you think. it's just a weird feeling. ill probably get over it. Jensen: If you don't, you know I'm always here. Yeah. Avery hummed softly before she stuffed her phone back in her pocket. Being open with Jensen was so easy. So much easier than she ever thought it would be. She told him a few secrets not even her friends knew. He was so easy to trust. She blamed it on his personality. Something about it.Elena looked at a few hoodies that had the anti-possession symbol embroidered on the front. Mercer looked at the different stands around them and hummed. Avery did the same, occasionally smiling at people her age that she recognized as her mutuals on Twitter. She didn't say hi, not wanting to blow her only cover of being a faceless entity on the Internet with only a taste of fame. That fame only being five thousand followers or so. Then she spotted a woman she did not want to see. Kelios. Avery let out an audible groan, immediately covering her face from the shock."Girl…" Elena's eyes widened, laughing. "What the hell happened?" It seemed Mercer had the same question because he faced Avery. "Kelios!" Avery whisper-yelled. "She's here!" Elena recognized the name immediately but Mercer did not. "Who's that?" He asked."Only the biggest Wincest shipper known to man." Elena answered for Avery.Mercer may have not watched the show but he had two roommates who did. Two roommates who loved explaining things to him. Character arcs, plot lines, things they hated about the show, things they liked, he knew them all. And so he knew of Wincest. And their utter distaste for it. Which he agreed with. Shipping two siblings to any degree was abhorrent. 
avery

@pickledpascal: I SPOTTED KELIOS AT CHICON NOOOOOO
—---
[SATURDAY]
Having their fill of the con with panels with Ruth, Rob, and even one from Felicia, Avery and her friends decided to go back to the hotel. Jensen had pizza waiting in their room. As Avery opened the door, she was hit with the unmistakable smell of Lou Malnati's deep dish. Another wave of nostalgia hit her. She was sure she'd revert back to being a child by the end of the trip. She entered with Elena and Mercer behind her. "How's it going crazy kids?" Jensen sat on the floor, back against the bed with a plate of pizza balancing on his knees.Elena took a paper plate and grabbed a piece as well. "I was gonna go insane if I wasn't gonna eat soon." She sat cross-legged on the floor and took a bite. After that one bite, she inhaled the rest. "God… Chicago pizza is just built different ." Mercer did the same as Elena and simply ate in silence, every so often breaking that silence with a breath."You are a man after my own heart." Avery sat next to Jensen and took a piece, holding a hand underneath in case crumbs fell. She didn't want to get a plate. Jensen shrugged, a bashful smile on his lips. "That's the plan." As soon as the pizza hit her tongue, Avery's senses were filled with it. Lou Malnati's pizza was just the best. And nothing else could ever compete with it. Some people complained about deep dish as being absurd. The concept of there being a thin layer of cheese, a mountain of sauce, and a wall of crust was too much for some people. Not Avery. She grew up eating it nearly every Saturday. Like that night. "Having a religious experience there?" Elena chuckled, covering her mouth a bit because she was still chewing on a slice of the pizza. Avery hadn't even registered the noise that came out of her mouth. "Oh. Yeah. Lou's is just so good." Elena let out another laugh. Jensen's reaction was priceless. His jaw was clenched so hard that she could hear the grinding of his teeth as he ate. "So there's a concert happening later tonight at the convention." Mercer thought it was the best decision to change the subject."Yeah!" Avery's eyes lit up, looking at Jensen. "You performing?" It was tradition at this point for Jensen to come on for a few songs during the Saturday Night Special. She listened to a few of the live songs Louden Swain uploaded onto Spotify and they were… something, that's for sure.Jensen shifted his legs a little. He had thought about it but he didn't talk much to Rich and Rob about it. "Not sure." He admitted."C'mon, you gotta." Elena winked. "You got a girl you need to impress. Should sing a few of her favorite songs." Jensen shifted his eyes to Avery, raising an eyebrow. She ran a hand through her hair and quickly looked at a fixed spot on the floor. "I dunno. I like Chris Stapleton but you already sang a few of his songs.""Any specific requests?" He asked softly. There was something in his eyes that Avery couldn't quite recognize when she finally did meet them. "White Horse is a favorite." She admitted.Jensen swore his heart stopped. "And you say I'm after your heart?" —---Avery, Elena, and Mercer were back in their assigned seats in the main stage area. The band had already played a few songs before they announced Jensen. He changed a bit from earlier. Just his shirt. It went from a random band tee to a Playboy Bunny one. Nothing too different. If Avery thought the cheering and screaming for Misha was loud, it was a hell of a lot louder for Jensen. "Hello Chicon!" Jensen smiled into the mic. "Nice to see y'all." He glanced down at where Avery sat. "I'm gonna do a few songs for ya and then hit the fucking hay." The crowd roared in response. Seeing Jensen affect an entire room like that was insane to Avery. But she didn't blame them for it. "This one's called White Horse." 
This love, is getting kind of dangerous

Feels like it's a loaded gun

My-my, it's turning like a cloud of dust

My heart always wants to run
Avery's heart thumped in her chest with each beat of the drum. God, Jensen sounded so much better live. She couldn't help but be mesmerized. The way he walked around the stage and the sinful roughness of his voice was enough for anyone to question how they thought about their sexuality. Elena nudged Mercer and motioned to their open-mouthed friend. Mesmerized was an understatement . 
Oh-oh-oh-oh

If you want a cowboy on a white horse

Riding off into the sunset

If that's the kind of love you wanna wait for

Hold on tight, girl, I ain't there yet

No, I ain't there yet

No, I ain't there yet
Jensen was an idiot in some ways but that didn't mean he was oblivious. Especially with the way Avery was staring at him like a goddamned piece of meat with each word he sang. As a bit of a show, he swayed his hips. 
White horse
The crowd went wild. And Jensen could tell there was a battle going on inside Avery for whether or not she should start yelling too. She'd blend in but Jensen could always pick her out in a crowd. That's what mattered. She knew he was watching her just as much as Jensen knew she was watching him . 
Someday, maybe you could have your way

Right now's just not the time

Some things a man just got to do

I wish you could change my mind
Avery couldn't keep her eyes off Jensen. Her knuckles turned white as she gripped the edges of her chair. She worried if she let go, she'd let out an animalistic sound. And it wouldn't be a moan. More like a roar of a lion. 
Oh-oh-oh-oh

If you want a cowboy on a white horse

Riding off into the sunset

If that's kind of love you wanna wait for

Hold on tight, girl, I ain't there yet

No, I ain't there yet

No, I ain't there yet
Jensen neared the end of the stage as he sang the verse, giving the audience a sault and a wink. He went over to Rob on the guitar and wrapped an arm around his shoulder.
White Horse
Avery was practicing so much self-restraint Elena had a feeling she'd have to sleep with a pillow on both sides of her head that night. She didn't want to think about it too hard though. 
If you want a cowboy on a white horse

Riding off into the sunset

If that's the kind of love you wanna wait for

Hold on tight, girl, I ain't there
Jensen was really getting into the song at that point, bouncing his head to the beat, closing his eyes as he let the riff of the guitar overtake him. In some ways, he got possessed onstage. By someone far more outgoing than he was. Someone who's been singing on stage far longer than he's been alive. 
If you want a cowboy on a white horse

Riding off into the sunset

If that's the kind of love you wanna wait for

Hold on tight, girl, I ain't there yet

No, I ain't there yet

No, I ain't there yet
The song ended and Avery had to let out a deep breath. She wasn't sure how much longer she'd last before she had to hastily exit the building. She wouldn't last the rest of the show at this rate. "For this next song… I'm gonna need the help of my girl." Jensen smirked, eyes darting around the crowd when they realized. "Mind coming up here, sweetheart?" His eyes locked with Avery's. The fans around her all stared, wide-eyed.Avery stared too. She didn't sing. At least, not in front of people. Except for the times Jensen caught her singing a tune while they were calling. It was a force of habit since it was mostly silent besides their voices and a fan in the background. This was completely different. But Elena pushed Avery to stand. On autopilot, she made her way onstage with a helping hand from Jensen."Are you… sure about this?" She asked, her need from earlier dropped to normal as the anxiety kicked in.Away from the mic, Jensen nodded. "I gotcha, sweetheart. If you want, you can just go backstage and I'll do this song by myself." He whispered softly, rubbing her back to soothe her. It worked. "Depends. What's the song?" Avery breathed. She would do this. Who knows? It might be fun. Jensen pointed to one of the stands that held an IPad. They had them because Jensen couldn't be bothered to remember the lyrics of songs half the time. It was open to the lyrics of the next song. "Oh, shit. I don't need that." She said, recognizing the song immediately.Rob handed Avery a mic and smiled at the couple as he went back to his spot with his band. "Alrighty then." Jensen hummed, impressed. He then spoke into the mic. "This one's called All The Pretty Girls." The crowd roared including a fist in the air and a whoop from Elena.
All the pretty girls said, "Pick me up at eight"

All the pretty girls said, "I'm going to L.A."

All the pretty girls said, "I hate my hair"

Talking to the mirror in their underwear
Jensen sang the first verse, keeping his eyes trained on Avery and only Avery. She was still nervous. He could tell by the way her finger scratched at the mic and how she could barely even look at the crowd, opting to focus in on him. 
All the lost boys said, "I just got paid"

All the lost boys said, "I wanna get laid"

When the town goes blue and the lights blink red

All the lost boys do what all the pretty girls said
Avery's voice was a bit shaky at first but as the verse progressed, her confidence rose. It did seem like she knew the song like the back of her hand. The way she sounded was so soft and even airy but still suited the song well. 
I'm home for the summer, shoot out the lights

Don't blow my cover, oh I'm free tonight

I'm coming over, call all your friends

"Somebody hold me", all the pretty girls said

All of the whiskey went to my head

"Shut up and kiss me", all the pretty girls said
The pair sang together for the chorus. Jensen didn't miss the way Avery closed her eyes and swung her hips along to one of the lines. He'd never seen her move like that. Actually, he'd never seen her dance at all. 
All the sheriffs said, "Kid, you better slow down"

All the preachers said, "It's the devil's playground"

I wonder if they knew they were wasting their breath

All I ever heard was all the pretty girls said
Jensen sang while Avery waved shyly at her friends. Mercer seemed to be simply enjoying the music while Elena had her phone in her hand. No doubt taking pictures and videos. She was a mom friend in that way. 
I'm home for the summer, shoot out the lights

Don't blow my cover, oh I'm free tonight

I'm coming over, call all your friends

"Somebody hold me", all the pretty girls said

All of the whiskey went to my head

"Shut up and kiss me", all the pretty girls said
Again, as they sang together, Avery moved her hips with a wide, easy smile on her lips. Instead of not trying to think about it too hard, Jensen's voice came out rougher than he wanted it to. He tried to dial it back a bit. The fans would notice and blow the whole thing out of proportion. Perhaps it was warranted. 
All the seventeen's said, "I'm getting outta dodge"

All the big dreams said, "I'm selling all I got"

All the high rollers busy placing their bets

Me, I'm heading south, 'cause all the pretty girls said
Avery motioned to Jensen as she sang, causing a few people in the audience to laugh. To make a show out of it, Jensen pointed to himself and acted flattered. He was. Avery basically called him pretty.
I'm home for the summer, shoot out the lights

Don't blow my cover, oh I'm free tonight

I'm coming over, call all your friends

"Somebody hold me", all the pretty girls said

All of the whiskey, went to my head

"Shut up and kiss me", all the pretty girls said
Half-way through the last verse, Jensen stopped singing and planted a kiss on Avery's cheek as he set a hand on her hip. The whole room erupted with cheers of different levels of enthusiasm for it. Hell, there were even a few whistles. He was so happy Avery was all his. Fuck the fans reaction, as long as people knew she was off the table, that's all that mattered. 
All the pretty girls said
The lyrics died on Avery's tongue as the song ended. She took a glance at the people in the crowd and smiled shyly. Jensen tilted her head with a finger so she was facing him again and sealed their public relationship with a kiss to her lips. The sounds from the crowd were deafening. But Jensen didn't care. He cupped Avery's cheek and tilted his own head so his nose was flush against hers. To ground herself, Avery set a hand on his waist and, shit, Jensen liked that. "Woah there, guys, we have a show to finish." Rob's voice joked on his mic. Avery broke the kiss. Her entire face was red. Jensen let out a hum at the sight. "This, my dear friends, is my girl. Avery." He announced with a wave, setting his and Avery's mics on a stand before they left the stage for the green room.As the green room door closed behind them, Avery sat down on one of the couches. Her legs felt like jelly. "God." She brought a hand up to her head, leaning against the back of the couch. Jensen quickly sat next to her, concerned. "Should I have not done that?" Weakly, Avery shook her head. "No, it's okay. More than okay. I'm just not used to… all that." She laughed. "The flashing cameras and the staring and yelling."Jensen wrapped an arm around her waist and brought her close, kissing the side of her head. Her breath was slow but her heartbeat was fast. "You get used to it after a while." A lie. It might have been easier to deal with but he still wasn't completely used to it."Sure." Avery doubted that. "Hopefully people will back off though." She sighed.Jensen cocked an eyebrow. "Jealous?" "Me? A little. But you were the one sucking my face in front of a few hundred people." Avery pointed out, nudging him slightly. "A little possessive much?"Jensen narrowed his eyes as he ran a hand down her leg, causing Avery to shut her mouth. "I can be. Especially with a girl like you." Sometimes, Jensen couldn't comprehend just how lucky he was to have Avery. She was hilarious, weird in all the best ways, and contrasted from his personality like the moon is to the sun. He'd have to send Tessa a thank you note or an edible arrangement. If Jensen hadn't made it out of the distillery section of the brewery that day, he would've gone about his life without ever knowing Avery existed. Maybe they would've met at a con, later in life but Jensen didn't want to think about all the changes that would've happened. Would Avery have a partner? Would Jensen still be single? How long would it be until they met? Would he be jaded by then? Screw the edible arrangement, Tessa was long overdue for a vacation.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

@deanscutiee: wouldn’t it be funny if avery from spn twt was the avery on stage last night Reply to @deanscutiee by @MOCCAINDEAN: NO BUT IVE THOUGHT THE SAME THING !! IMAGINE Sunday started off nice. Jensen woke up earlier than Avery and was able to sneak out of the room to grab some breakfast. The eggs were actually pretty good for a hotel. Since yesterday morning, he'd been thinking about how much Avery had been eyeing the waffle station. Instead of waffles, she'd get toast, eggs, and a sausage patty or two. He had a feeling she was waiting on the waffles for something. He just wasn't sure yet. So Jensen started up the waffle maker and poured the pre-made mix inside. Mercer and Elena would have to fend for themselves. Avery woke up to the sweet smell of a freshly made waffle. She rubbed her eyes and grabbed for her glasses, seeing the world clearly for the first time that day. Jensen sat at the end of the bed, sipping on hotel coffee. He was already dressed—in a simple white button-up and a pair of ripped jeans. She glanced at her nightstand. On top of a plastic plate was a Belgian waffle with an assortment of berries, a packet of syrup, and a few pieces of bacon on the side as well as a plastic fork and knife. "Mornin', sweetheart." Jensen's Texas drawl was more apparent in the mornings. "Sleep well?" His lips curved into a smile as he took another sip of coffee. Avery ran a hand through her hair as she yawned. "I feel utterly destroyed. In a good way." Being on stage last night nearly knocked the wind out of her for the rest of the night. If she did meet the cast, she definitely didn't remember it. She eagerly took the plate and began eating. Jensen hummed as he watched Avery, deciding it might be the best time to tell her his plans while she was distracted. "Clif told me it might be safer if you stayed in the green room or shadowed me instead of being on the main floor of the con. As a precaution." He explained. He didn't want to separate Avery from her friends but she was now known as his girlfriend. People could be crazy. Take advantage of her. Jensen didn't want that to happen. He knew how certain people felt about Danneel even though she was nothing but kind to him. "Hmph." Avery hummed, stopping from stuffing her face full of food. She swallowed before she spoke. "Does this mean I don't have to pay to meet the cast?" She was strangely accepting of it. While Avery was nervous about being "outed," she knew it would happen eventually. And that she would have to be careful showing her face at a convention. Supernatural fans were everywhere but being at a place where a bunch of them were? It could be catastrophic. Jensen let out a breath. Relieved Avery wasn't combative of the idea. "No. Rob, Rich, and Misha already love you. I'm sure they'll be nothing but good to you. Jared…" He pursed his lips.When Jensen told Jared about his new girlfriend, it didn't go over well. Especially when he mentioned how Avery was a fan. Jared wasn't as supportive as Jensen was hoping he'd be. Jared knew he was lonely. He knew Jensen was slipping. Getting over Danneel was easy but accepting the fact he didn't have a partner to share everything with was hard. Jared was close but not enough. Avery cocked an eyebrow at Jensen, setting her plate back on her nightstand. "Jared will learn to." He finally finished. Jared was just looking out for him, he reasoned. Nothing more. Jensen was careful about talking to Jared about Avery. There were certain things he felt like Jared didn't need to know, certain things were okay. He let it slip that Avery was bisexual but it didn't seem to bother Jared too much. He just paused, took in the information, and then moved on to a different subject. And then there was the fact that Avery was transgender. She confessed it to Jensen a few days before she was supposed to leave Austin. It did throw him for a loop but he decided in the end that he didn't care. He didn't keep it a secret from Jared but he also wasn't sure he should bring it up unless Avery wanted him to tell other people.Maybe they should have that conversation. "Hey," Avery whispered softly, scooting next to Jensen. "Do you want me to shadow you?" She leaned her head against his shoulder.Jensen turned his head so he could rest his chin on top of her head, wrapping an arm around her waist. "Yeah." He admitted. "I'd love it. I want you to get to know my friends just like I want to get to know yours. I want you to trust them. I want…" He breathed, rubbing Avery's side with his thumb. "I want our lives to bleed together." Avery smiled at the ground. That would be nice. She moved so she could press a kiss to Jensen's cheek. "I'll let Mercer and Elena know so they don't wonder where I am." She grabbed her phone and shot them a quick text. "So…" She started, a smirk on her lips. "Misha likes me?" "Now don't get any ideas." Jensen narrowed his eyes.Avery laughed, shaking her head. "I'm not a homie hopper." She held up her hands."A what?" Jensen looked at her incredulously. Avery bit the inside of her cheek to stop her from bursting out into laughter. She'd forget their generational gap a lot. Meaning she had to explain half the phrases she used. "This one's kinda in the title, bud." She said matter-of-factly. "A homie hopper is someone who fucks one of their boyfriends—or girlfriends, but it's usually used in reference to men—they fuck their friends." Avery could lose track of her words sometimes. Jensen found it enchanting. Kind of how Avery had to text at least three times to explain an idea. Jensen simply let out a sigh and tried to fight down a smile. "Do you want to get changed?" He glanced down at his watch, his panel wasn't until much later but he had a few photo ops and autographs to get through. "I mean, I don't mind seeing you in a T-shirt and shorts." He shrugged teasingly.Avery rolled her eyes. "Of course you don't." She stood up and stretched her arms in front of her with a gentle crack of her bones. Going over to her suitcase which looked to be overflowing with clothes, Avery sat down next to it in order to see what she wanted to wear. Distracted with texting Clif, Jensen wasn't too invested in what Avery picked out to wear. Jensen: Avery said she's good with staying in the green room and following me to ops and shit. Clif: Great, I'll let the rest of security know.  Clif: And the cast. Jensen clicked the home button on his phone and let the screen go dark. Would Jared change his mind about Avery? They were bound to meet in the green room if Jensen was busy and Jared wasn't. Jensen was so confident the rest of the cast would adore her but not one of the closest people to him. It was scary. Like having his first girlfriend. Would his parents like her? Jensen ran a hand down his face. He didn't even want to think about that. His parents were nice but they were… more closed-minded than he was. He didn't think Jared was like that. It'd work out. He hoped. As the door to the bathroom opened, Jensen glanced up. Avery's hair was brushed, she had her signature winged eyeliner on as well as a crisp, cream jumpsuit in denim. Did Jensen get transported into the ‘70s or something? "Fuck." He breathed. Avery let out a laugh as she pulled on her black boots. "Save that for later, buddy." She nudged him as she laced up her shoes. Jensen stood up as he pocketed his phone, pulling Avery to her feet as well. "I'll put a pin in it. Only for you." He smirked, pressing a kiss to her cheek. Avery rolled her eyes and let out a breath. Fangirls were simultaneously great and scary. Especially now that she was on the receiving end of them. Clif met Avery and Jensen in the lobby. Meeting him in person was interesting. Most she'd ever seen of him was in the corner of some videos and the occasional picture of him that he took with Jared and Jensen. He seemed nice enough though."Nice to meet the girl who swept Jensen off his feet." Clif smiled politely as they made their way to his black SUV. Avery smiled back, feeling a bit awkward. It was the kind of smile that made her lips form a thin line. She always felt a little silly when she met someone for the first time. Jensen opened the car door for Avery and closed it behind himself as he got in. He realized the other presence in the car. And it wasn't Clif. It completely slipped his mind that he would also be picking up Jared. He was preoccupied thinking about how he'd react instead of their shared mode of transportation. Jensen could see Jared look at them in the rearview mirror. "Heya. You must be Avery." Jared turned his head so he could properly see her. "I'm Jared." Avery nodded. She could tell Jared was doing this out of the kindness of his heart for his friend, not because he wanted to. "Nice to meet you." She was suddenly glad she had tons of experience bullshitting her expressions and tone of voice in customer service. Jensen glanced between the two. He could feel the tension. It wasn't a secret to him that Avery had a distaste for Jared—he wouldn't describe it as upfront hatred—but she did say maybe that'd change when they met. He wasn't so sure. It took a lot for Jared to change his mind about something. The ride to the convention was silent besides the faint noise of the radio hanging in the air. They went through the back to get inside the convention center, dropping Avery off in the green room before Jensen and Jared were guided to their shared photo ops. Avery turned as the door closed behind her. "Hey!" Misha was sitting on one of the couches, Felicia seemed to be in the middle of something important, and Jake sat next to Misha, scrolling on his phone. Avery's eyes brightened at the sight of him. "Jensen left you alone. Fucking finally." He joked.Avery smiled. "He been bothering you? Talking about me?" She asked. She already knew the answer, finding it cute that he did. "Almost every day." Misha admitted. "He's so whipped. But I can't say I blame him." He winked. Avery laughed. Misha was a flirt but it was all in good fun. He'd never get with Avery out of respect for Jensen. Felicia decided it was a good time to cut in. "Wait, that's Jensen's girlfriend?" Her eyes were wide. "Shit. That's so cool! Didn't think he'd go for someone so young." She might've forgotten the woman in question was right in front of her."Me neither." Avery sat on one of the plush chairs, crossing her legs. Being in a relationship with Jensen was like a fever dream. As much as she wanted to be his, she ultimately accepted it would never happen. But then Jensen and Danneel divorced. Avery still didn't think it would happen, assuming he'd stay in his age range. She thought he'd maybe date someone a few years younger or a few years older than him. Instead, Jensen showed an interest in her . All because of a trip to his Brewery. "No, but I've really never seen Jensen so happy." Misha admitted sincerely. He could tell this kind of love was one that was going to stick. "You compliment each other well. Part of that is ‘cause you're both tall as hell." He murmured. Misha might have been a little… irked by the fact most of his co-stars were taller than him. And, now, so was Avery. Avery chuckled at the last comment as she checked her phone. elena: if you fuck in the green room like in the fics, tell me elena: actually don't tell me Avery took a deep breath to try to stop herself from laughing. She quickly set her phone face down in her lap and listened to Misha babble about whatever. Was it RandomActs? Or maybe it was another poetry book he was working on. Another ping.Avery flipped her phone over just to read it on her home screen. Jensen: Misha treating you well? She opened up her lock screen to respond. Thankfully, this wasn't anything incriminating.  avery: if treating me well means trying to flirt with me, then yeah Jensen: Flirting means he likes you.  avery: nice. Misha stared at Avery for a moment. He recognized her from somewhere but he couldn't quite place from what. So he outright asked. "Would I have seen you somewhere before? Say, at a con like this?" His tone was still teasing but inquiring. Avery sucked in a breath. This felt inevitable. So out with it. "I met you before. At your cookbook tour, years ago." She pursed her lips. "I was sixteen." "Oh!" Misha's mouth fell open. He remembered her eyes. Her face was a lot rounder back then and she had a big growth spurt. And, if he remembered correctly, Avery's hair was a lot shorter. "You aged nicely. It's crazy I've seen you before Jensen. I should have bragging rights." That wasn't the response Avery was expecting. It made her heart flutter. Not in the same way Jensen made her feel but it still felt strange that someone Avery watched on a TV screen complimented her. Misha liked her. Seemingly enough to want to be friends with her. "Do you want my number so you give me all the secrets Jensen is keeping from me?" Misha asked with a mischievous glint in his eye.Avery chuckled. "Why not?" They exchanged phones and typed their phone numbers in their contacts. Misha sent her a quick text just to make a text chain for later. Jake left a little after that to get to his photo ops and Felicia had to go to the bathroom. In exchange, Jensen appeared in the green room for a break in between photo ops and autographs. Avery looked up from her conversation with Misha at the sound of the door opening. "Look who's here." Misha smirked.Jensen squeezed himself into the chair next to Avery, ultimately sliding under her. "Had to see my girl." He sighed softly. Avery coughed to try and mask her blush. She was sitting in Jensen's lap . And he had a hand on her hip."You two need me to leave ‘cause I can totally tell everyone else to not come in here?" Misha laughed. Avery didn't mask her blush as well as she could compartmentalize her utter indifference. Jensen was about to say something when Jared made his way inside the green room. "And the mood just died…" Jared grabbed a water bottle, broke the seal, and took a long sip. Misha saw that as the time he needed to leave. He could sense something and he didn't like it. Avery quickly followed him. She didn't like conflicts that she could avoid. This seemed like something easily avoidable. For her, at least. Not Jensen. "So, Avery, huh?" Jared started. Jensen didn't like his tone. "Her jaw's pretty sharp, you sure she isn't a boy? Some people might think you're gay." He tried to joke. It was lighthearted in nature, not supposed to be taken seriously.It made Jensen's blood boil. He didn't want to fight with Jared but it was getting hard not to. Since season one, they have had a pretty clean track record. But the show was done. Their "rules" could change. "What's wrong with that?" He tried his best not to sound defensive."You're straight." Jared shrugged. "I mean, there's nothing wrong with being gay. Just didn't think you're like that." He recovered as best he could.Jensen's jaw clenched. He didn't want to just take those two comments and not try to defend Avery. She didn't deserve that. "You're being a bit of an asshole right now, Jar." He pointed out. Not to mention, he was secure in his sexuality enough to let there be a bit of ebb in his preferences. "How?" Jared was clueless. Blissfully unaware. Or maybe he was aware and just didn't care. "Are you serious right now?" Jensen's voice raised unwillingly. His breath was hot and he could feel his throat drying. "You just called Avery a boy! And then proceeded to call me gay like it was a bad thing. You thought it was funny. Honestly, I could care less about what you call me because someone in this cast needs to be secure in their sexuality instead of overcompensating but Avery didn't deserve that shit!" He stood when he felt it had become too much. His fists were clenched before he ran his fingers through his hair. Jared pursed his lips, his eye twitching slightly. He was silent for a while. "So Avery is a boy?" "Oh, shut the fuck up." Jensen had to resist the urge to slap some sense into him. "I'm done with this conversation." He slammed the door behind him as he left the green room. How could he have been friends with someone like that for so long? Avery made Jensen see the light. It sucked that their panel was in thirty. Good thing he was a great actor. Avery danced a little backstage to a few tunes Louden Swain played in between panels. Elena and Mercer were with her, making jokes to try and lighten her mood. "I saw this guy wearing a fucking dog collar earlier. And I don't know how to feel." Elena looked disgusted. "A part of me wanted to pull on the metal loop." She admitted as she leaned against the wall. "Doggy?" Mercer said without thinking. Avery paused, bringing a hand to cover her mouth. Mercer always had the best one-liners. She let that comment simmer for a second as she felt a wave of second-hand embarrassment and laughter. "You need to be institutionalized or something after that." She said after a fit of laughter. After a bit of searching, Jensen found Avery and slid up next to her. "Hey." He said warmly. The adrenaline from his anger was starting to wear off and they could tell. Avery's eyebrows furrowed with concern as she slipped a hand around his waist to keep him close. Jensen was glad for the contact. His shoulders visibly relaxed. "You good?" She might not be the best at giving out advice but she learned a lot of people just wanted someone to listen to them. Which she did a lot of."Yeah." That earned him three doubtful looks. "No." Jensen swallowed, plastering a fake smile on his lips. "I'll talk about it later. At dinner." Avery nodded.Elena hummed, biting her tongue. "A bit of a change in plans." It was Jensen's turn to look confused. "Misha's joining us for tacos. And Felicia." When did Elena talk with Misha and Felicia? Jensen realized they might've caught them while trying to find Avery. Or maybe Avery was with Misha and Felicia when she stole Elena and Mercer from the convention floor. Avery pressed a kiss to Jensen's lips, running a finger down his jaw as a distraction of sorts. It worked. For a second. "If you feel uncomfortable going out, tell me. We don't have to." She whispered. "I love you." Jensen sighed before his brain could catch up with his lips. It couldn't have felt more true, though. Jensen was a grown man but even he had bad days. Bad days when he needed to be taken care of and be treated delicately like a porcelain doll or a crystal wine glass. Avery understood that. Avery treated him so gently, in ways Jensen had never felt before. His chest felt so full and he was afraid. Afraid that he would overflow and make some sort of mistake to scare Avery away. Elena's eyes went wide then nudged Mercer to turn around and give Avery and Jensen some space. Mercer complied.Avery's heart dropped to her feet. "You love me?" "I love you." Jensen's voice sounded stronger. He didn't expect Avery to say it back. "You don't—" He took a breath. "I want you to know. You don’t have to say anything." Avery searched for something in Jensen's eyes, for any sign he might've been lying. She didn't find one. She pulled Jensen closer and kissed him. Hard. Jensen let out a surprised noise before he adjusted to it. He'd never get used to the way he felt when they kissed. Her grip on his waist, the way it felt natural for him to cup her face or wrap his arms around her neck. This kiss felt as if it sealed their fate together.Pulling away for breath, Avery rested her forehead against Jensen's. "I love you too," She pressed a kiss to his nose. "Honey." Jensen's heart leapt out of his chest. She could see it. "You like that?" It was meant to be a real question just because she wanted to make sure but it came out more seductive than she intended."Fuck yes…" Jensen almost whined. And he wouldn't have cared. "Sorry to break your… uh, moment but you're on in five." Rob looked between Avery and Jensen, a mix of amusement and horror in his eyes. Jensen pursed his lips as he slipped from Avery. They were always getting broken apart when they just got started, it was starting to irritate him. And then he saw Jared walking down the hall towards them. That irritated him more. He gave Rob a thankful smile as he grabbed a mic. Elena and Mercer finally turned around, thinking it was safe to. Watching Jensen and Avery get intimate was comparable to seeing their parents like that. Jared brushed past Jensen and grabbed his mic, adjusting the beanie on his head. Jensen's lips formed a thin line, causing his dimples to show. Avery looked at him, concerned. The last thing she wanted to do was cause a rift between the two men. Rob made his way back onto the stage and announced Jensen and Jared to the crowd. They erupted into cheers as the dynamic duo walked on. Avery, Elena, and Mercer watched from a monitor they had backstage. If Avery didn't know any better, the pair looked as friendly as ever with each other. She crossed her arms as she watched, occasionally rubbing her chin from the anxiety eating away at her. A specific question caught her attention among all the other, more silly, ones. "We don't see you two out together much anymore, is there something going on?" Avery recognized that voice but she couldn't put a finger on it. Either way, it was still weird to ask. Before Jared could answer, Jensen did. He always took the reins when he realized there was an intended answer a person wanted. "We both have pretty busy schedules. Y'know, I have the brewery among my already taxing filming schedule and he's out filming Walker. We do hang out, I mean, we still live next to each other. It's just not as often." He ended his answer with a tight smile. "I'd say Jensen's more busy with getting ass than anything else." Jared butted in which was played off as a joke, making the crowd laugh. But Jensen could see the malice behind it."That fucking bitch—" Elena gasped backstage.Deciding to play with it, Jensen made a show of innocently shrugging. "It's a good ass." Avery covered her face at the comment, feeling the embarrassment rise in her body. Jensen admitted in front of people that he stared at her ass. She didn't need people to know that. At least it was better than ending the question after Jared's comment. Jensen was good at acting like things weren't getting to him and Avery wasn't sure if she could be concerned or not. However, that mask fell easily around her. "So, Jensen, now we know you have a girlfriend…" Another fan started. Oh no. A question about Jensen and Avery's relationship. "How did you meet?"Jensen bit the inside of his cheek. "We met at the brewery, actually. She was in Texas with friends for her birthday. Her 21st. Um, she said going to Family Business Beer was on her bucket list." He had a feeling people would think things that were completely untrue so he wanted to expel all of it. "I was the one who made the first move. I asked for her number, we went on a date, and the rest is history." A few people let out 'aww's at the story which made him smile. "You preying on the youngins, Jay?" Rich teased. "Nah. Only the tall ones with glasses and cool tattoos." Jensen shrugged as a rimshot played behind him. It was so corny it almost made Jensen forget about his argument with Jared. Almost.—---Jensen and Avery had a few moments to spare at their hotel room before they left for dinner. "So what happened?" She asked softly. They were lying in bed together and Jensen clung to her like a koala. His eyes were closed as his head rested on her chest, listening to the calm beat of her heart.A warm breath left his lips. "Jared. He made a few jokes about you…" Jensen mumbled, spreading his hand across Avery's stomach. He could faintly feel the lean muscle underneath her clothes. "About you being a boy. Something about your jaw being sharp. And I–I couldn't take it. I blew up on him. His only takeaway was that you were a boy. Had to get out of there before I bruised his jaw." His mind was reeling just thinking about it. Avery pursed her lips as she ran a gentle hand through Jensen's hair. "It's sad people will think what they want. What matters is that we know who we are. My…" She struggled to find the right words. Ones that weren't cheesy. "My gender isn't defined by how other people see me." Avery let out a chuckle then clarified, "At least, not the people I don't give a fuck about. It's about me. How I feel." "How do you feel?" Jensen lifted his head to properly look at Avery. Avery had an amused grin on her face. "I feel like a woman. Who just so happened to be born with a built-in strap-on." Jensen laid on his back and let out a noise of discontent. "You didn't need to say that." He couldn't help but laugh. "It was worth it to see you smile." Avery countered. "Stop making me feel so…" Jensen locked eyes with her. He struggled to express the feeling. "So good." That could barely even begin to describe it.Avery shrugged innocently. "It's my job now. Sorry." She cupped his cheek and rubbed her thumb in circles on his jaw. After a couple more minutes of lying around and talking, Avery and Jensen got up to meet Mercer and Elena before they complained about wanting food. Avery told Jensen it would happen but he hadn't experienced that yet. Maybe later down the line. On the way to the taco place, it hit him like a freight train. He and Avery would go their separate ways yet again on Monday. Her senior year would start and she'd be busy with classes while he'd be busy with projects. When would this happen again? The domesticity. Jensen hadn't realized he craved it so much. He wanted to make breakfast for Avery every day, sleep next to her every night, watch her take her makeup off in the evening, see her put it on in the mornings. Hell, he'd let her paint his nails if it meant he could be close to her.  "You okay there, buddy?" Misha nudged his arm. When the hell did Misha get there?Jensen shook himself slightly then nodded. "Yeah. Why?"Felicia chuckled softly. "You totally spaced out for a second." Jensen was glad Avery and her friends were preoccupied with talking to the hostess. "What do the kids say these days?" Misha thought for a moment. "You're down bad." The hostess began to lead the group to a booth in the back while Jensen shoved Misha out of his way. The man was insufferable sometimes. In an endearing way. One side of the booth sat Avery, Jensen, and Misha while the other sat Elena, Mercer, and Felicia. The table was already set with chips and salsa which Mercer eagerly inhaled."Woah, woah, man, slow down." Elena's eyes widened. "Ain't no one taking it from you." Misha let out a laugh while Mercer sighed, slowing down. He still needed to have room for his main course. He didn't know what he wanted yet, not having taken a look at the menu. Conversation started a bit after that, small talk so Misha and Felicia could get to know Mercer and Elena and vice versa. Avery took a few chips for herself and dipped them in salsa, accidentally getting some on her mouth. She tried to wipe it off with her thumb but she never quite got all of it. Jensen noticed and wiped it off for her. She swallowed thickly at the touch. Elena tried to actively ignore them at that point. Mercer did it a lot better than she could. Either Misha and Felicia were blissfully unaware as they continued talking or they were experts at ignoring stuff. It could very well have been both. With stomachs full, Avery and Jensen crashed into their hotel bed. Avery wanted to go to bed but she knew she'd feel better in the morning if she changed clothes and washed her face. So she retreated into the bathroom.Jensen stripped from his clothes, leaving him in just a pair of boxers. He lifted the covers over most of his body, glancing over at Avery's side of the room. Over the weekend he noticed she had a few books packed in her backpack that she left on the ground. Detective stories. She liked that genre a lot. She'd rave about Benoit Blanc or Sherlock—the TV show only—while they called. "Want to take one home with you?" Avery asked, catching Jensen's attention. Her pajamas were similar to the last few nights but, instead of a T-shirt, she wore a large, loose sweater. "You can read my silly little notes." She teased as she got in bed next to him.Jensen shook his head even though the idea did sound appealing. "I don't want to take your stuff.""Oh, come on. They're only ten dollars so I could just buy a new one and half the time I forget what they're about anyway." Avery argued, a sly smile on her lips. Jensen pressed a kiss to her temple and admitted his defeat. "You make a compelling argument." Avery ruffled Jensen's hair, "You know it." He wondered…. "Do you think your roommates would mind if I visited y'all sometime?"Avery's eyes brightened at the indication that Jensen wanted to visit her. "I don't think Elena and Mercer would care. They love you," Something inside Jensen felt relieved. With Elena, it was easy to know how she felt. With Mercer, not so much. "Jay…" She thought for a moment. "To be honest, Jay is barely our roommate. They just pay rent for a stable household." Jensen cocked an eyebrow. "Jay sleeps over at a lot of other people's houses. They're poly so I'm not too worried about it." She clarified.Jensen blinked. He hadn't met someone that was polyamorous. Or, if he did, he didn't know they were. He liked the little family Avery found herself in. He just hoped he could somehow fit in it. Perhaps he'd even add a few people along the way.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

As expected, being away from Avery—not being able to touch her—was like hell. She was a few months into her classes, on top of teaching a class in the mornings, when her fall break rolled around in October. On the other hand, Jensen had been doing a bit of voice acting while going into the studio to record a few songs. But he was able to find a break between projects. It just so happened that it was on the same week as Halloween, Avery's fall break. 
avery
@pickledpascal: if i don't see ANY barbies and kens for halloween this year, i consider our society a failure.  Jensen flew into Charlotte Douglas International Airport on the last day of Avery's classes. He opted for getting a rental to make a road trip out of going down to Columbia. It was about a two-hour drive away from Charlotte. The car he got was a simple sedan that he planned on giving to the branch down in Columbia. He assumed he wouldn't need it past that. Avery would be driving if they needed to get anywhere that warranted a car.  Jensen: Touched down in Charlotte. I'm currently in the car so it's alright if you want to call or something when you're free. The man was suddenly very glad the rental came with a GPS and a stand to put his phone on so he wasn't too distracted while driving.  avery: cool!! i have a break between classes in like an hour, ill duo you then  Right, Avery had an android. Which meant she didn't have FaceTime. But Google Duo was compatible with all phone types so it wasn't a big deal. Jensen got onto the highway a little after that, listening to some songs Avery recommended for him. Most were not what he was used to. Some Tame Impala, a few Indie rock bands he'd obviously never heard of, the new Fall Out Boy album, and—in her words—Thee Italian rock band, Måneskin. He had to admit that Avery's taste in music was pretty good. Halfway through the trip, Avery called. Jensen quickly swiped up on his phone, her face appearing on his screen. She looked like she was walking since the scenery behind her was moving. Avery wore a turtleneck sweater and he could see dark earbuds tucked inside her ears. "Hey." She smiled."Hey, sweetheart." Jensen returned the smile as he turned down the music. "Class treating you well?" He asked softly.Avery looked up past the camera and then glanced back down as she walked. He could hear her faintly take in a breath. "If walking the entire length of campus is well, then sure." She breathed then adjusted the camera so she could show the iced coffee in her hand. "But I got a treat so it's not so bad." Jensen let out a hearty laugh, feeling his heart swell already and he wasn't even next to Avery yet. "What about you? Excited? We're gonna have the whole weekend to ourselves." Avery winked. Oh, he was excited. While Elena, Mercer, and Jay were probably gonna stay in their house that night, they were all gonna be gone by the morning. Leaving Avery and Jensen all alone. To celebrate Halloween… and only that. Jensen's tongue peaked out under his teeth as he thought about whether or not he should say what was on his mind. "I am. I'm glad I get to be with you." He stuck with wholesome. For now.Out of instinct, Avery joked. "Keep talking like that and I might just have to keep you." "I'd like that." After a few minutes more of talking, Avery had to go. An advanced writing class that she actually liked. The class would run longer than it would take for Jensen to get there, he just hoped it wouldn't take too long. When Jensen broke the Columbia city limits, he felt underwhelmed. When he visited the Carolinas previously, he'd be in Charlotte or Myrtle or Charleston which were mostly developed cities. Not Columbia. Which he thought was weird. This was the capital of the state and it felt like it was in this weird limbo between urban, suburban, and village-like. He counted two buildings taller than ten floors. Jensen tried to not let it bother him, Avery had planned stuff for them to do, he was sure she knew all the good spots around town. Avery's house was a simple two-story college house that was just outside campus limits. She was lucky. Jensen had to live in an apartment two miles from his university. He adjusted the strap of his backpack before he pressed the doorbell. He wondered who'd answer the door. Avery hadn't quite specified who'd be home, just that she wouldn't be. Would it be Elena? Mercer? What if it was Jay? This would be the first time they'd met. He wanted to make a good impression.Sure enough, the door swung open to someone Jensen had never met before. "Uh, hi. You must be Jay. I'm Jensen." He introduced himself, the words stammering out of his mouth. Jay nodded, looking the man in front of them up and down. "Yeah. Hi. Come on in." They moved away from the door to let Jensen inside. It was a chilly day, they imagined he'd be cold even in the jacket he was in. Jensen stepped inside and was hit with warmth . And a faintly floral smell he couldn't quite make out. It was nice. He glanced around the house just to take in his surroundings. For a college house, it was incredibly well decorated. A nice, large cyan sectional sat in the living room with a fuzzy green blanket draped on one side, the kitchen had a deep wood backsplash and a small island with three stools, the walls had an assortment of colorful posters, and there were a few rustic-looking rugs on the floors. No doubt those were from thrift stores and the like. Jay led Jensen upstairs into Avery's room which had a Daredevil poster on the door. "Make yourself at home. Or don't. I don't really care." They shrugged, retreating to their own room. Jensen narrowed his eyes a bit then let out a chuckle. Avery warned him how anti-social Jay could appear at first, it took a lot for them to warm up to people. So he set his bag down next to the bed and rolled his suitcase to the corner of the room. Then he absorbed Avery's room. Before this, the most he'd ever seen of her room was her bed frame, her pillows, and a few posters that she hung above her bed. Now, he could fully take it in. Her comforter was fluffy and deep blue, her pillows matched. There was an accent blanket on the side of her bed. It was plaid on one side while the other was just gray. An array of colorful shoes were tucked underneath her bed frame. A hefty, but clean, black desk was tucked into one corner with a cup of pens and pencils, a power strip, and a lamp sat on top. Next to her desk were a few plastic-tiered cabinets. He didn't doubt they held more school supplies. She had one nightstand, presumably, on her side of the bed. An assortment of deodorants and perfumes were scattered on the small shelf underneath. Her accordion door closet was opened, revealing the TV that sat on two more, larger plastic cabinets. The walls were covered with different kinds of posters—TV shows, movies, random things she liked—except for the space where the wall met the ceiling, which was reserved for a string of fairy lights.But something specific caught his eye. Above Avery's desk, a few drawings were attached to the wall. There was one of him. Were those his clothes from a few days ago? He didn't realize Avery was such a good artist as well as a good writer. —---Avery's nerves have been off the charts ever since the morning but they got worse as her classes for the day wound down. She was good at acting like it wasn't getting to her. Most of the time. How the hell was she supposed to act? Her boyfriend, Jensen fucking Ackles, was coming to her house. In a panic, she cleaned her room at one AM earlier that day. Her leg bounced as the last few minutes of her last class ticked by. They seemed to be passing slower and slower. Avery checked her watch, biting the inside of her cheek. She was glad she sat in the back or else her professor might have called her out on checking her watch so often. "Alright, that's all I got for today. Thanks, everybody." Her professor ended like he did every day.Avery threw her backpack on and practically ran out of the room, chugging the last few drops of her coffee. She took a breath as she threw the disposable cup in the trash. The brick she walked on felt a little harder than usual. Or maybe she was overthinking everything. She had her moments. Thankfully her last class wasn't too far away from her house so it only took a few minutes to get there. She took a breath as she unlocked the door and made her way to her room. She cracked it open to see Jensen sitting on her bed. Reading her book. He glanced at her from the top of a page, marked his spot, and set it beside his hip. Avery carefully set her bag next to Jensen's and leaned over him to press a kiss to his lips. Hello. Jensen pulled her close as he deepened the kiss, causing her to fall into his lap. I missed you. She set a hand on his shoulder and squeezed softly. Me too.  "I love you." Avery whispered against his lips, admiring the freckles on his face before she rolled over and fully let some sense of comfort wash over her. Jensen chuckled, propping his head up with a hand as he looked at Avery. He would never get over her saying that. "I love you too." He brushed a few hairs away from her face, earning him a pleased smile. "Midterms go well?" Avery groaned. "I don't want to talk about school." "Note taken." Jensen had to resist the urge to smile. "How about… Halloween?" That was the right thing to say. Avery's eyes brightened. "Barbie and Ken! I can't fucking wait. You did get your costume, right?" Instead of simply getting one online, Jensen decided he'd get one of his friends to make him a specifically tailored costume. Because of course, he had a friend that was an expert in costume design. "Course I did." Jensen rolled his eyes."Nice." Avery hummed. "How's the book?" She asked, eyes glancing down at the book on the other side of Jensen. "Good. Except for the parts where you pointed out who the killer is." Jensen admitted, amused. He had a few good laughs at the notes Avery was able to fit in the margins or the lines she highlighted. Avery huffed. "I'm saving you the trouble, you never would've guessed it.""Isn't that all the fun for reading mystery novels? That the ending surprises you?" Jensen argued with a smile.Avery shrugged, choosing not to say anything further. About that, at least. She just lied there for a while. Jensen breathed her into his life yet again. He didn't want this feeling to go away, he didn't want to say goodbye to Avery again. But he would have to leave. Go home, film some project somewhere else in the world. He wondered what housing prices were like in Columbia. Not that he'd complain, he had the money. Jensen just wanted Avery. He didn't want calls every day or texts between shoots. He wanted her. With him. In every aspect of his life as well as hers. For a moment, he wondered if he'd be allowed in her classes. Probably, if the classes were big enough but then people—young adults—would recognize him more likely than not. Hell, Avery even warned him about coming to her house. She lived in a college town after all. There was a hoard of horny people her age at every turn. Jensen was pulled from his thoughts when Avery ran her thumb across his chin. "There's a little indent here, did you know that?" She stared at the small scar on his chin intently. It was an inch or so under the side of his lip and ran along where his facial hair grew."Yeah." He murmured, appreciating the feel of her touch on his face. "Don't remember how it got there though." Avery moved her hand to tilt Jensen's head more towards her, thumb caressing the freckles on his cheek. It seemed he had a countless amount, they were more faint than her friends but still noticeable. Adjusting his position, Jensen's knee slotted in between Avery's legs causing her to draw in a breath. They were close enough that Jensen could feel it on his face. It was like a soft breeze, though slightly warm. "You're so…" Avery moved her thumb to rest underneath Jensen's bottom lip. "Beautiful." That seemed to be the right word. There wasn't anything else that seemed to encompass Jensen. Jensen felt his face heat. Avery liked to call him hot all the time and he started to get used to it but being called beautiful? That was a whole nother feeling. "You really know how to make a guy blush." He pulled Avery closer so their bodies were flush against each other. "It's a talent." Avery teased, adjusting her glasses. They seemed to slip at the wrong times. With a soft knock on the door, Elena peeked her head inside. "What's up?" Avery and Jensen stared at her. "Mercer said he's getting us celebratory McDonald's and he's gonna be here in like ten minutes so don't still be kissin' or you're getting nothing." She left the door ajar as she made her way downstairs. Avery shot up, closely following Elena. Jensen sighed as he let his head fall onto the bed. Food was his biggest enemy when it came to Avery. She'd do anything for it. But he couldn't exactly blame her. If he had to go through the grueling process that was college midterms, then he'd want to gorge himself on a quarter pounder too. Jensen actually might've, he just didn't remember. "I think it's been years since I actually had McDonald's." Jay admitted as Jensen finally made it downstairs. Mercer still wasn't there yet. "I don't really eat fast food to begin with." Elena gave them a look of disbelief. "Unless it's Wendy's." "Unless it's Wendy's." Jay nodded with a shrug. "Wendy's is so damn good." Avery commented. "Their chicken nuggets are superior."The three of them were sitting on the couch, assumedly where they'd be eating since they didn't exactly have a table. There was a coffee table and an island but it wasn't the same. Avery glanced at Jensen standing awkwardly by the stairs. She stood up and went over to him. "Want anything to drink? I mean, we don't have a big selection. Water, coffee, chocolate milk…" She glanced away from him for a moment. "Actually, I think we still have some cans of Cosmic Cowboy." She was the only one in the house that drank alcohol, even then, she wouldn't drink often. Jensen's eyes lit up but he ultimately turned it down. "I'd rather be sober tonight so water would be great." Avery nodded, "Grab a seat, I'll get you a glass." She rubbed his arm slightly as she brushed past him to get into the kitchen. As Jensen sat on the couch, he strangely felt like this was the moment he was supposed to impress the father or something. Except he knew how Avery felt about her father. Her biological one, at least. It wasn't pretty. So why did he feel like this? Jensen was the oldest one there. Oh. It was Jay. They were staring at him as they took a sip from their water bottle. That was unsettling. Jensen was waiting for the line of 'so what makes you a good fit for my daughter?' But it never came. Avery sat next to Jensen and handed him a blue glass filled with water. The cold liquid was just what he needed. "So, are you down with getting pegged?" Jay asked nonchalantly.Jensen choked on his water, lifting a hand to his mouth to try and catch it as it spilled onto his jeans. "Jay, what the fuck?" Avery yelled. She wasn't mad, in fact, Jensen heard the amusement in her voice. Elena wanted to crawl into a hole and die."What? I think it's a very valid question given… well, you." Jay pointed out. "What the hell did I walk in on?" Mercer announced his presence very eloquently. His arms were filled with two large bags of burgers and fries. Avery sighed, scratching her eyebrow. "I'll go get paper towels." She retreated to the kitchen and grabbed the whole roll, wiping down their floors as she handed a few to Jensen. Elena answered Mercer, "Jay was being weird as hell.""Oh, so like they normally are." Mercer commented as he set the bags on the coffee table and shouldered off his backpack. He went straight from class to get the food. He sat on the floor, taking out the wrapped burgers."Yeah." Elena mumbled. Jay didn't feel sorry. They probably never would. It was hilarious."Sorry about that. Probably should've warned you about Jay. Their humor can be quite interesting ." Avery sighed, throwing away a few paper towel balls. Jensen followed her to the kitchen as he wiped his face. He ran a damp hand through his hair. It was weirdly soothing, the coolness of it. "You're fine, sweetheart. Just wasn't expecting that." Jensen leaned against the counters while Avery poured herself some fruit punch. He pursed his lips in thought. Jay actually brought up a really good question. Did Jensen care about what was in Avery's pants? At first, it was a little easier to forget about. But then they kept getting closer and closer to being intimate. Jensen could feel her bulge against his leg and it froze his brain for a second. He hadn't had to deal with that before. Every partner he had, he knew what he was dealing with. "I don't mind." Jensen eventually said.Avery took a sip of her drink. "Mind what?" It was as if the past few minutes already slipped her mind."Getting pegged." Avery had to set her glass down in order to really take in the information. "Okay," She said carefully. "If you're saying that just to please me then—""I'm not." Jensen clarified, glancing back at the other college kids who were blissfully distracted by eating. "You're my girl. If—when—we have sex, I want you . Every part of you. And if you want to fuck me, well, who am I to say no to that?" That was one of the most weirdly heartfelt things Avery had ever heard. She took a deep breath to stop herself from tearing up. A lot of the straight men she'd been with ran for the hills when they found out she was trans. Others treated her like a sex object, a fetish. But Jensen wasn't like that at all. He cared about her. Loved her. Made her feel loved. "I'm hungry." Avery murmured. Jensen gave her a soft smile. "Okay." The pair made their way back to the couch, each grabbing a burger from the pile. Avery took a bite and immediately felt better even though her heart was still beating a mile a minute. Jensen picked off the pickles from his burger before he took a bite, causing everyone to stare at him. "What?" He glanced at their faces."You're in love with a pickle hater?" Elena looked at Avery. Mercer chuckled. "He's gonna turn into a pickle lover." Reasonably, Avery threw a pillow right in his face. Dinner was… mostly calm after that. Besides a few jokes that Jensen didn't quite understand how they were so funny. One being: Mercer? I hardly know her!He knew of the format, of course he did, it wasn't like it was new. But the way it had the room bursting out into laughter was something . He just sat back and watched most of their interactions. Avery's friend group was interesting, that's for sure. Avery and Jensen went upstairs as the night went on. She went to the bathroom to change and brush her teeth which left Jensen alone yet again. He stripped down to his boxers, getting in bed. He already had his turn in the bathroom. The frame creaked under his weight. The smell of her sheets was overwhelmingly Avery. Citrus, vanilla, a hint of pine, and something Jensen could only describe as bourbon-esque—it wasn't as strong as the real scent. Avery returned to her room, taking in the sight of Jensen in her bed. He looked so cozy, wrapped around in her blankets. She got in bed next to him before setting her glasses on her nightstand. Jensen cuddled up next to her. "You're like a big ass panda." Avery hummed, pressing a kiss to Jensen's temple. She didn't mind his teddy bear tendencies. It was more of a statement than anything. Jensen leaned into her lips. He wanted to savor the feeling. "And?" "And nothing. You're adorable." Avery chuckled. "Really? I thought I was hot." Jensen countered with an amused grin. Avery nudged him slightly, letting out a scoff. "Who said you couldn't be both? Now come on, I wanna sleep." She grumbled. Jensen pressed against Avery, draping an arm on her stomach. He knew she liked the closeness, especially while she was asleep. He liked it too. Being in bed with each other felt right. Jensen hadn't had a good night's sleep in a couple weeks. He'd toss and turn, wake up in the middle of the night and just stare at the dark ceiling. Avery was his comforting presence. She was able to soothe whatever thing inside him that kept him awake. As Jensen woke up the next day, he realized Avery was nowhere to be found. Her side of the bed was empty. He grunted lowly as he sat up, scratching his head slightly. That's when he registered the smell of cooking eggs. And muffled music. He creaked the door open.
Once you get me piped up, baby, I won't stop
Was that Beyoncé? Jensen descended the stairs. There was a speaker on the counters while Avery rolled her hips in front of the stove, two plates off to the side. She was making omelets.
Uh, I won't stop 'til you say you had enough
Jensen hoped Avery's roommates were already gone.
Ride it like a rodeo when I'm on top
He just watched her for a few minutes. The way she looked so carefree, flipping the forming omelet onto the plate like an expert chef. She sprinkled a bit of green onion on both plates, her tongue stuck out from between her lips. "I would've gotten up earlier if it meant I would get this." Jensen finally made his presence known.Avery jumped slightly, turning to the sound of his voice. "Woah." She'd seen him practically naked before. It was still a sight to behold, however, this was different. Something about his hair made him look absolutely wrecked , it was sticking up in all different directions. "Um, I made breakfast. My roomies are gone so… yeah." She swallowed, offering Jensen a plate.They retreated to the couch to eat. Jensen used his fork to cut off a piece of egg and lifted it to his mouth. He hadn't had the pleasure of having Avery's food yet and he was suddenly very disappointed it took this long. It was delicious. The eggs almost melted on his tongue. How the hell could she get even more perfect?"Do you cook a lot?" Jensen asked as he shoveled another forkful into his mouth. Avery had an amused look in her eyes as she watched Jensen, taking bites of her own food. "Most nights. Unless I'm physically hurt." Jensen cocked an eyebrow at that. "I've burned my hand a few times, trying to pull a homemade pizza out of the oven. Elena babied me for a few days." She laughed. So that's what the scar on the back of her hand was from. The pair finished their plates, putting them in the dishwasher before they went up to her room. Avery admitted she didn't exactly have any plans for that day so they could just lounge around and be a bit lazy together. That sounded nice to Jensen. He decided he was gonna read the last few chapters of the book he stole from Avery while she scrolled through TikToks, occasionally glancing at the assignments she needed to get started on after Fall break ended. Jensen pursed his lips as he closed the book. Avery noticed, glancing up at him as she let her phone fall on her stomach. "What'd ya think?" "It was… interesting." Jensen chose his words carefully. Not because he wanted to hurt Avery's feelings—it was her favorite book series—but because he wasn't sure how to feel. About the story, at least. "I liked the characters. Peter and Clara are like a few people I know. I like how their relationship contrasts with Gamache and Reine-Marie. They're very honest with each other whereas Peter and Clara are much more… dysfunctional." Avery hummed. She had never thought too in-depth about the book and the characters' relationships with each other; she was far more interested in the mystery itself and how Armand went about uncovering it.Jensen glanced at one of Avery's shelves. The whole series was sorted in order, complemented by a silver bookend to stop them from falling down. "I think you mean to say realistic." Avery chuckled. "Clara says she's fine but she's not and she wants Peter to be sympathetic but he's not and that just makes her more mad." She explained with a small motion of her hand. Jensen nodded with a small smile. "Does that make us Armand and Reine-Marie?" Avery thought about it. She and Jensen were both pretty honest about their feelings, especially when it came to each other. She trusted him enough to say the first thing that came to her mind. "Yeah… I guess so. Maybe a little off. They're like the ideal relationship." "I'd say our relationship is pretty ideal." Jensen countered softly.Avery cocked an eyebrow. "Except for the part where we don't see each other that often." Yeah. There was that . Jensen swallowed. "I want to change that." Avery's eyebrows furrowed. "I think… It would be nice if I got an apartment here or something. Maybe somewhere a little outside the city." He didn't want to take housing away from the college kids who needed it much more than he did. Avery blinked, showing the surprise on her face. "Oh." It was the only thing she could muster. How could she say anything else? Jensen wanted to move just to be near her. It made her chest feel warm. "I love you." Jensen whispered, taking in the features of her face as if it was the first time again. "I want to be near you as much as I possibly can. I want…" He breathed, "I want to take you everywhere I go. If you're able to. I want you ." He could imagine taking Avery to set, seeing her bewilderment with the sets, costumes, camera work. He knew she loved the inner workings of how a film was made. Avery bit the inside of her cheek, seemingly getting lost in what she did or did not want to say. In what she did or did not want to do. "I need you to stop saying things are going to make me cry." She rubbed her hands down her face. Jensen pressed a kiss to her cheek then tilted her chin towards him. "Can't help myself, unfortunately.""Lucky for me." Avery sighed.Jensen's lips formed a soft smile. "Lucky for me ." He leaned forward and gently pressed their lips together. The kiss was far more tender than their previous ones. There was no underlying need underneath it. Just an overwhelming feeling of love that made Avery's brain reel, like the chemistry in her neurons completely changed. She couldn't have cared less if it did. "Sometimes I think you're insane." Avery mumbled.Jensen glanced from Avery's lips to her eyes. "Why?""For liking me so much." She admitted softly. She felt a bit weird. She liked Jensen for years without him ever knowing of her existence yet now that he did , he loved her. Loved her so much that it made her feel dizzy sometimes.Jensen pursed his lips. He didn't understand how anyone could not like her. "You're a pretty cool person. Who I met at the right time, right place. I think that's a pretty sane thing." Avery's lips formed into a lop-sided smile. "Probably." "Probably?" Jensen asked."You said you'd let me peg you." Avery shrugged.Jensen rolled his eyes. "I think I would be insane if I didn't. Actually, I'll do you one better," He wrapped a hand around Avery's waist, pulling her into his lap. She set her hands on his shoulder as she awaited the rest of his point. "I've been told I could give pretty good head.""Fuck off." Avery laughed. Though, her heart pulsed faster. Would he–? No. No…No.

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@deanswiftie: no but why IS jensen in charlotte… tf?? Reply to @deanswiftie by @lesbiandean: yeah i don’t think there’s any cons unless he’s there for filming? Reply to @deanswiftie by @pickledpascal: have we considered the possibility he’s getting ass Reply to @pickledpascal by @deanswifite: AVERY HUH?? Avery designated Friday as the night they'd go out. She got dressed up in a loose navy sweater, a long black skirt paired with white socks and matching navy loafers. It seemed she had a shoe for every occasion. So did Jensen. Except he didn't have full access to his closet. He wore a simple leather jacket that had silver accents around the sleeve and down the front—underneath was a black long-sleeved shirt—a pair of dark-washed jeans, and some deep brown boots. Jensen didn't know exactly where they were going, just that it was a bar, so he decided to dress accordingly. Jensen blew on his recently black-painted nails. Avery was bored earlier since she didn’t have anything to do so she decided it would be fun to treat Jensen to a bit of a spa day. She painted his nails, they did a face mask together, and he watched her do her eyeliner for the night. It made his chest swell.Avery whistled when she saw Jensen in his outfit. "Hope you're ready for a million horny college kids trying to flirt with you." She joked. Though it was likely going to happen. Jensen wrapped an arm around Avery's waist, bringing her close. "I know how to let people down. Especially considering my beautiful girlfriend is gonna be with me." He pressed a kiss to her cheek as he heard a clinging of keys. The pair made their way outside the house to the driveway that housed Avery's car. A 1965 Ford Mustang convertible with a soft top and white-rimmed wheels in electric blue. How the hell had he not noticed it before? It was a beauty of a car. He looked up at Avery bewilderment in his eyes. The more time he spent with Avery, the more she seemed less human and more human at the same time."I got it for a cheap price. Got my brother to fix it up for me." Avery explained as they got in. She had a feeling Jensen was a bit confused as to why someone like her would have such an old car. "It rides like a brand new car." The inside had white upholstery with matching electric blue stitching and a modern-looking radio in the middle, an outlet to use the aux. The Mustang logo was stitched onto a part of the dash. The gear stick was made with bright red leather and had a few hair ties around it. Funnily enough, the rearview mirror had a pair of black fuzzy dice hanging from it. Jensen almost felt transported back to the '60s. "Your brother?" Jensen asked as Avery started up the car with a roar. He knew she had other family besides just her parents but she never really talked about them. Avery bit the inside of her cheek, hair blowing from the wind as she drove but the wall of glass in front of them shielded her from most of it. "Yeah. He's the only family member I keep in contact with. He lives up in Charlotte though. Corporate job. But one of his favorite pastimes is fixing up cars, selling them. He wants to be the next Jay Leno or something, I swear." She chuckled. Jensen smiled softly. He wondered if he'd ever meet her brother. Being the only family member she liked had to mean something. Or maybe her brother was like a friend she'd text hello to whenever he crossed her mind and that was it. He looked outside at the city of Columbia at night. It felt more akin to a real city at night. With the twinkling lights of high-up buildings and hoards of people walking around downtown.Avery parked on the side of the street and locked the car as she and Jensen got out. She put her keys in her bag before she intertwined her hand with Jensen's to lead him into the bar.It was a hole-in-the-wall kind of bar like most college bars were except it felt less juvenile. Like it was tailored more towards the upperclassmen and not Freshmen who just wanted to get drunk every night of the week. A wall of dollar bills was behind the bar with little notes written in sharpie or pen, there was a small dance floor surrounded by tables, and speakers on the walls playing whatever pop music was on the radio. Avery led Jensen to the bar top and sat down. "Hey, Andrés." She greeted one of the bartenders with familiar eyes. "Hey, babe." After a little while, Jensen grasped that saying 'babe' was common among friends of Avery's age. "Why you here when you clearly got a tall drink of water?" They glanced at Jensen with a flirtatious—but not lustfully—charged look. Avery shook her head. "It's his first time in Columbia. Didn't want to only show him my house." "If I were you, I'd keep him there." Andrés laughed. "What're you drinking?" He turned to Jensen.Jensen blinked at the question, simply enjoying their interactions. "I'll take a rum and coke for now." The response was in a bit of a panic but he did genuinely like rum and coke. Plus it's been a little while since he had some sort of cocktail, he's been drinking just beer for months.Avery hummed when Andrés got to making their drinks. He already knew her order. A gin and tonic with a splash or two of grenadine to give the drink some semblance of flavor besides just alcohol . Whether or not she came here for the alcohol was a mystery to Jensen. She said she wasn't much of a drinker, even during weekends or after a big exam. Maybe she just wanted to come to see a friend. "You come here often?" Jensen asked, cursing at himself at how corny that line was. But he wanted to know.Avery pursed her lips, trying her best not to smile. It was corny. That's what made it funny. "Once a month or so, just to see some friends," She answered honestly. "Or to pick up some friends." Jensen gave her a questioning look. "I do have other friends outside my roommates." She teased softly. "He's just busy being in the nursing school which doesn't give him a lot of time to hang out. Unless it's one AM and bars are open." Jensen chuckled softly. He knew Avery had more friends than he'd met but her and her roommates seemed so close that he nearly forgot. There was a whole population of college kids and she just so happened to know some of them. "Does he go on a bender a lot?" He asked as Andrés handed them their drinks before he went to attend to some other patrons."Nah. Only when school really gets to him." Avery took a sip of her drink and sighed contentedly. Jensen's finger tapped against his glass before he took a sip from his. His phone went off and he glanced at Avery apologetically as he answered it without checking the caller ID. "Yello?" He hummed, causing Avery to let out a laugh. He answered the phone like a middle-aged man but what else could she expect? He was one. "Hey, Jay." Jared's voice filtered through to Jensen's ear. Avery watched as Jensen's face hardened. He hadn't talked to Jared since ChiCon and he wasn't too keen on having another conversation with him. "How've you been?" Jensen humored him. "Fine." But not too much. "Look," Jared sighed. "People are gonna know soon. They know where you are. Or have a general idea. I'd let her go now." Jensen narrowed his eyes. What the hell was he insinuating? "Know what , Jared?" "They're bound to find out Avery's trans. They're gonna speculate. Make up lies." Jared explained as if he was just looking out for his friend. It was true a lot of fans found Avery's Instagram but she didn't have anything in particular about her being trans, it was mostly just pictures of her and friends with a few mentions of being queer but that was the extent of it. "I know you're not gay but who knows? Fans might think so." Jensen had to close his eyes to digest his shock. And here he thought he might have a chance of having a normal conversation. That hope died. "I can confidently say I don't fucking care if people think I take it up the ass. Some of them already do. And so what if I like girl dick? There's a clear difference. Because she's a fucking girl." Avery slapped a hand over her mouth from surprise. She had to suppress her laugh. "That doesn't matter here—" Jared started."Yes it does." Jensen sighed, rubbing his forehead slightly. Talking with Jared was aging sometimes. "Fans do talk but I think a majority of them want me to be happy. Which I thought you wanted too. Not so sure anymore." He admitted softly. Jared had been his best friend for years and it felt bittersweet that he was on the verge of breaking that. "You want me to be happy on your terms. A normal, "real" girl. Sorry to say it, bud, but Avery is a real girl just with extra parts." He hung up and shot the rest of his cocktail down his throat. Strangely, it was the carbonation of the coke that burned the most. Avery watched Jensen, sliding her hand over his on the bar top. "You don't need to fuck up your life just for me, y'know?" She said seriously. Jensen shook his head at Avery and tried to joke, "Wait 'til you meet my family then we'll see if I actually fuck up my life." Avery's face went serious. He realized the joke was in bad taste. "Sorry." He coughed, collecting himself. "I didn't mean that. If they don't like you just for who you are, they weren't meant to be in my life anyway. I don't care who might talk shit about me at Thanksgiving dinner." Avery gave him a look of doubt. Family was important to a lot of people and she assumed Jensen was the same.Feeling a surge of confidence likely from the alcohol, Jensen pressed a kiss to her cheek and whispered in her ear, "Do you want me to show you just how serious I am?" "What…" Avery rasped as the realization hit her. "I–" She wanted Jensen so badly and he returned the feeling but there was a difference in wanting to be intimate and actually doing the act. She feared that would change for Jensen. "Let's go home."Jensen glanced around the bar and spotted a few college kids watching them. With their phones out. He cupped Avery's cheek and kissed her. Her lips tasted like gin with some sweetness of the grenadine. He liked it. Jensen deepened the kiss, feeling drunker off her than his drink. Avery let out a noise of surprise, bracing herself with a hand on his thigh. Avery pulled away slightly, suddenly feeling very aware they were in public. "Jensen…" She whispered as she admired the redness of his lips and the way his eyes darkened at the sound of her voice. "Home." She reminded him softly.Jensen nodded as he stood, taking out his wallet to place a few twenties on the counter. Avery glanced from the cash to Jensen and had to reboot her brain to remember that she was in love with a rich man. Maybe Elena's comment about him being akin to a sugar daddy was true. Avery followed after Jensen, taking a glance at Andrés just to see him wink from behind the bar. The drive back home was tense. Jensen's heart was beating fast, his face felt hot even though the wind was blowing around him. But he strangely felt calm. On the other hand, Avery was incredibly nervous. It's been a while since she'd been with anyone intimately. She wasn't scared. Well. Maybe a little bit. As soon as Avery opened the door to the house, Jensen started to press kisses to her neck. He snuck his hand underneath Avery's sweater as she let out a sigh, guiding them into her room before they went any further. She sat down on the bed, pushing off her shoes and socks as Jensen shouldered off his jacket and shirt. Avery looked up at him and shamelessly appreciated his body."Your turn." Jensen whispered with a light smirk, lifting Avery's top from her chest. She let him. He ran a hand down her bare side, taking in the sight of her in a bra and the soft muscle on her torso. "You're beautiful." He leaned forward to press kisses to her jaw, grazing her skin with his teeth. Avery breathed. "Jensen… What…" She didn't want to ruin the mood by asking what he planned on doing. As much as Jensen expressed he was fine with being the bottom and what came with being the bottom, Avery still had her doubts.Jensen had a feeling she'd feel that way. He lowered himself between Avery's legs, getting on his knees. He ran a hand up her thigh to grab the elastic band of her skirt and pulled it down her legs. "I'm gonna suck your dick." He said as if it was his mission to. Avery swallowed thickly, her face felt hot. Jensen was between her legs and stared at her like he was going to consume her. In a way, he was. "Okay." Her breath was soft. Accepting. He was so determined Avery's heart started to pound in her chest. She widened her legs, giving Jensen more space. At the admission, Jensen slipped his fingers under Avery's plain black underwear as he buried his face in her solid stomach and pressed a few kisses to her sternum. A breathy laugh left her lips. So she was ticklish there? He pulled her underwear down and threw it off to the side so her bottom half was completely bare. Jensen took in the sight of her dick then glanced up at Avery who was watching for his reaction. Jensen kept eye contact with her as he wrapped a hand around Avery's dick and began to stroke it slowly. After eliciting a whine from her lips is when Jensen gave her an experimental lick. Avery ran a hand through his hair, brushing a few stray strands away from his face. One would think Jensen was put off by handling a dick that wasn't his own but he truly didn't care that much. He kind of liked it. As long as it was Avery. What she was packing didn't matter. After a few more small licks and kisses, Jensen took her in his mouth. The weight was strange but warm. He liked it. Especially the way Avery let out another light whimper and admired the way his lips wrapped around her cock. "Honey…" She sighed. "You look good like this." Something in her had to say it.Jensen hummed, sending shivers down Avery's spine. After simply having her in his mouth, Jensen started to move his head. The eye contact was starting to get to Avery. She bunched her sheets in one hand while the other tangled in Jensen's hair. He liked that too. The sight of her losing more and more patience, looking wrecked and hot . But she never pushed. Just let Jensen work. He swallowed Avery down to the base of her dick, swirling his tongue. Jensen was suddenly very glad he didn't have a gag reflex. "Fuck." Avery whined, griping Jensen's hair harder. "Good boy." A slip of her tongue.Jensen nearly choked, surprised that he liked being called that. But then again past him would probably be far more surprised he was sucking a girl's cock. With a new wave of arousal, Jensen bobbed his head faster. "You liked that, huh?" Avery moaned softly. She didn't expect an answer given his mouth was a little busy. She swallowed down a whine as she drew in a sharp breath. "Ah… I-I think I'm close." Jensen felt excited. Almost giddy. He let go of Avery's dick from his mouth with a light pop and placed a soft kiss on the tip. His lips were swollen and glistening with his own saliva. Avery's fingers twitched at the sight. He stroked her faster, opening his mouth to stick out his tongue. Jensen wanted to taste her cum and perhaps get a little on his face.Avery could tell what he wanted and imagined what he'd look like for a second. Her brain stopped at the stimulation between Jensen stroking her dick and the images in her mind. "God, fuck–" Her eyebrows furrowed as her face contorted into pleasure. "Faster, please." Jensen complied, planting his tongue on her shaft. Seemingly, that was all it took for Avery to orgasm. Like he wanted, Jensen caught some cum in his mouth while some dripped from his face. She tasted a bit salty but mostly sweet. He pressed his tongue against her slit to lick up every last drop then pressed a few kisses to her shaft. He didn't miss the satisfied look Avery gave him. "You look…" Avery had to catch her breath as she let go of his hair and wiped a few drops off the side of his cheek and some in his beard. "Absolutely fucked ."Jensen's tongue peeked from between his teeth, resting his head against Avery's thigh. He liked the way her chest rose and fell. "I think I am." He mumbled. He was still pretty hard but his brain was fried. He wasn't sure if he'd be conscious if they did decide to do anything else that night.Avery tilted his chin upward. "We need to get you cleaned up." She whispered. She wanted to see Jensen like this all the time. Perhaps that was a little selfish to think knowing the sight was exclusive to her. Jensen licked his lips, catching a drop on his tongue. "That sounds like a good idea." He moved to sit on the bed as Avery found and pulled up her underwear. He appreciated the curve of her ass as she bent down. "I'm gonna grab a hand towel." Avery hummed softly. Jensen watched her leave and unbuttoned his jeans to add them to his pile of clothes. He hadn't slept next to Avery in just her lingerie before. He wondered how he'd handle the skin-to-skin contact. Soon, Avery came back with a damp rag and gently wiped his face. "There." Avery smiled softly. Her heart swelled with love. She couldn't believe what just happened. Jensen was good at head. She dropped the rag in with her laundry. "Out of curiosity… where did you learn how to—""Suck dick?" Jensen asked with amused eyes. "Dunno. Sometimes things just come naturally to me." He shrugged. "Especially with the way you sounded… I knew I was doing something right." Avery and Jensen laid in bed, legs tangled together. "You really are something." Avery couldn't believe just how loving—giving—he was. Her mind slipped back to their conversation a few nights ago. She wondered how much he could receive too. Jensen nuzzled his face into Avery's neck. He knew she liked the feel of his beard against her skin and he liked the way she would cradle the back of his head when he fit his face between her neck and shoulder. "What can I say? You bring out the best in me." He said it teasingly but he meant every word. Avery wrapped her arms around Jensen's waist and let out a happy sigh. She didn't want him to leave. She liked being with him. She liked the way he interacted with her friends. She liked meeting his friends. It was all so perfect. A wash of melancholy overtook her. But then there was a wave of excitement.Halloween was tomorrow. And Avery and Jensen were going as Barbie and Ken.

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@ MOCCAINDEAN: WHAT DO YOU MEAN JENSEN WENT TO SOME RANDOM ASS COLLEGE BAR  Reply to @MOCCAINDEAN by @lesbiandean: HIS GF IS 21… OF COURSE HE DID  Reply to @lesbiandean by @MOCCAINDEAN: …. wait you're so right oops The first time Jensen had heard of Avery's desire to dress up as someone from Barbie was a week or so before its release. When it did come out, she went on opening day with her friends dressed in all pink. It was a far cry from what she usually wore—she wore a lot of dark colors, different shades of blue mostly. He felt like he was missing out but there wasn't much he could do since he was in Texas and doing some voice acting at the time. The next time Avery brought up wanting to dress up for Halloween, it was September. It was some off-hand comment Avery didn't really think about making but Jensen took it to heart. It was early October when they made their plans. "Howdy, partner." Avery smirked, doing the worst Southern accent Jensen had ever heard. He found it funny. She had her makeup done already and wore her costume—an embroidered shirt that had fringe, black slacks and belt with a hefty belt buckle, white cowboy boots with silver accents, and a white cowboy hat she borrowed from Jensen. She was Ken. And Jensen was Barbie. He wore the signature sleeveless pink denim top and bell bottoms that had a little string in the front to keep them up on his hips decorated with stars and stripes of white at the sides. Jensen might've asked his costume designer to take a bit of creative liberty. His boots were white with silver on the toes. Jensen's cream-colored hat was on Avery's desk since he was about to get his makeup done."Howdy to you too, sweetheart." Jensen chuckled, letting his Texas drawl out. Avery had Jensen face her, uncapping her concealer tube. She was glad they were similar in skin tone. She put a few dollops under his eyes and blended them in. Jensen wet his lips as he watched Avery focus. Her eyes were focused on blending the concealer, tongue peeking from between her lips. She was adorable. She powered his face then brushed some blush on his cheeks then on his nose. Jensen wrinkled his nose a bit, not used to the contact there. "Be still." Avery teased softly, cupping his chin. "Yes, ma'am." Jensen said out of instinct. Avery narrowed her eyes as she grabbed an eyeshadow palette. She wanted to go for a more neutral look because he was wearing a hell of a lot of pink already. Jensen felt a little ticklish as Avery brushed some auburn color on his eyelids. Trying his best not to twitch his eye, he tapped his fingers against the arms of his chair. "Alright, look up for me, honey." Avery whispered as she grabbed a tube of mascara and uncapped it. Jensen complied. Avery ran the end through his lashes and smiled. "Just one more thing." She sifted through loose products in one of her drawers.Jensen watched, glancing back up at Avery. He wondered if she'd ever do eyeliner on him. The one last thing was a silver bullet of lipstick in a muted pink color similar to Jensen's lip color, maybe a shade or two deeper. "Open." Avery tapped his chin with her thumb. Willing away the thoughts that came over to him, Jensen did as asked. She swiped the product over his lips and put it away once she was done. "There you go." Avery smiled. Jensen in makeup that wasn't specifically meant for TV was cool to see. Especially since it was her handiwork. "How do I look?" He asked as he stood and looked at himself in Avery's full-length mirror. He looked taller than usual and it wasn't just the heeled boots he wore. Avery followed Jensen and looked at him in the mirror, setting a hand on his hip. "Hot as hell." She whispered in his ear. The urge to grab his ass because of the stars on the back of his pants overtook her. But she didn't act upon it. Jensen laughed quietly and turned in her arms to press a kiss to her lips. She eagerly returned the favor. She couldn't believe her life. The fact that she had a boyfriend, that he wanted to do a matching costume, that he was fine with being the Barbie in their equation, and that he was Jensen . Avery didn't think she'd ever get over that. Maybe in a few hundred years when she's dead and buried. "Now, don't ruin all my hard work." Avery pulled away, grabbing Jensen's hat for him. Jensen took the hat and placed it on his head like he's done a million times before. Just never quite like that. "I wouldn't dream of it, darlin'." He teased. "I guess I'm getting a Texas Barbie tonight." Avery chuckled as she collected her wallet and phone. There was no need for a purse since she had plenty of pockets. On the other hand, Jensen didn't. For once. But Jensen decided he didn't need his phone anyway. "And this Barbie knows how to ride." Jensen winked.Avery's brain stopped. She bumped him with her hip. "Picture time." It was best to not even mention it or she'd go insane. The pair took a few photos in the mirror to have a full look at their costumes. Besides a few changes to Jensen's costume had, they were fairly accurate to the movie. And Avery loved it. Then they took a few selfies that, absentmindedly, Avery uploaded to her Instagram. It was a ritual to show off her costume for Halloween every year and it slipped her mind that maybe… maybe it wasn't the best idea to do that this year.  averyxcario: barbie and ken !! my ken is actually a barbie and comes fully customizable The only thing that could make the night more perfect for Avery was if her Mustang was painted pink. Maybe she should've asked her brother for a temporary wrap, she still liked her blue. Avery's plan for the rest of the night was to go to a special Halloween drag show at a local queer bar. Jensen liked the idea but was a little… nervous. He had only been to a handful of gay bars in his life but he always felt weird. Like he was imposing. Previously, he'd only gone with friends, not with someone he loved. Someone he loved who was very connected to her queerness and, even if she didn't have many Instagram posts about it, was proud of herself and the woman she was. Jensen partly blamed his awkwardness on his upbringing. His aunt was a lesbian but, in his family, their thought process was more out of sight, out of mind. As long as she didn't explicitly bring it up, neither would his family. So seeing people be so vocal was… a lot. Avery understood. She promised they'd leave if he ever felt uncomfortable. Jensen wanted to protest especially since queer bars were a lot of queer people’s safe space but Avery admitted Elena or Jay could get too overstimulated so they'd go home because of that sometimes. Or sometimes Avery's battery would drain quickly. So Jensen and Avery stood outside the bar. They looked at each other before they stepped inside. There was a mix of people there. Kids Avery's age, adults Jensen's age, and a few elders filled the bar. Most were in costume while a few decided to dress vaguely witch-like or vampire-like. Or maybe that was just how they dressed. A drag queen was on a stage near the back of the bar. Jensen had expected to feel that awkwardness again but he just didn't. There were a few people heavily making out in some corners and—Were those people with dog collars? He was, for the most part, unphased. Avery guided Jensen to the bar, hearing a few whistles and earning a few bedroom eyes on the way. "Can I get whatever special cocktail you got?" Avery yelled to the bartender over the music blaring as the Queen performed and the delighted screams of patrons. She glanced at Jensen. "Make that two!" The bartender simply nodded.Jensen and Avery were lucky to grab seats at the bar. Jensen leaned to Avery's ear so they could talk and hopefully hear what he said. "Is it always like this?""No." Avery glanced at the stage. "That's a RuGirl and it's Halloween. Halloween is a gay ass holiday, add a RuGirl into the mix and suddenly every queer in town is here." She explained. The bartender gave the pair their drinks. Under the dim, blue light, the liquid looked deep purple. And a bit fizzy. The glass was short and decorated with a plastic stirrer that had a skull at the end. Jensen took a hesitant sip. A pleasant surprise. The cocktail tasted of blueberries, lavender, and vodka. The carbonation had to be from tonic water or something. "What's a RuGirl?" Jensen caught himself asking. Avery pursed her lips, disappointment evident on her face. Mostly in herself. She hadn't quite told Jensen everything she liked. Apparently being a Drag Race fan was one of the things that slipped her mind. "Being a RuGirl means you've been on Drag Race." Jensen knew the show. However, he only saw snippets of it online. "And that," Avery pointed to the stage as she sipped her drink. "Is Violet Chachki." Jensen watched the performance. Violet was wearing some sort of jeweled bodice that had red jewels sewn in a certain way to make it look like blood and was lip-syncing to some Lady Gaga song he didn't quite recognize. He could understand why some might be mesmerized by her. The way she danced, the way she looked so confident. Like she could have anyone in the room. And she was probably right. "She's so hot." Avery sighed wistfully.Jensen chuckled. He became used to how Avery would offhandedly call someone hot—usually a girl or feminine-looking person. At first, it was a bit jarring but he knew Avery liked him and only him. Someone brushed past them, turning towards Jensen. "You're a pretty boy." It was a man. He looked around Avery's age, if a bit older. But his words did not match how he looked. If Avery could describe him with one word, it would be "twink." Being so bold as to say a grown-ass man was a "pretty boy" to his face was hilarious."Thanks, man but I do have a girlfriend. Even then, I don't swing that way." Jensen tried to let him down gently, hinting at the fact that Avery was literally right next to him. The man glanced behind Jensen at Avery and narrowed his eyes. "You're straight? Why're you here then?" He scoffed.Avery had to resist the urge to laugh. She forgot she passed so well that people thought she could be a cis woman. Or maybe this guy's gaydar was horrible. Both were very viable. A lot of people didn't know Avery was trans until she'd made one too many jokes about her dick that it started to get suspicious if she didn't have one. And Jensen might've been straight but Avery was anything but. Amused at the situation, Jensen had the best idea of what to say in return. "I dunno. I mean, my girl does have the best dick I've put in my mouth." The man was speechless, trying to grasp words but failing so he simply turned and ran to another side of the bar. Avery burst out laughing, banging her fist against the bartop. Jensen sipped his drink to mask his smile as he watched her tear up from laughing a little too hard. "Saying that insinuates you've had other dicks in your mouth." She said after she wiped a few tears at the edges of her eyes. Jensen simply shrugged, staying silent. Avery's eyes went wide. He didn't. But it was worth it to see her reaction."I'll krill myself, I swear to God." Avery breathed. Jensen rolled his eyes and licked his lips. Avery caught the movement with her eyes before she felt hands on her shoulders. She was about to tell whoever it was off until the person came into view. She had her fair share of catcalls, unwanted contact, and unwanted flirting. Violet Chachki.The words died on her tongue. Avery hadn't even registered the change in song. Government Hooker. Violet stood in between Avery's legs and ran a finger down her jaw as she lip-synced to the song. 
I could be girl, unless you want to be man

I could be sex, unless you want to hold hands

I could be anything, I could be everything

I could be mom, unless you want to be dad
Comment on averyxcario's post by ellablanca: MY PARENTS!!!  Comment on averyxcario's post by MOCCAINDEAN: oml… OH MY LORDDDDD Comment on averyxcario's post by acklesfrckles: jensen in makeup… omg Comment on averyxcario's post by DAR3D3VILS: i didn't know i needed this until now The rest of the night was uneventful beside those two instances. Avery was speechless for a while once Violet left her alone and needed to bury her face in the bar top, hat falling off. The pair made it home—Avery only had one drink in her system while Jensen had two. Avery went to try and kiss Jensen but their hats were in the way and she lifted a hand to cover her face, a little embarrassed.Jensen took her hand and removed Avery's hat as well as his own to finish their kiss. "You don't know how to do a cowboy kiss, huh?" He asked, amused."No, ‘cause I didn't grow up in fucking Texas where they probably teach that in school." Avery countered, rolling her eyes. Jensen hummed, pressing a kiss to her cheek as he leaned in near the shell of her ear. "They also teach us how to ride." He whispered. Avery let out a breath, more like a purr. Her hands found their place on Jensen's hips and pushed him down onto the bed. He was surprised at the sudden aggression but once he saw the dark look in Avery's eyes, he understood. He was fucked. She hovered over him and unbuttoned his top. "Be honest with me." She looked into Jensen's eyes as she pushed the fabric off him. "Is there a reason you took so long in the shower today?" "Uh…" Jensen swallowed, feeling suddenly very shy. "Maybe." Avery cocked an eyebrow, hooking a finger under his chin. They both knew the truth. She just wanted him to say it. "Don't lie. Tell me why." Jensen bit the inside of his cheek, feeling his face warm. He just wanted to get Avery topless so they were even. "I wanted to… prepare myself." He admitted softly. In hopes something like this would happen.Avery licked the inside of her teeth, deciding not to press further. Jensen's entire chest was red along with his face, she wasn't sure if he could handle anymore teasing. "Good boy." Maybe a bit more. Jensen took a deep breath to suppress the whine that wanted to push itself out of his throat. "Do you want to take off my shirt?" "Yeah." Jensen sighed, hands fumbling with the buttons of Avery's shirt before he was able to pull it out of her pants and push it off her shoulders. Almost immediately after, he grabbed for her belt.Avery stopped him, pressing a kiss on his lips as she did it herself. "Eager?" She chuckled as she shoved down her pants as well."If you don't put your dick in me soon, I'll off myself." Jensen said without thinking. He was talking to Elena a little too much the past few months. Avery bit her lip, the edges were turned upward in a smile. She didn't want to laugh. But it was hard not to. She ran a hand through Jensen's hair before she grabbed the waistband of his pants and pulled them off. Imagine her surprise that Jensen wore cloth panties in a similar pink shade of his costume. She glanced up at him, he seemed a little too interested in her chest. With a sigh, Avery sat back on her heels and ran a hand up Jensen's shoulder. "C'mere, honey." He sat up and awaited her next words. "Take off my bra." Jensen's mouth felt dry. His hands found the clasp of her bra and—unlike most men Avery had been with—unclasped it with ease. Avery felt the tension in her chest ease. He slipped the straps from her shoulders and took in the sight. He appreciated the new area of skin he had access to. With a glance up at Avery, Jensen pressed a few kisses to her sternum. Avery gasped as a hand flew to the back of his head. "Don't distract me." She ground out. Repeating last night was tempting but not what she was there for. Jensen relented and pulled away, watching intently as she shoved her underwear down her legs. His mouth felt empty. "Now…" Avery ran her hand up his thigh and slipped her fingers under his underwear. "It's your turn." Jensen's heart sped up. Not even at the fact it would be his first time fully naked in front of Avery but because of what was underneath. Avery rubbed Jensen's thigh once the underwear was off. "You wanted to ride?" She asked softly, pulling him into her lap. She wasn't used to the weight since Jensen was a pretty hefty guy but she kind of liked it. "Then do it." Jensen drew in a breath that sounded similar to a whine. He may or may not have thought that a butt plug was a good investment considering he wanted to try bottoming for Avery. Looking back, he was right. He took it out and reached over to put it on the nightstand. Avery set a hand on Jensen's hip to brace him lightly while the other settled on his thigh as he lifted himself up, grabbing onto her shoulders. "Go slow." Avery whispered. She didn't want Jensen to accidentally hurt himself by getting more than what he could take. Jensen took the advice and slowly lowered himself, drawing in a sharp breath. The sensation made his brain buzz. Avery was of similar size to him so to say she was packing would be an understatement. He wasn't used to the weight inside him but it filled him in ways he hadn't thought were possible. Mainly because he didn't think he would ever do anything like this. His mouth hung open once Avery's dick was fully seated inside him. He wanted to move but Avery held him still. "Take a second, honey." Avery whispered, letting out a breathy moan of her own. Jensen was glad this affected her too. "Just… adjust." With a wordless nod, Jensen whined. He knew Avery was just looking out for him but his patience was wearing thin. After what felt like an eternity, he could feel Avery's grip loosen. She deemed it was fine for him to start moving. Once he did move, Jensen let out a choked moan. How did people do this regularly? He didn't know. "Fuck!" His head fell as he leaned into Avery's shoulder and chased the feeling. Avery panted into his ear, egging him on. "You're doing so well…" She whispered. And she meant it. She wasn't sure what she expected from a man like Jensen but this was not it. The eagerness, hell, the desire, to be the one getting fucked. She imagined Jensen hadn't had a chance to get that. Or, if he had, they were few and far between. The sound of her praise went straight to Jensen's core, only stimulating him more. It was all becoming too much at once. The sound of her pants, her words, the way she felt inside him, his movements. Hell, even the way the bed creaked with each lift and drop of his hips. "Avery–!" Jensen whimpered when her tip brushed against his prostate at just the right angle. "Fuck, please!" He didn't even know what he wanted. He just wanted it. As if she knew, Avery bucked her hips upward. Jensen's mouth fell open at the sudden movement. His orgasm hit him at the same time. He hadn't even registered that it was building, too lost in what he was feeling. He came in between them, a few drops getting on Avery's stomach. Avery stilled her hips before Jensen shook his head once he felt like he could breathe again. "I-I want you to get off too. I want… I want you to fill me." He sounded ruined. He was. Avery lifted a hand to Jensen's cheek and made him look at her. She wanted to see his face. "Okay," She pressed a kiss to his jaw. "But I won't last too much longer."As Jensen began again, he remembered how sensitive he could get after an orgasm. This wasn't an exception. A string of whines left his lips while he could hear more panting and gentle moans from Avery. "Shit–" Avery breathed, feeling her orgasm break. "Honey, fuck–!" She couldn't even begin to describe how much she felt. It was hard to explain. The feeling in her chest, the pleasure that fried her brain. It was all so much. Jensen understood. He drew in a shaky breath, pressing light kisses to Avery's jaw. She had marked him as his and that felt… good. Right. He wasn't sure if there were words he could say that would accurately describe his feelings. Physically or emotionally. This all felt so good . So right that it made his head dizzy with pleasure. Avery cupped Jensen's cheek with tired eyes. "We need to… do something about this okay?" She meant clean their bodies off. She didn't want to feel sticky in the morning and, as much as Jensen likely wanted to fall asleep, she imagined he didn't want to either. The man nodded slowly, rolled off her. He felt empty. Like he was missing something. Avery ran a hand through Jensen's hair and kissed his cheek before she stood to grab a damp towel and wiped herself off, putting her underwear and bra back on. Deciding to pity her royally fucked lover, she cleaned him. He was able to put on his underwear even though his ass felt sore. So Avery wrapped him with her fluffiest blanket. "Do you want anything to eat?" Avery asked softly. She knew sometimes when sex was intense that people needed something to bring their energy back up. Jensen seemed like he needed it too.He wondered what he did to deserve someone like Avery. "Carrots sound pretty nice right now." Jensen needed something to gnaw on, keep his mouth busy so he could shut off his brain.Avery smiled softly at the request. She quickly went downstairs to grab a bag of baby carrots and handed it to Jensen. He munched on a few. While he was distracted with the carrots, Avery filmed a small video. Something she wouldn't ever post. It wouldn't ever see the light of day. Or so she thought. Just for her. To stay in the depths of her drafts on TikTok.The couple went to sleep that night with not a care in the world.  pickledpascal: just railed this mf and he's out here eating carrots

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Elena arrived home earlier than she originally planned. During Fall Break, the only reason she'd go home was to see her boyfriend who lived in her hometown. That was two hours away. But he had to go to work earlier than he wanted to, giving her a reason not to stay. So she decided it would be nice to get some breakfast for Avery and Jensen once she got into the city. Some little mom-and-pop joint that served chicken and waffles. Avery's favorite. Elena didn't care for it but she thought it would be nice. As she opened the door, Elena glanced around the main floor. Avery and Jensen weren't up. Better for the surprise. She left her backpack and suitcase downstairs as she scaled the stairs with food in her hand.Elena knocked on the door before she opened it. Avery was usually fine with that and she hadn't walked in on her naked so she didn't see a reason not to do it. Little did she know…. "Hey, Ave! I got some breakfast from—" The words died in her mouth once she saw the bodies in bed. Avery was groggily coming into consciousness as was Jensen…. Who was sprawled next to Avery with the sheets barely clinging to his body so Elena could see the pink underwear peeking from underneath the edge of them. Then her eyes caught something more damning. A glimpse of silver and she slammed the door closed. They weren't naked as far as she could tell but Elena knew they used to be. She didn't know what was worse. "I'm gonna go out back and dig a grave for myself!" Elena exclaimed, brain short-circuiting. Or she needed to bang her head against the wall to give herself a concussion and forget that ever happened. Both sounded fine with her. Back in the room, Avery let out a laugh. Jensen groaned as he buried his face in a pillow. Avery ruffled Jensen's hair as she stood up. She knew they'd have to wake up eventually so she put on some soft shorts and a sweater as she cleaned up their clothes from last night and separated them so they could do some laundry later. Jensen was going home that night. She didn't want to think about it. Actually… Was his costume able to be put in the washer? It was denim but Avery didn't know. She'd ask him when he was ready to have a coherent conversation. Once that was done, Avery picked up her phone for the first time that day. She was confused by the amount of notifications she had. She opened her phone and immediately went to Twitter, eyes widening at the first glimpse of her timeline.  @deanswiftie: WHAT DO YOU MEAN THIS IS REAL ????  It was the video Avery made last night. The one she thought she saved in her drafts.  Reply to @deanswiftie by @DAR3D3VILS: NAH CAUSE THATS @pickledpascal LIKEE ???? @swiftienatural : a win for the trans girlies !! @heavenlesswings: WDYM OOMF IS FUCKING JENSEN ACKLES ??? There were quite a few mentions of her. Her TikTok handle was the same as her Twitter one but never once had she shown her face on either. Her TikTok was reserved for her art, mostly, or jokes regarding that. Maybe it was because Avery was slightly delirious from sex last night and that's why she miss-clicked. Either way, she had an influx of followers on both platforms.  @lesbiandean: SO AVERY WAS TROLLING US THE WHOLE FUCKING TIME?? DIABOLICAL Avery laughed at that one. She wasn't being particularly malicious or planning something, she just liked to see people's reactions anonymously. It was funny. Then she saw a quoted tweet of people defending her but she blocked the person so she couldn't see what it said. Naturally, Avery opted to see it. She regretted it immediately. Like she always did.  @Kelios: Jensen is obviously a top, I don't see why Avery would say something so obviously misleading And so Avery did something she wouldn't regret.  Quote retweet of @Kelios by @pickledpascal: says the person who writes about him getting topped by jarpad  Immediately she got a few replies in agreement and astonishment. Avery set her phone back down and glanced at Jensen who rolled over so he was facing the ceiling. He was completely oblivious. And she would keep him that way. It was morning after all. Who wanted to talk about fans in the morning? "You need to put on some pants." Avery eventually said. "Don't wanna scar Elena more than we already have." Jensen sighed and faced Avery. His mascara rubbed onto his eyes in his sleep, giving him a nice-looking smokey eye. His lipstick pretty much rubbed off completely. Avery had to resist the urge to capture a picture. She settled on memorizing it. He stood and waved off Avery. "I'll get dressed. You're hungry. So get your food." He said. Avery cocked an eyebrow. She could tell he was up to something but followed his advice as her stomach rumbled. When she made her way downstairs, she saw Elena eating silently on the couch as if she saw the real-life slender man. Or Blaire Witch. Avery sucked her cheeks in to resist laughing as she grabbed her styrofoam box and grabbed some utensils. She could smell what was inside. Sweet syrup, waffles, and fried chicken. She sat next to Elena and nudged her with her foot. "Hello?" Avery laughed as she took an equal bite of chicken and waffle. "I think I'll be scarred for life." Elena finally said, looking as if she was about to cry from embarrassment. "You're both like my dad." Avery shrugged. She thought Elena would come back home after Jensen left. Not arrive twelve hours earlier. Either way, she probably would've done it. The way he looked last night… How could she pass that up? Jensen had never worn such a horrendously pink outfit before and he pulled it off so well. Avery thought it would've been a silly little thing to see him in, and it was, but it brought something out in her that she hadn't expected. As Jensen came downstairs, Avery's mouth dropped open. A piece of chicken on her fork dropped back into the styrofoam container it came in. Jensen wore a pair of sweatpants—she didn't care about those—and one of her shirts. The Deadpool shirt she cropped years ago that she found at a thrift store. It was a little loose on him even though he was bigger than Avery was. It was an XL. He sat next to Avery and dug into his plate. The carrots helped last night but this was a lot better. Avery coughed then resumed eating like nothing happened. Elena pursed her lips as she stared at her food, eyes blank. It was almost sickening being around them but she imagined it was the same when Avery was with Elena and her boyfriend. Once breakfast was done, Avery and Jensen talked with Elena. Jensen had to leave in the evening and Avery didn't plan anything for them to do. She just wanted to enjoy his company for the last few hours she had him. Jensen changed after a while into his own clothes—a nicely made cable-knit sweater and jeans paired with brown boots. The temperature was dropping but not enough for him to also wear a jacket with the sweater. He was looking at his phone as he joined the girls again. "There's this cool ice cream place nearby, I kinda wanna try it." He told them. Elena and Avery looked at each other. "Can Elena come with?" Avery asked. "Yeah, why wouldn't she?" Jensen asked genuinely. Elena was a third wheel in the sense that she went everywhere with them like a child and her parents. She already went everywhere with Avery so Jensen was an extension of that. Not going to Texas for Avery's birthday was an exception, she had unintentionally planned a vacation on the same weekend. Elena clapped her hands together and smiled. "I love my parents!" Except when she saw them half naked. Avery laughed as she grabbed her bag and fastened it over her shoulder. "C'mon, kiddo, let's get going." She tried her hand at a Jensen impression, mimicking the deepness of his voice. It was bad. They all laughed as Avery locked the door. —---Avery dropped Jensen off at Columbia Metropolitan Airport at 5:30. His flight was at 7:30. She sighed as she helped Jensen get his bags out of her car and leaned against her front fender as he stood in front of her with all his luggage at his side. She wasn't sure what to say. A goodbye wouldn't encompass all her feelings. "I'll miss you." Jensen breathed finally. The weight on his chest was still there though. He wanted it to go away. Avery looked at him sadly. "I'll miss you too." Jensen didn't like that look. And he didn't like how he probably looked the same. He cupped Avery's face and kissed her then rested his forehead against hers. "I don't want to wait to see you for a few months again." He admitted. And he'd make it his mission not to. He'd get somewhere to stay if it was the last thing he did. Avery cupped Jensen's jaw and smiled softly. "That would be nice." She didn't want Jensen to uproot his entire life just for her yet… at the same she did. Not that there would be many acting opportunities in South Carolina but Jensen traveled for work all the time. He could deal with it. "I'll text you when I board." Jensen drew in a sharp breath as he pulled away and grabbed his luggage. "And call when I land." Avery nodded. "I'll be up." She would always be up if it meant talking to Jensen. "I love you." She gave him one last peck on the cheek. She wouldn't be able to touch him for a while..Jensen smiled softly. "Love you too, sweetheart." As Jensen boarded, he did as promised and shot Avery a quick text. In his seat, he got a buzz on his phone. There was one from Avery but also one from Elena. He narrowed his eyes at the notification from Elena and opened it.  elena: was gonna talk about this earlier but i forgor elena: have fun with this !!  There was a photo attached. A cover of a magazine that showed Avery in dim purple-blue lighting posed on the floor as she looked up at the camera with what Jensen could only describe as bedroom eyes. She wore a blue and black plaid dress with the straps artfully falling from her shoulders and jewels glued to her face. She looked ethereal. Jensen's eyes widened. He didn't register anything else except for her. He texted back immediately. Jensen: What is this from?  elena: our university magazine elena: from last semester Jensen: You got any extras?  elena: do i? elena: what kind of friend would i be if i didn't?  All too soon, the overhead announcements came on to tell the passengers to turn their phones on airplane mode. —---Two weeks later, Jensen was back in Columbia. With a U-Haul filled with boxes and furniture. He was lucky enough to find an apartment just outside the city. He still had his house in Austin but he imagined he'd stay in his apartment most of the year when he wasn't traveling for work. Avery and her friends showed up to help. He stood in his apartment with boxes upon boxes still packed. They had just finished moving in everything and everyone was tired so he opted to get them some food for their troubles. One of Avery's friends, one Jensen hadn't seen before, suggested a ramen place. After taking his first bite, Jensen understood why. They all sat around in a circle on the floor."I can't believe Avery was able to get her type before I was." Sammy complained in between slurps of noodles. When Jensen first heard his name was Sammy, and was almost always referred to as that, Jensen had to resist the urge to laugh. He also realized Sammy was Avery's "bender" friend.Avery glared at Sammy. "What is her type?" Jensen asked, amused."Old ass men." Sammy answered immediately. Mercer, Jay, and Elena broke into laughter."I'm gonna bang my head against the wall." Avery whined as she set down her container of ramen. Jensen laughed too. It was fun, seeing her so embarrassed. It was strange. Jensen was nearly twenty years Avery's senior and her friends senior yet they didn't exactly care. Just sort of adopted him, made fun of him every now and then for it, but that was about it. Elena recovered quickly, "Says the person who loves tall goth dommy mommy's." The room erupted into laughter. "I do and I'm unafraid to admit it." Sammy argued. As the night went on, conversation started to die until Elena and Sammy argued about something regarding theater. Or maybe they were passionately sharing ideas. Jensen caught the mention of the Phantom of the Opera but couldn't understand anything after that. Jay and Mercer just watched, entertained.Jensen and Avery made their way to the kitchen, putting their Tupperware into the sink to be cleaned later. "Am I an old ass man?" He asked teasingly. Avery pursed her lips, not afraid to show her disappointment. "You're forty." She deadpanned."Forty-four." Avery let out a scoff. "Once you turn sixty then we'll talk about you being old." She chuckled. Jensen smiled as he pressed his lips to Avery's temple. He knew his grays did something to her and so he grew his beard out a bit since the last time they were together. It felt nice against her skin. Avery wondered if he'd have to shave soon. Not that she wouldn't find him attractive without it but because she, quite frankly, forgot what he looked like without it. Would it look weird? Would it take some getting used to? Did she care that much? Maybe a little.But Avery had a feeling she'd like the way Jensen looked either way. "Do you wanna stay the night?" Jensen asked softly. He felt like a teenager again, asking his girlfriend to come over to his parents house. Avery leaned against the counters and crossed her arms. "I have classes in the morning." It was a weak excuse and they both knew it.Jensen licked his lips. "I won't keep you up late."They both knew that would be a lie. If they didn't fuck, they'd likely talk all night about what they missed about each other's lives. "Alright." Avery responded.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Avery sat cross-legged in the middle of Jensen's bed, a notebook in her lap and her laptop in front of her. It became a habit after a little while of Jensen living close by. She scribbled something down as she glanced up at her computer screen."What class is that for anyway?" Jensen asked as he sat next to Avery. He took in her laptop and her notes but still didn't understand what it was for. Avery chuckled at Jensen. "I'm doing notes for what my professor wants for my last project. He finally posted what he wanted us to do." She explained as she jotted down some more notes."What does he want you to do?" As much as Jensen was far removed from college since he hadn't been in college for over twenty years, he still liked to hear what Avery was doing. How she liked her classes, what was her favorite professor, what kind of projects she had to do, and if she liked them. It was nice to hear her rant about whatever.  Avery glanced down at her notes and shrugged. "He wants us to write a two hundred to three-hundred-page story. Doesn't matter what it's about, just nothing non-fiction." Jensen's eyes widened. That sounded horrifying. More horrifying than half the shit he had to face on a certain TV show. "I'll probably do two hundred because he wants us to change the format to A5 anyway." Avery didn't seem too upset. She'd written two hundred pages in the span of a week once. And that wasn't even for school. Jensen was surprised. He knew Avery wanted to be an author but her teacher was basically asking her to write a book as an assignment. "What is it gonna be about?" He asked. "I got a few ideas. Both pretty gay." Avery winked. "One's basically like Romeo and Juliet but they're lesbians and set on another planet where one of them is royalty. Jensen commented, "Love a good sci-fi lesbian story." "The other is about a trans woman navigating her life. May or may not be based on my own experiences but I'll be taking a few creative liberties." Avery hummed, making a quick note. Jensen thought about which one he'd want to read. He liked both ideas but the latter seemed more personal. He knew bits and pieces of Avery's life before college but never the full puzzle. It was hard to talk about, Jensen knew that. But he wanted to know every part of Avery's life. She'd tell him on her own time. And he knew that too. "Do you have any plans for Thanksgiving?" He asked softly and they hadn't really talked about it since he moved. Her break for the holiday started in a few days. Avery was absentmindedly writing a few things she wanted to add to her final paper. "Nah. Roomies will be gone, my friends will be too, and my brother's gonna spend the day with my parents." Yet another small detail. Jensen's eyebrows furrowed. Her brother was still in contact with their parents? Even after they seemingly disowned Avery. He wondered if Avery felt betrayed. Apparently not. "Do you want to come to Texas with me? I usually do Thanksgiving but…" Danneel planned it. "So my parents are taking over again." Jensen didn't want to force Avery to come, he knew she'd be fine on her own but his parents specifically extended the offer to her. He was weary of them. They knew she was his girlfriend but what else did they know about her? What else had they found out?The faint noise of pencil scribbling on paper stopped. Avery looked up at Jensen and studied his face for a moment. She was hesitant. Texas was fun when she didn't know anyone and went to tourist locations. She had no desire to have a conversation with someone who wouldn't like her if they found out she was transgender. But Jensen's family was important to him. Avery heard the slow, easy Texas accent come out every time his mom called and saw the faint smile. She wondered if his mom knew about her. If she would consider Avery "unnatural." Even worse, she wondered what his father would think. She didn't want to deal with another father figure who thought she was somehow mentally ill for knowing she was a woman trapped in the wrong body. Would Jensen defend her as he said he would? Doubts plagued her mind. Why the hell not? There wasn't any reason not to find out. At least, then, she'd know for sure. "I'll go." Avery said after a while. Jensen's eyes lit up with surprise. "Really?" "Yes, really. Now go away! I'm trying to focus." Avery pushed Jensen away. She unintentionally pushed him right off the bed so he fell with a thump. Her hand flew to her mouth. "Sorry!"Jensen laughed. The wind was thrown out of him but he couldn't find it in himself to care. Avery was adorable when she thought she might have hurt Jensen. "You ever think my neighbors below us wonder what the hell we're doing?" He asked as he sat up with the help of his elbows."Fucking." Was Avery's immediate answer. She lived in a first-floor apartment for a year and, half the time, that was what the people above her were doing. Jensen picked himself off the floor and stood to ruffle Avery's hair. "I was gonna say rearranging furniture but that works too." "Rearranging furniture is code for fucking." Avery pointed out.Jensen shrugged with a small laugh. —---Being in Texas again was weird as hell. Avery didn't have her friends with her. No one to rant to about how nervous she felt. Jensen was there. But she didn't want to bother him. He likely had other things on his mind. Avery was glad Jensen opted to just stay at his house instead of his parents. At least that would be familiar. As they settled into his room, Avery stretched onto the large bed in the middle. "No wonder you didn't want to sell this house." She hummed. To an outsider, she might have looked calm. Not to Jensen.He sat next to Avery and brushed a few hairs away from her face. It was an excuse just to touch her. "We could always cancel tonight." Jensen whispered.His parents wanted to meet Avery before Thanksgiving and before the rest of his extended family. His brother and sister would be there too. Thanksgiving was tomorrow. Jensen was dreading it as well. But not for the same reasons. He didn't want anyone to make Avery uncomfortable. And he wasn't sure if he would be able to stop that feeling. She deserved to be loved by everyone. Not just him. "No." Avery sighed. As much as the idea was appealing, she wanted to be prepared for tomorrow. She thought of this dinner as her putting her toes in the water, feeling for the temperature to make sure she could jump in. "I'll go. I just need to shower." She sat up. That always cleared her head. Unless it was one of those times she just felt numb and tired. Jensen smiled softly. "I could join you." He suggested. He didn't have any ulterior motives. Maybe he would have come up with some if she said yes."I'm good." Avery laughed half-heartedly as she grabbed some clothes from her suitcase. She decided on a button-up sweater combo with jeans. Nothing too fancy but respectable. She wanted Jensen's parents to like her so badly. She didn't know why. Perhaps it was because she was missing what a lot of other people had. A real family. Avery had carved her own little family but it wasn't the same. She didn't have people to go back to when Winter Break came along. She would just text her friends, see what they were doing, and plan a small Christmas party after the break was over. Hell, even Jay had a family to go to down in Georgia. Occasionally, Avery would get a Christmas card from her brother and a small gift but it wasn't anything meaningful. However, she did save every card he sent. Perhaps they were meaningful but not enough . Not what she wanted. Sometimes Avery wondered what life would have been like if she never came out. Her parents would still love her. Their perfect, third boy . But she'd immediately shut those thoughts down. She would've never found the friends she had. She never would've met Jensen. Avery caught a glimpse of Jensen as she closed the door to the bathroom. Maybe they would have met but it never would have been like this. She never would have stood in the middle of his king bathroom getting undressed and ready to take a shower.  elena: if avery rants to me about your family, just know i know where you live Jensen: Love you too elena Jensen let out a breath. Elena may have acted like the child of the group but she was very protective as well. If Avery was hurt, best believe Elena would want to have a "word" with whoever did it. Jensen wasn't scared of that. Well, maybe a little bit. He wouldn't want to hurt Avery if he could help it. He just hoped his family would understand he was happy and leave it there. When Avery came out of the bathroom, her hair was still damp but she was dressed and had her makeup done—just some winged eyeliner and blush. She tousled her hair to dry it best she could. She preferred air-drying her hair instead of using a hair dryer."You don't need to try so hard." Jensen chuckled softly. He had a feeling Avery intentionally grabbed some of the more modest clothes in her closet.Avery crossed her arms and pouted. "Would you rather I went to your parent’s house in a short skirt and bralette?" "You got me there." Jensen held his hands up in a surrendering gesture. "But I wouldn't mind seeing that." Avery shook her head, a smile unintentionally making its way to her lips. "Of course you wouldn't." Jensen smiled as he stood and pressed a kiss to Avery's temple. "That's my girl." He tilted her chin so she faced him. "I haven't seen you smile in a hot minute." She was nervous and Jensen knew why but he wanted to be her shoulder to cry on. And vice versa. "If something happens…" Avery swallowed thickly, face serious. "We can leave?" Jensen's eyes saddened as he pulled Avery into his arms. "Of course, sweetheart." The words came out on instinct. Avery was his whole world. The metaphorical light at the end of his dark tunnel. He held her close, clutching onto her as if she would slip from his arms.Avery set her chin on his shoulder and sighed, eyes tired. "You give good hugs." She mumbled softly. She simultaneously wanted to fall asleep in Jensen's arms and felt energized. Like she could run a marathon. They stood there for a few moments, Jensen rubbing at her back before they pulled away. Avery took a deep breath and held it in for a few seconds before she let it go as Jensen put his jacket on. Her heart calmed. But her brain did not. The drive to the Ackles' house was surreal. Every single home in their subdivision had the American and Texas flags flying in the front. Avery's stomach churned with each one. She leaned her head against the window to feel the coolness of it and she might have wanted to get a small concussion with each bump and pothole in the road as her head thumped against it. As Jensen parked in the driveway, Avery pursed her lips. The house itself was very normal. Two stories with a double car garage and a sidewalk off to the side that led to the door. Like the others. She wasn't sure if she should feel safe or uneasy. Her brain went with uneasy. The pair got out of the car with Jensen setting a hand on the small of her back as they walked to the front door. Avery wondered what she should say. Hey,  I've had a crush on your son since I was fifteen. Isn't that crazy? The thought almost made her laugh. Jensen pressed on the doorbell to be immediately greeted by his mother right after. "Jensen!" She smiled with delight and gave him a tight hug. "Hi, momma." Jensen's Texan accent slipped out as soon as he opened his mouth. Avery simply enjoyed watching the interaction.Her eyes shifted to Avery, less warm but still happy. "You must be Avery." "It's nice to meet you, Ms. Ackles." Avery offered a hand only to be pulled into a hug as well. Jensen's mom squeezed her tightly. No wonder Jensen's hugs were so soothing. He got it from his mom. "No need to call me that. Call me Donna." She said after she let Avery go. The hug left her winded. "Your dad, Josh, and Mackenzie are waiting for you." Donna waved the couple inside. As Donna turned inside, Avery glanced at Jensen who just smiled at her. Avery expected coldness. Not this. It was jarring. She stepped inside the house and was hit with Thanksgiving smells. Pumpkin pie, ham, and sweet potato were what Avery could discern. It had been so long since she had a proper family gathering that she forgot what it felt like… besides all the politics talk and picking apart the meal when the host was gone. "Jensen's here! Finally. I got here hours ago and momma didn't let me have even one bite." A woman Avery recognized as Jensen's sister, Mackenzie, complained. But it was a fond complaint. She stood from the island in the kitchen and gave Jensen a hug.He chuckled softly. "Always nice to see you again." Mackenzie glanced from Jensen to look at Avery and gave her a smile. "You must be the girl my brother can't stop talking about. Nice to finally meet you. I'm Mackenzie." Avery couldn't form words in her mouth. She hadn't expected Jensen's family to be so… nice. They had to know. Maybe they just didn't care. That would be nice. "Did you break her on the plane ride here?" Mackenzie joked, nudging Jensen's shoulder. Jensen had to refrain from making a joke. His family didn't need to know about their sex life. "Nah. She's just nervous." He rubbed Avery's back. "Sorry. I get anxious when I meet new people." Avery admitted after her brain started to work again. "No problem, sweetie." Mackenzie smiled in understanding. Avery glanced at the other two people in the room. Jensen's brother and father. She forgot that not only would she be the most queer person in the room, but that she'd be the youngest. They looked as if they were sizing her up. So this was where she'd feel an immense amount of dread. Sometimes Avery wondered if she became a woman just because she hated men so much. It wasn't the main reason. But perhaps it was part of it. Donna started setting ceramic trays on the dining room table. "C'mon. Sit! Let's eat." She encouraged with a wide smile. "Would you like anything to drink?" She asked as Avery and Jensen sat. "Um, I'd like—""You know where it is, Jensen. I was asking Avery." Donna wiped her hands on her apron. Avery's eyebrows raised. "Oh, uh, do you have any apple cider? If not, water's fine." She felt dumb after asking. Apple cider was a child's drink. Why would an older couple have some? But it was her favorite drink when fall came along. "Oh, yes! Alan, can you get it? I think it's in the fridge in the garage." Donna set her apron on a hook hanging from a cabinet before she sat down. Alan simply stood and left to procure the cider without a word.Jensen could sense Avery's surprise and leaned to her ear to whisper, "One of my mom's friends has an orchard so they get cider every year." "Oh, cool." Avery hummed. Sometimes she was bad at showing her enthusiasm and she forgot that people who didn't know her deeply didn't know that. It was just something that would happen. As the table started to grab servings of ham and mashed potatoes—the menu for that night since Donna had saved everything else for the next evening—more conversation started. "So, Avery," Jensen's father started. "What's your plan after college?" Avery had a feeling he thought she'd leech off of Jensen. She played with her potatoes a bit. They were delicious—nicely seasoned—but she was missing her handy garlic salt. She wanted to taste something familiar. "I want to get my doctorate. At my university, they have this program where I can teach as I get it so I'll probably do that. After that, I wanna write. Be an author." "For Avery's final project for a class this semester, she's basically gonna write a book." Jensen added. He was proud of Avery and he wanted to show it. He could never have even thought his next partner would be nearly as wonderful as Avery. Her ideas, her weird sayings, how she was still able to love even after all the things she went through. Josh decided to speak then, interest piqued. "A book? What's it about?" Avery didn't feel hungry anymore. They hadn't brought up the elephant in the room yet and Josh had done it accidentally. "I have two ideas. Haven't started writing it yet." She tried to deflect. "Which one are you leaning more towards?" Josh pushed. Not hard. It was an innocent question. But it felt suffocating.Open the can of worms. "Uh, one's a lesbian love story and the other is based on me. As a trans woman." Avery knew she could've lied. Come up with two perfectly "normal" topics on the fly. But she didn't like lying. She wanted to know what Jensen's family was like. No more dancing around.Josh sat back in his chair, deflated. "Oh." Was his very eloquent answer. Tension rose from zero to a hundred. The table was silent for a while. "Does anyone here have a problem with that?" Jensen outright asked, his gaze hardened. He wouldn't take any shit if they did and he'd make their own Thanksgiving dinner at his house if he had to. Alan knew the look in Jensen's eyes. It was similar to the one he wore when he played Dean and he had to put on a brave face to save someone important to him. "Are you happy?" Was his response. "You have no idea." Jensen's eyes softened."Are you happy?" This time, the question was aimed at Avery.She was shocked Alan would ask her. She tried not to let it show. "Very." "Then I don't have a problem with it." Alan said with a knowing smile. Josh and Mackenzie agreed.Donna chimed in with a soft smile. "Jensen, we don't care who you love as long as they love you too. And, Avery…" She frowned for a moment. "I'm sorry if you felt like you couldn't talk about yourself. I understand we are in Texas and it's not the safest for you here." "Look, if Jensen's busy tomorrow doing whatever and one of our aunties or something is getting on your case, come to me. I'll fend 'em off for you." Mackenzie said, a fire in her eyes. Avery almost broke down. Her eyes welled with tears but she was able to keep them down. She was accepted into the family and that felt good .  avery: i think I'll be good tomorrow elena: why? no transphobia found? avery: no avery: well, at least not in his parents or siblings elena: okay minute slay  elena: however i will drop everything if i sense an OUNCE of transphobia in that house tomorrow avery: i look forward to it <3

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Thanksgiving day.

Jensen had gotten up early to make Avery breakfast. Similar to the first time they ever slept in the same room together. A full-circle moment. He made brown sugar ham, something he usually had on a holiday morning when everything else in the fridge was meant for dinner. When Avery came down, she was dressed in one of Jensen's button-ups but her underwear was still showing with her hair a mess. Jensen liked the look on her. She breathed in the smell and let out a shaky breath. She looked as if she was a kicked puppy.

Immediately, Jensen panicked. Did he do something wrong? He turned off the stove and went up to Avery, holding her in his arms. "What's wrong, sweetheart?"

"I-I haven't had brown sugar ham in a while." Avery mumbled into Jensen's shoulder. The last time, it was on Easter. Years ago. "My dad made it a lot. Haven't had it since." Most things that reminded Avery of her father died when she came out. Others were fine, harmless. Like waffles.

Jensen cupped Avery's cheek, seeing the gentleness of sorrow in her eyes. "Do you want me to make something else?"

"No." She whispered, glancing over to the stove. "No, I want to have some. I want to see if it's as good as I remember it." Jensen let Avery go as he transferred the ham into a large bowl. "Plus, maybe it'll remind me of you instead."

Jensen smiled softly at Avery and watched as she took a few slices. She took a bite from one. He eagerly awaited her response. Avery looked contemplative. Would she allow herself to enjoy such a simple food? Her lips broke into a small smile. A step in the right direction.

"Usually, I pride myself on not letting my dad still control my life. But there's still… some things." Avery admitted softly, glancing down at her plate. "I don't even know why." She was

desperate

to let Jensen know but she wasn't sure how to explain her life before her transition.

It was horrible.

Sure, from the outside Avery's family might have looked normal. A middle-class nuclear family with three boys, a dog, and a decently sized house in the suburbs of a major city but there was so much more beneath that.

Jensen sat next to Avery and carefully took her hand. He'd listen to her, no matter what. Avery knew that and yet there was still something holding her back. Tears welled at the corners of her eyes.

"I haven't always… been so happy." Avery said softly. "I haven't always had my friends. I haven't always had people who loved me for

me

. I was… just another sob story of a trans person." She laughed bitterly. "My mom–she yearned for a girl and yet she didn't love me when I told her I was one. Even before I came out, my dad couldn't look at me the same way he did my brothers. I was never enough. They never beat me but they didn't

love

me. College was my escape. But I had no one. Until I found Mercer… and then Jay and then Elena and then Sammy." Tears had rolled down her cheeks and she made no move to wipe them away. She just let them flow.

"And there was you." Avery finally looked at Jensen and squeezed his hand. "Before I came out, I related so much to Dean and I couldn't quite point out why. Until I realized we wanted so desperately to be loved by our dads. To be enough for them. Parents who don't

deserve

us." She finally held up a hand to wipe her eyes only for Jensen to do it for her.

Jensen moved Avery's glasses so they sat atop her head as he wiped her cheeks. "Your dad sounds like an asshat. So does your mom." Avery let out a breathy laugh at that. "I mean it. They're missing out on such a beautiful, successful, smart girl." He pressed a kiss to her nose, where the majority of her freckles were. "So

fuck

them for not seeing you."

Avery chuckled softly at the contact and leaned into Jensen's warm hands. "Yeah." She looked into Jensen's eyes. The muted color of green they were was swamp-like. A deep green that would have made a nice paint color in a Victorian home. "It's… a bit cringe. But when I look at you, when I realize I

have

you, I feel like everything I've gone through is nothing if it means I get to have you. If I get to be with you in the way that I want."

Jensen pressed his lips against Avery's. He wasn't sure how else to react, what

could

he say in response to that? A thanks wouldn't be enough. It never would have been. He was glad Avery was in his life too. He would have been going through the motions, dead on the inside. Now, Jensen felt alive. His chest was full of emotion. Love. And everything that came with it. The overwhelming feeling of sympathy for his partner.

The need to keep her safe while also knowing he can't always do that. Avery has a whole life ahead of her, one that Jensen can't predict. She'll get hurt, she'll fall down, but Jensen would be the one to help pick herself up and try to lead her down a path that's less full of thorns.

"If I could…" Avery pulled away from Jensen's lips as she took in his face like it was the first time again. "If I could tell my younger self something, I think I'd tell her to trust herself. I get you."

Jensen smiled warmly. "I think I'd tell myself that love will hit me like a train. And I'll just be along for the ride."

A lop-sided smile appeared on Avery's lips. Love filled her chest. It weighed her down yet she didn't think of it that way. It was a fluttery feeling. She couldn't quite describe it in a fully articulate way. Just that it felt good. It was fulfilling and made her feel whole.

After breakfast, Jensen and Avery got ready for the evening. Jensen dressed himself in a navy blue sweater that Avery got him as a housewarming gift and a pair of black slacks with shoes that matched his sweater nicely. His hair was left the same as usual, away from his face with a few strands that made it their job not to stay where he wanted them to be. After Halloween, Jensen had Avery repaint his nails after they began to chip, so his nails were still painted black. That was sure to cause a stir within his extended family but he didn't care much. Jensen only saw them for holidays.

Avery wore a gray turtleneck underneath a brown plaid dress that ended just above her knees, a pair of gray socks, and heels that had a buckle on the side. Jensen realized that was the first time he'd ever seen her wear heels. She didn't need to wear them in the first place, she was almost as tall as Jensen without them. With the heels, she was an inch or so taller—the height of the heel was only three inches.

"Do you mind if I take your leather jacket?" Avery asked as she fastened the buckles of her heels. Jensen shook his head as he adjusted the watch on his wrist. Avery grabbed the leather jacket that lay at the end of the bed and put it on. It went with her outfit nicely.

Jensen looked lovingly at Avery. She looked amazing in his clothes. "Do you ever think about how I'd look in your clothes?"

Avery looked Jensen up and down. "Every day. Why?"

"Just a question." He said honestly.

Avery sat at the end of the bed as Jensen grabbed another jacket from his closet. A brown leather jacket. Avery played with the end of her dress and then adjusted her socks, they slipped down slightly. Too much for her liking. She was nervous. Jensen's parents are what mattered but Avery didn't like the prospect of being the neighborhood's gossip. She likely was going to be after tonight.

"Sweetheart," Jensen breathed, cupping Avery's chin. "You know that if anything happens—

anything

—you can talk to me and we'll leave. We can grab some of my mom's pie and eat on Baby's hood."

Avery's eyes lit up at the mention of the car. "We're taking the Impala?" She had always liked cars but she blamed Supernatural for her obsession with them.

"If you want." Jensen knew she'd want to if her Mustang was anything to go by.

"Yeah. That sounds nice." Avery smiled softly as she stood up.

As they made their way into the garage, Avery's mouth dropped open. She had seen quite a few replicas of Baby but there was nothing like the real thing. The black glossy coat of paint was the perfect color for a 1967 Impala that she couldn't imagine one in a different color.

"That almost rivals the way you first looked at me." Jensen joked softly. "C'mon, sweetheart." The driver’s door creaked as he opened it. Like it always did on the show.

Avery got in the passenger door and sighed contentedly. The bench seat felt like she assumed it would, comforting in a strange way. Like the second home the brothers intended it to be. Then there was the overwhelming smell of Jensen in the car. Like apple wood chips smoking for

hours

. Masculine but there was a sense of fruit. A fruit Avery would happily gorge herself on.

"How many girls have you had in here?" Avery teased softly.

Jensen started the ignition with a loud roar. It shook Avery to her core. "Just one."

Avery chuckled bashfully as she pulled her seatbelt over her body. She glanced at the back seat from the rearview mirror, scenes of Dean giving girls the time of their life back there came to the forefront of her mind. She let out a cough to clear her mind. It didn't work well.

When they arrived at the Ackles house, Avery's mood changed completely. There were at least six or seven different cars in the driveway and on the side of the road. For a moment, Avery wondered if they could just get their food to go. She glanced at Jensen who was staring at her.

Now or never.

Avery stepped out of the car. Jensen followed suit. "Should we have brought something?" She whispered as they made their way to the door.

"Nah, my mom would have a lot of leftovers and, well, after Thanksgiving, they don't need that much food." Jensen pressed a kiss to Avery's temple and knocked on the door. He had a key but he liked to let his mom know when he was there.

Donna greeted the pair with a smile and hugged them tightly. "I'm glad we didn't scare you away."

Avery was still debating if that was true. "Of course not." She laughed dryly.

"Come on, darlin', the family is dying to meet you." Donna waved them inside. Avery felt an alarm go off in her head. Why?

Jensen stopped his mother. "Momma, who's been talking about Avery?" He didn't want to talk about this in front of other people. It'd only give them more to talk about. And if there was something a Southern family loved, it was gossip.

"Everyone, why?" Donna was blissfully unaware.

"Was it Auntie Mary?" Jensen pressed. Avery wasn't sure who Auntie Mary was but she assumed it was the biggest transphobe in their family.

Donna pursed her lips in thought. "I believe so."

Jensen sighed. "Auntie Mary doesn't like people like Avery." Bingo. Avery was right.

Donna's eyebrows furrowed. She frowned. "If she says anything, I'll have Alan have a word with her. Does that sound okay?"

Jensen looked at Avery for an answer. "If it's no trouble." She eventually said.

"It won't be. Sometimes I don't even know why we invite Aunt Mary to these things." Donna quickly said as they ventured into the house. She said it so casually as if it was common knowledge.

Avery glanced at Jensen who just pursed his lips. Elena was the only person Avery knew of that had a Southern family dynamic but, even then, Avery had never been a part of that dynamic. She never visited for Thanksgiving, Christmas, or any other holiday. The only time she'd see Elena's parents was when they visited Columbia.

When Avery saw Mackenzie, she was greeted with a hug. "Hey! You look amazing! Much better than yesterday if you ask me." She teased softly as she nudged Avery's arm.

"Yeah." Was Avery's dry response as she looked around. She wasn't sure how else to. The house was buzzing with activity. All kinds of people she had never met before. Young children, middle-aged adults, and elders. All related somehow. Parents, children, grandchildren.

"Don't feel so intimidated, sweetie." Mackenzie whispered, wrapping an arm around Avery's shoulder to bring her close. "Just stay close to me."

Avery nodded with a half-smile. She appreciated Mackenzie but she had a nagging feeling

something

would go wrong. She was right most of the time.

"Can I leave you with her?" Jensen asked softly. He spotted a few friends from across the kitchen.

Avery waved him off. "I'll be fine." She hoped she would be. Her plan was to stay by the kitchen so she could stay by Donna and Mackenzie.

"Are you sure?" Jensen looked into Avery's eyes. He could see the nervousness in them.

Avery nodded. "Yep."

"I repel half our family anyway. The rebel girl, remember?" Mackenzie winked.

Jensen shook his head and brought Mackenzie into a half-hug, pressing a kiss to her temple. It messed up her hair a bit. "Thanks, kiddo." He walked off.

Avery smiled softly at the interaction. Jensen was an affectionate guy. Her brothers were nowhere near the level of affectionate he was. Partly because they had assumed Avery was a boy most of her life and boys weren't supposed to hug each other. Or that's what their parents taught them. The one brother Avery still had contact with didn't hug her. She wondered if there was a reason for it but she didn't feel like she was missing out. Just happy Jensen could express affection for his family.

"You have brothers?" Mackenzie asked after seeing the look in Avery's eyes.

She nodded. "Two. Like you. I'm the youngest too." Avery admitted with a light smile.

"What're their names?" Mackenzie wanted to get to know Avery, especially if she'd stay with Jensen for a while.

"Uh, Jacob and Joseph. I really only talk to Jacob, though." Avery hummed softly. She didn't feel weird talking about them compared to the rest of her life.

Mackenzie tilted her head as she took a sip of wine. It had been sitting on the counter next to her. "Oh, why?"

"Joseph moved to the middle of nowhere in Utah and we kinda," Avery pursed her lips. "Lost contact, I guess. Never talk. Jacob texts me every so often." She explained. Her relationship with her brothers was relatively cut and dry compared to her parents. Sure, she didn't exactly like Joseph but he could have changed. She doubted it. Like her father, Joseph was stuck in his ways.

Mackenzie hummed as she took in the information. She knew she was lucky her family didn't have any sort of falling out when they could have. There were a few times they were close. "You see him?" Mackenzie asked.

"Sometimes." Avery scratched at her head, looking at the swirls in the marble countertops. "Maybe once a year he'll visit me for a weekend. Usually during Winter Break." A smile broke onto her face. "He'll take me to a horrendously overpriced place for dinner and then we'll hate it so we'll get Wendy's frosties and dip our fries in them."

Mackenzie smiled at the way Avery talked about her brother. She was fond of him, in her own way. "That's nice." Jensen would do something similar with her. Instead of Wendy's, they'd go to a diner and get a piece of pie. She'd get a slice of apple and he'd get coconut cream.

A commotion started which made Avery turn. It was coming from the front door. Her eyes went blank. Jared and Genevieve just walked in. She didn't expect them to be there. But then again, Avery wasn't sure how much Jensen told his parents. She immediately looked away, not wanting Jared to see her.

"Not a big Jared fan?" Mackenzie whispered. Avery shook her head. "Me neither." She watched the couple get surrounded with 'hi's and 'how are you's.

"You must be Jensen's girlfriend!" An older lady pointed out. Avery could see the skeptical look in her eyes. "Bless his heart. You look so real."

Avery wasn't sure if she should laugh. This must be Auntie Mary. She had inadvertently affirmed her gender while also complimenting her. It was almost as if passing was the point. Well, for Avery. She felt mostly offended for Jensen.

"Auntie Mary, don't you want to ask momma about her sweet potatoes? I think she'll finally give you the recipe this year." Mackenzie tried to get Mary to go away.

Mary frowned and shook her head. "Donna ain't giving that up." She turned to Avery again and looked her up and down. It seemed like she couldn't find what she was searching for. "Now I don't like being the town gossip," Avery doubted that. "But me and the girls have been wondering, do you still have a—"

"Yes." Avery answered.

"Dinner's ready!" Donna called right on time.

Avery smiled at Mary while Mackenzie laughed behind her. Avery grabbed a plate and utensils and then helped herself to each tray of food. Turkey, sweet potato mash with marshmallows, roasted potatoes, and a splash of gravy. There were a few tables set up so she sat at the end of the second one. Feeling like she needed one, Avery poured a glass of red wine for herself.

"You handled Auntie Mary well." Jensen whispered in her ear as he sat next to her. His plate looked the same, except he had a healthy helping of green bean casserole. Avery hated green beans.

Avery took a sip from her glass and sighed. "Can we still go during dessert?" The idea of eating pie under the stars on the Impala's hood sounded amazing.

"Yeah, we can." Jensen smiled softly.

"How'd seeing your friends go?" Avery didn't want to bring up Jared but Jensen was bound to see him eventually.

Jensen shrugged as he snuck a bite of turkey. Usually, his mom or dad would say grace before they could dig in but he didn't care. "Jason's the same as usual. Just having a good time. Cons are the most excitement he gets." He chuckled softly.

"Jason Manns?" Avery tilted her head.

"Yep." Jensen hummed. He knew fans knew Jason but they'd likely never be able to pick him out in a crowd.

Avery mumbled in thought, "He was the first person to introduce me to your singing."

"He was?" Jensen asked, glancing at Jason who was in the middle of grabbing some food. He had been friends with him for years. Longer than Jared.

"Yeah, y'know, his covers with friends album." Avery explained with a glint of excitement in her eyes. "Really want your peaches wanna shake your tree." She half-sung.

"Or would it be considered eggplant?" Jared chimed in, taking his seat next to Avery.

Her face went blank whereas Jensen narrowed his eyes at the man. "Let's just all get along, huh?" Gen cut in as she sat next to Jared.

"Maybe control your husband then, Gen." Jensen hissed. He wouldn't have minded his parents inviting Jared if they made a rule that he couldn't be an asshole. Though, knowing him, he'd find a way.

Avery pursed her lips, feeling the uneasiness overtake her again. Fuck saying grace, she needed something in her stomach or else she felt she would throw up. It seemed the people around her didn't care much that she started eating anyway. Her brain needed something to keep her busy besides thinking about the behemoth of a man who sat next to her.

With a hand on her thigh, Jensen caught her attention. "You alright?"

Avery glanced at Jared and then back at him. "I will be." She could get through a night with Jared's backhanded comments. She'd probably laugh about how awful they were the next day.

Jensen forked a green bean and brought it to his mouth. Jared laughed, likely thinking of another horrendous joke. Something about the shape and the fact that it was submerged in a white substance.

The rest of dinner mainly consisted of Avery and Jensen talking about whatever, trying their best to ignore Jared next to them who would occasionally snicker at things not intended to be funny. Avery wondered what it was like for Gen to be married to a child while having three

actual

children. Sure, Avery could be childish sometimes but she knew how to read a room. An attribute it seemed Jared was missing.

There was a bit of gossip at the other end of the room but Avery didn't listen too in-depth of what it was about. She did see a few stares in her direction.

However she did catch, "I can't believe Jensen's dating a transvestite."

Avery suppressed a dry laugh at that. Of course an older person would call her such an outdated slur. She stood up from the table and washed her plate, soon joined by Jensen. "I'm sorry." He whispered after a while.

"For what? None of this is your fault." Avery smiled. It wasn't.

"But I invited you." Jensen felt an immense amount of guilt all the sudden. He wanted to protect Avery from people like the ones in his family.

Avery shook her head and took Jensen's hand. "I agreed to go." She pressed a kiss to his cheek.

"Time to go?" Donna made her way into the kitchen. Jensen and Avery nodded. "I had a feeling." She frowned as she opened the fridge and took out a Tupperware with two perfectly sliced pieces of sweet potato pie and a few plastic forks inside. She was prepared. "I'm sorry about tonight."

Avery took the container and hugged Donna. "You're okay, Ms. Ackles. Maybe next time, me and Jensen'll do Thanksgiving and then you'll be able to meet my family." She said softly. She had a feeling Donna would love Elena, Mercer, and Jay. Jay might take some getting used to but Avery knew it'd work out in the end.

Donna's eyes lit up. She looked at Jensen who looked just as surprised as she was. He hadn't thought about hosting Thanksgiving in a while or with Avery. But she was an incredible cook. He wondered what her version of Thanksgiving would look like.

"Bye, Ms. Ackles." Avery waved.

Donna nodded before she hugged Jensen goodbye. "She's a keeper." She whispered so only he could hear.

"I know, momma." Jensen smiled. He was glad his parents could see it too. "Bye."

Avery and Jensen left for the Impala. They drove for a little while until Jensen pulled onto a dirt road that led to a park. It was night so the stars were shining brightly and there were fireflies still around even though it was in the middle of fall. Jensen parked in the middle of the clearing and cut the engine. He pushed himself onto the hood of the Impala and watched Avery do the same, setting the Tupperware in between them before she looked up at the stars.

"Huh. Pisces is visible tonight." Avery pointed out, taking the lid off the Tupperware.

Jensen looked up at the night sky with furrowed eyebrows. "Where?" To be fair, he wasn't into constellations much anyway. Let alone astrology.

"There." Avery took Jensen's hand and mapped out the constellation among the stars. "It's like the Big Dipper, just with a long tail." She hummed as she took a bite from the pie. She usually ate pumpkin pie in the fall but sweet potato was good too.

Jensen could finally see it and nodded. "Yeah." He took a bite from his piece and watched Avery. She was far calmer than earlier. As if she was in her natural habitat.

In many ways, night was Avery's natural habitat. It was when she got a lot of homework done, food just tasted better, and she was in a better mood. She had made jokes that it was because she was secretly a devotee of Selene. Jensen had to look that up in order to realize Selene was the goddess of the moon. Supernatural wasn't into Greek Mythology as much as it liked using urban folktales.

"We should do this more often." Avery hummed softly as she glanced up at the moon.

Jensen smiled. "Drive to the middle of nowhere and eat pie?"

"Yeah." Avery had a wistful look in her eyes that Jensen couldn't argue with.

"Alright."

The scene reminded Avery of her brother but it had a different weight to it. A different kind of love that she hadn't felt before. Not to this magnitude.

A streak of light went across the night sky. "A meteor." Avery pointed out, glancing at Jensen who was staring at her. Not the sky.

"If I wished to kiss you, do you think it'll come true?" Jensen asked with a sly smile.

Avery laughed. A little too hard that she almost fell off the Impala's hood. "I hate that."

Jensen kept her from falling with an arm around her waist. "You love me." He whispered into her ear.

"I do." Avery chuckled, coming down from her laughing fit. "But I hate that you said that."

Jensen rolled his eyes and kissed her. Avery didn't pull away. The metal below them was uncomfortable but neither of them moved to leave the hood. Avery brushed a hand through Jensen's hair to set it on the back of his neck. Jensen kept his arms around her waist, pulling her closer. His lips tasted like the pie they just had. She wanted more. So they kissed until they had to break for breath.

When Jensen opened his eyes again, Avery's eyes stared back at him with the twinkles of stars reflected in them. The normal blue shade of them looked like the night sky. The shade of space Jensen imagined it'd be.

They had a million kisses at that point yet Avery knew she'd think about that one for the rest of her life.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Avery was in the home stretch. One more semester until she was free from undergrad and well on her way to her doctorate. Which she somewhat dreaded. School was an escape but she still hated having to do homework and things of that nature, even if half of them were writing stories or doing research on topics she liked. Most of her Winter Break was spent with Jensen since her roommates were gone again. But Avery had other plans for the second half of their break. She, Jensen, and Elena would go to Chicago. And Jensen would be able to meet her brother. As soon as Avery told Jacob about the trip, he decided he'd tag along. "I need to meet this guy. Or, at least, that's what other people say? Shake his hand, make sure he's a good fit for my little sister or something like that." Was what he had said. Avery appreciated the fact that he said 'sister' more than he could have known. The plane ride into Chicago was similar to their previous one. Except for the fact that Jensen was sandwiched between Avery and Elena. Elena had the window seat because she liked watching the cars below them. They looked like ants to her, marching in lines one by one. She hummed the song to herself. Avery thought this plane ride was the perfect time to introduce Jensen to one of her favorite podcasts. The length of the episode was about the same length as the plane ride so it was perfect. The podcast wasn't informative at all, in fact, it was just two guys talking about whatever they wanted. And not the weird ones. The Basement Yard. "So this is where you get 'put some dirt over your body and go to sleep forever.'" Jensen laughed as Joe Santagato said the line. They were sharing Avery's earbuds. Avery shrugged, holding a hand over her mouth to cover her laugh. She didn't want to disturb anyone who decided the flight would be their excuse to get a quick nap. But it was hard. Frankie and Joey were the funniest people she knew of besides her own friends. But the margin was close. "Can we get some food when we land?" Elena pleaded softly. The flight was early in the morning and she almost didn't wake up on time so she didn't have much to eat. Avery nodded. "We'll probably get something quick. Like Dunkin'." She glanced at Jensen who didn't seem too bothered by the idea. Dunkin' was his usual breakfast place when getting off an early flight. Especially when he went to conventions. When the plane landed, Avery sent a text to Jacob notifying them that they arrived. He was likely on his flight as well. They all grabbed their luggage for the week and went to the nearest Dunkin' Donuts. Avery and Jensen got a breakfast burrito with iced coffee while Elena got a breakfast croissant with some tea. Avery was munching on her burrito when she was nudged. She glanced over her shoulder to see her brother. "What? Nothing for me?" Jacob frowned teasingly. He was dressed in a hoodie and jeans, a backpack was on his shoulder while his luggage sat next to him. "Hey." Avery breathed then grabbed the burrito she got for him. She gave it to Jacob who then sat next to Elena. Jensen watched them. It felt awkward. But it wasn't uncomfortable. "It's been a while." Jacob nodded as he unwrapped the burrito and started to eat. "I know…" He didn't seem too sorry. Avery didn't expect him to. "It's nice to see you." He admitted softly. They'd see each other once a year at most. And it was hard since they were still young and adjusting to life as adults. Jacob was a bit better than Avery in that way because he was older and lived on his own. He missed Avery sometimes, someone who could understand his horrible jokes and share the same morals and ideas. Their parents were very conservative. And they weren't. Yet Jacob was still in contact with them. Half the things he cared about, didn't affect him as much as Avery. But he cared about her. And he showed it to the dismay of his parents. Jacob would talk about how she was doing in her classes, her life, and the fact that it was so much better without them in it. Jacob wasn't sure they cared. Or if they did, it made them seethe that Avery could be so happy without them. On the way to get their rental car, Jensen and Elena led the way. She was so short compared to him that any onlooker who didn't know better would think they were father and daughter. Jacob and Avery walked behind them. "How's mom and dad?" Avery asked softly. She didn't really want to know but she thought she'd ask. Jacob sighed, "The same. Turned your room into another guest room they don't need." At first, it was empty. Then it turned into an office. Then a man cave for their father. Now, a guest room… Jensen was in the middle of signing a few things for the rental when Avery glanced from him to her brother. "What do you think?" She asked slyly. "Good enough for me?"Jacob rolled his eyes and then smiled. "I think he loves you. That's all that matters." He leaned into Avery's ear to whisper. "I also think it's crazy you ended up dating your tween crush." Avery shoved Jacob away with a blush on her cheeks. When they left the airport, Avery took a deep breath of the cool winter air. Something about Winter enamored Avery. The feel of the cool air inside her lungs, the way her cheeks stung from the cold, and a feeling she could only describe as nostalgia. For what? She wasn't even sure. Nostalgia was a weird feeling. It made her want something she wasn't even sure was real anymore. An ideal version of the past that didn't exist. They arrived at the hotel. It was similar to the one they previously stayed at, fancy with nice rooms. Elena and Jacob got a room with two twin beds while Avery and Jensen got a big king bed in their room. The rooms were on the fifteenth floor. "This shit is fancy." Avery whistled when she went inside her and Jensen's shared room. It was so high up that Avery could see the snow on top of a few buildings near the hotel. The bed was in the middle of the room with a desk and dresser on the opposite side. As well as a mini-bar that looked as if it could be a dresser as well. The bathroom door could be seen right when she walked in. Jensen nodded as he sat on the bed and ran a hand through his hair, taking off his baseball cap. "I'm glad you think so." He smiled. Avery turned back to Jensen. There were a few seats by the window, separated by a coffee table. "I feel weird." She pursed her lips. The comment made Jensen cock an eyebrow. "Not in a bad way. Just like… I've been raving about how much I love this city to Elena and how much I wanted to take her here for years even though I lived here with my parents for a while and yet," She took a breath, pushing her hair away from her face. "I don't feel horrible about being here. I dunno. Maybe it's just that a lot of my memories here are happy. And usually with Jacob. It's weird." Avery repeated.Jensen stood and took her hands. They were a bit cold even though they were only outside for a few minutes. "I don't think it's weird. You're allowed to enjoy things. Especially things that make you happy." He tucked a piece of hair behind Avery's ear.Avery nodded slowly. "Yeah. You're right." She said quietly. "Hey," Jensen cupped Avery's cheek with a warm hand. "Do you wanna go to Navy Pier tonight?" Her eyes lit up. "Yes." So they did. Elena ran to the edge of the pier and looked out at the water. It wasn't night yet but the afternoon sun shined nicely on the calm waters of Lake Michigan. She watched a few people throw rocks in the body of water and had half a mind to tell them to stop. Except for the fact that she had crippling social anxiety so her body wouldn't be able to handle that sort of confrontation. Unless it had to do with any of her friends. Then, and only then, would the adrenaline kick in. Jacob bought a churro for himself and for Avery. They munched on their snacks as Jensen explained the different boat tours people could go on Lake Michigan for—and on the Chicago River—to Elena. Even though Jensen wasn't a Chicago native, he went to the city often enough to be knowledgeable enough. "God, it's like tasting childhood again." Avery groaned happily as she and her brother joined Elena and Jensen by the edge of the pier. They were watching a speed boat come back from its tour. Jensen noticed the churro before Avery offered him a bite. He eagerly took one. "In middle school, I went on one of those. Couldn't hear for shit when they went really fast."Elena gasped. "I didn't get to do anything cool like that on my field trips." She complained. "You lived in the middle of nowhere all your life." Jacob pointed out with a wave of his churro. "True." Elena sighed. She wasn't jealous of Avery, or Jacob for that matter. In fact, she liked experiencing things with Avery rather than on her own. It was so much more fun. Avery broke off a piece of her churro and offered it to Jensen who promptly popped it in his mouth. "The speed boats are better to go on in the summer anyway. Way too cold right now to be zooming around out there." She chuckled. As if finally gaining consciousness, Elena registered the ferris wheel at the end of the pier. "Oh my god! Can we go on it?" She pointed at it. "The only ferris wheels I've been on have been at fairs and they're not that big!" Avery laughed while Jacob simply stared at her. The childlike wonder Elena had for everything was simultaneously endearing and a bit off-putting. For Jacob, at least. He was grateful he only had to deal with her in small doses. How did Avery do it? "C'mon, kiddo. I'll get tickets." Jensen wrapped an arm around Elena's shoulder and led her over to the ferris wheel to buy admission. Elena's eyes welled with tears. "I get two dads?" It was somewhat of a running joke that Avery was like a father to Elena in their friend group. It wasn't so much of a joke when Avery cooked most of their meals, drove Elena to most places, and listened to Elena talk about her day while she was reading a book. Avery and Jacob followed, throwing away their napkins from the churro as the group boarded a capsule. It was a small, glass room with metal on the floor and benches to sit on as the wheel turned. Avery intentionally didn't look outside the windows. "You should totally look down. It's so cool." Elena teased softly. "I will shoot you." Avery kicked Elena's leg, moving the capsule slightly. The movement scared her so she latched onto Jensen. Jensen didn't know she was afraid of heights. But, then again, he hadn't seen Avery in this sort of context before. Tall buildings were different. She could exist fine on solid ground. Not so well inside a small room that was dangling from a high-up place. Jacob was unsettled by the movement too. Fear of heights ran in the family. Well, there was also Joseph who seemed not to have a care in the world. When the wheel reached its peak, Avery looked out at the lake. Not straight down. The sky was still slightly blue but the moon was far more visible in the sky than earlier. Snow filtered down onto the ground. It wasn't heavy, more of a light dust that would coat the ground in a thin layer. Elena took a few pictures to send to her boyfriend. As well as Mercer. When it came to the moon, Mercer was like a moth to a flame. Jensen leaned into Avery and pressed a kiss to her cheek. Avery let out a sigh at the kiss and some tension in her shoulders released. Elena caught a picture and then showed it to Jacob who just stared. He had no particular feelings about the picture. It was cute. Elena sent it to Avery. She thought she'd like it. Maybe even frame it. Elena had a feeling they'd move in together sometime soon. The picture would probably go up on some accent table that had knick-knacks and the sort on it. As night fell across the Navy Pier, Elena and Jacob bantered behind Jensen and Avery as they sat on the steps that led inside the food court. Jensen had an arm around Avery's waist as she leaned into his shoulder. She was just people-watching. "How are you so rich and yet you dress like that?" Elena narrowed her eyes at Jacob.He pursed his lips and shook his head. Jacob changed from earlier, wearing a heavy black winter jacket. It wasn't anything fancy or expensive but it kept him warm and that's what mattered to him. "I'm a minimalist. Sorry?" He wasn't. "So was Jensen and look how far he's grown!" Elena argued. Arguing with Jacob was one of her favorite pastimes when they were together. Jensen's shoulder shook with a laugh and Avery lifted a hand to her forehead. He wore a black sweater with a brown suede jacket lined with fur. It was heavy but light enough that he could actually move. His choice of clothing was a bit influenced by Avery as their relationship went on. His nails were still painted black, they made a day out of it every Saturday, and he wore a pair of her pants. They were mom jeans, loose around his ankles. Since they were so close in size, it became a thing between them to share their clothes. Jacob sighed. "He's also like a million dollars richer than I am." Avery shook her head as she adjusted her glasses. She thought Elena and Jacob were more like brother and sister than she and Jacob ever were. She didn't mind it. It was fun to watch. "To be fair, I have a brewery and I get a cut of royalties from album sales on top of acting." Jensen whispered to Avery, not wanting to break up the amusing banter behind them. "I know." Avery sighed and then glanced up at the few stars peaking out from the night sky. The bad thing about being in the middle of Chicago was the air and light pollution—it was bad for stargazing. "I think half of the streams for your albums were because of me." Jensen pressed a kiss to her temple. "Should I thank you for it?" "Woah there, cowboy. We have a couple of kids we need to watch." Avery teased. "Including your brother who's six years older than you?" Jensen cocked an eyebrow, an amused smile on his face.Avery glanced behind them. "Who knows what they could do together?" "Hey," A stranger went up to them. She was with a group of people behind her. Avery recognized them from somewhere. "I'm Max, from Twitter." "Oh shit." Avery's eyes widened with recognition. She assumed Max would have wanted to talk with Jensen who was literally right next to her. "Hi, uh—""Do you want to take a picture with us?" Max asked. Her phone was already out. Avery looked behind Max to see if she would recognize everyone else. Arlen, Parks, and—of course—Dean. "Sure." She stood from Jensen and almost immediately missed the warmth. Avery went to go say hello to her online friends. "I can take your picture." Jensen offered. Max nodded and handed her phone to him as she made her way back to her friends for a pose. "Say cheese!" He took quite a few pictures.Dean smiled widely. "I can't believe I met Twitter royalty!" He gushed jokingly. The group laughed.In the past few months between Avery accidentally revealing herself on TikTok and going out with Jensen nearly every weekend, her follower count jumped exponentially. From just over five thousand to half a million. She knew most people followed her due to her connection with Jensen but she liked to think they stayed because she was pretty funny when she wanted to be. Jensen returned Max's phone and smiled at his girlfriend. Something inside him shined with pride. There was no surprise that Avery was asked for a picture instead of him, just happiness. He admired the way Avery laughed when Arlen said something. It was likely some sort of joke he wouldn't have understood in the first place. Quite a few snowflakes decorated her hair. He could see her breath fog up her glasses with her laugh. She shined brighter than the stars when she was in this city. Jensen was glad Avery brought him along so he could see.  @lesbiandean: GUESS WHO WE SAW IN CHICAGO !!!  —---Christmas Eve. The magical day before the real thing. Jacob had planned the day and Avery trusted him to do so. There weren't many places they hadn't gone to Chicago together so Avery would likely know where they were going anyway. Jensen planned what they were going to do the next day since most of this trip was his treat. "We can get some hot chocolate after we go on the Riverwalk. Maybe do a bit of shopping, take some pictures by the Christmas tree." Jacob explained as they left the hotel. Each of them were bundled up, it was significantly colder than Columbia and Elena somewhat wished the heat would travel to Chicago. Avery took in the sights of being in Chicago again. The second time that year and yet it felt a lot different in the winter. She blamed it on the snow. Snow made everything look much more ethereal and wonderful . Part of the reason she didn't like living down south was because they didn't get much snow, making the winter feel off. Wrong. But in the north, it snowed nearly every winter and made the season feel complete. When they arrived at the Riverwalk, Avery made Jensen, Elena, and Jacob squeeze into a selfie so they could get a picture of the arch that was above the stairs. She, Elena, and Jensen smiled while Jacob looked bothered at the camera. It was his thing when he was forced to take pictures so Avery didn't think twice about it. Elena on the other hand, "Could you at least pretend to be happy?""Nope." Jacob shrugged. There was a glint of mirth in his eyes though. The kind of look only Avery could see because she'd lived with him for so long. They descended upon the Riverwalk. Jensen had an arm around Avery's waist while Jacob and Elena walked next to them. Elena watched as small and big boats alike made their way across the Chicago River. "What happens when big ass boats come through?" Elena asked out of curiosity.Jacob explained this one. "The bridges go up. It stops traffic so that sucks but y'know…""Do people ever get stuck on the bridge?" Elena's expression turned into one of concern. They walked across a bridge over the river to get there, it had a walkway for pedestrians as well as a path for cars. Avery glanced up at a bridge and hummed. "I mean, I haven't heard of anything like that. But who the hell knows?" "They probably have precautions for that kind of stuff." Jensen reassured Elena the best he could. Avery watched the river flow, wondering just how cold it must feel, and felt the impulse to jump in. But then she thought about how dirty it must be. Years ago, and maybe even now, the river was like the city's trash can. They threw just about everything in there. There were probably a few bodies but they were buried under all the trash and layers of sediment. "Hot chocolate sounds good right about now." Elena hummed after a while of walking. Jacob nodded and led them in the direction of his and Avery's favorite spot to get hot drinks. As they entered, the warmth was very welcome. Avery's fingers were starting to get numb. She always forgot gloves. Then there was the smell of decadent chocolate. If the way Jensen's shoulders sagged was an indication of anything, it meant he'd like this place a fraction of the amount Avery did.When she walked inside, it was like she was transported back into her ten-year-old self. Avery sat with her brothers and mother in the corner of the café with a mug of hot chocolate decorated with a perfect dollop of whipped cream on top in front of her. It was so rich and smooth and wonderfully sweet. Her younger self wanted to drink it every night before bed."Four hot chocolates with whipped cream, please." Avery ordered as Jacob got them a booth to sit at with Elena. She tapped her phone against the card receiver before Jensen could even try to get out his wallet.Jensen frowned as he and Avery went to the booth Jacob and Elena were at. "You never let me pay for shit anymore." "You paid for this whole vacation. I think I can handle a few drinks and a dinner." Avery knew she wasn't as wealthy as Jensen and probably never would be by herself but she wasn't a poor college student. Well, maybe a little bit. But she had enough money for rent and a bit left over after bills. Plus, she liked treating Jensen to stuff she liked. Or anything, really. Jensen pursed his lips, realizing she was right. He shimmied out of his jacket and stuffed it next to him in the booth. Avery did the same."So how does this place work?" Elena asked, glancing up at the counter. She was still bundled up, not wanting to let go of any warmth. "Do we get our drinks or…?" "They'll call Avery's name and we'll get 'em." Jacob explained, glancing up from his phone before he put it away. He was checking his stocks, seeing what or what not to invest in. "Our mom would take us here all the time in the winter." Avery smiled as she looked around the café. It hadn't changed a bit. The old-timey lettering on the windows, the bell that rang each time a new customer came in, the tiled floors, it was all the same. No charm was lost. "I remember seeing two people on a date here. I tried mimicking the way the girl sat. Legs crossed with her toes pointed up at the ceiling." She hummed. Her mother looked at her weirdly after that but she left that part out. Jensen smiled at Avery and took her hand, squeezing it softly. He liked hearing her memories. The good and bad. The way she talked about them was mesmerizing. Elena felt the same. Avery could weave a tale so compelling that could have anyone hanging by a thread. "You remember that time it snowed so much we dug a hole through the snow and came out the other end?" Jacob was hit with memories the same way Avery was. Elena blinked. "Wait, what?" "I was maybe twelve, at the time, and there was this huge snowstorm that left a couple of feet of snow and we had this hill in the backyard and since we were kids—" Jacob cut Avery off."I was eighteen.""Whatever." Avery rolled her eyes. "Anyway, the snow was so heavy and so packed that we could dig a hole through it and it wouldn't cave in on us. It was there for a week, at least." Elena pouted. "Snow sounds so cool. I wish it snowed down south." She had a feeling she would've turned out very different if it had though.Jacob shook his head. "No, you don't," A barista called Avery's name, prompting her to grab the mugs of hot chocolate. "We have a lot of good memories but the fucked part is that we had to shovel the driveway, our dad yelling at us if we didn't do it "correctly," it was horrible." He shivered slightly. Noticing that Avery would need some help, Jensen left the booth as well. He grabbed the other two mugs and set them on the table with her. Each mug came with a small plate to set them on.Elena grabbed hers and held it between both her hands, needing the warmth to heat them up. Her first sip was like opening her third eye. "Woah." She blinked and went in for another sip. It felt as if she was transported into Willy Wonka's chocolate factory and took a sip from the chocolate river. Thankfully, she wasn't going to be sucked up into a tube. Avery laughed as she took a sip from her mug, enjoying Elena's reaction. Jacob was more or less the same, except he didn't outright laugh. Instead, there was a smile at the edges of his lips as he drank from his mug. The intensity of their first time having hot chocolate from this place was similar to Elena but each time they came back, they got used to it. It was still delicious, that's why they kept coming back. On the other hand, Jensen hissed at his first taste. The liquid was way too hot and burned his tongue. "Shit!" He had to choke down the liquid instead of savoring it so he didn't taste much. "You good there, buddy?" Avery looked at Jensen, concerned. He shook his head. "Hot." Jensen responded, setting his mug down to let it cool. He still felt the pricks of pain on his tongue and wondered if it would impact his next sip. It usually did."Too bad, so sad. I can describe it to you if you really want." Elena teased. She had a feeling the experience would be ruined for Jensen. Avery scolded her jokingly. "Don't be a dick, El." She grabbed Jensen's mug and exchanged it with her own. "Have mine, it's cool enough." Jensen touched the mug with his palm and noticed it was significantly cooler than his. Still hot, but not scalding. He lifted the mug to his lips and smelled the rich, warm chocolate that created the scent in the air. However, what was inside his mug was far more potent. Concentrated. When the liquid first hit his tongue, Jensen let out a satisfied groan. There was still a small sting in his mouth but he didn't care. He took a longer sip than intended before he set the mug back down. Half the hot chocolate was gone. Avery coughed, a blush on her cheeks as she pursed her lips. Elena and Jacob shared an amused look. "You got, ah…" She breathed. Jensen looked at her, unaware. "Some…" Avery licked the pad of her thumb and wiped his nose. "Whipped cream." Jensen nodded, feeling his brain buzz from the contact. Perhaps it was partly due to the liquid pleasure that was what he just drank. "Thank you." He sighed as he took another sip. "So," Jacob looked between the two lovebirds. "What do you wanna do after this? Shopping or Christmas tree? Cause, honestly, I don't think I have it in me to do both." Walking along the Riverwalk was nice but standing out in the cold for so long was not . He wanted to have some time back at the hotel so he could bask in warmth a little longer. "We have to do the tree!" Elena cut in. "I mean, it's like a staple when you go to a big city. New York, Chicago…" She blanked. "Uh, other Northern cities."Avery chuckled softly. "We can do the tree." "Thanks, dad!" Elena cheered.Jacob shook his head. He wasn't sure why he still found it peculiar that Elena called Avery 'dad.' Maybe it was because Avery was pretty averse to wanting to be perceived as a man. Or that Elena was older than her yet somehow did act as if Avery was her adoptive parent. The group cleaned up their table, finished up their hot chocolates, and returned the mugs to the counter. Avery and Jensen bundled up yet again before they made their way to the park which, thankfully for Jacob, was not too far away from the café. A five or so minute walk. Elena made them take a few pictures altogether before taking some of just the tree and the crowd surrounding it. Avery did the same, wondering for a moment if they could come back when it was darker outside. The tree just looked different. The lights were more vibrant, the whole tree looked like it was glowing. Something other-wordly. Maybe she was reminiscing too much. Maybe she and Jensen could go when Elena and Jacob were too tired. Jensen pulled Avery close and pressed a kiss to her cheek. "Mind taking a few of just us and sending them to me?" He asked softly. "I don't." Avery smiled and did as asked. She took a few selfies in front of the tree with Jensen. Afterward, she favorited a few and sent four out of the six she took to Jensen.  jensenackles: I can't quite place why I like this city so much… can't have anything to do with @pickledpascal, can it?  Comment on jensenackles post by ellablanca: just kiss already Comment on jensenackles post by jacob.cario: Cringe.  Comment on jensenackles post by averyxcario: SEND SOME OF THESE PICTURES TO ME ??? WTF ??  "You're way too good at taking pictures when I'm not looking." Avery looked up from her phone at Jensen. Jensen shrugged as he leaned into Avery's shoulder, smirking. "It's a talent." He pressed a kiss to her jaw. They were back in their hotel room, taking a break from the cold before they left to get something to eat. And Jensen had just posted on Instagram. Pictures of Avery that she hadn't noticed were being taken. "El says that when I take snaps." Avery wrapped an arm around Jensen's shoulder and brought him closer as she put her phone down. Jensen savored the touch. Avery's skin was still cold but it comforted him. He attracted heat while she attracted cold. Maybe that's why they worked so well. They weren't exactly opposites but their lives were vastly different. Avery was a transgender woman with parents who didn't care much for her so she fled to college and found a family that would care for her. She gained confidence as she got older. Jensen's life, while not easy, was far more of a cakewalk than hers. The biggest change in his life was going to LA to become an actor instead of a teacher like his mom wanted. Even then, his parents were mostly supportive, if a little weary. He was alone in LA. They didn't want him to come back home, disappointed and disheartened. Avery gently played with Jensen's hair, twirling a few strands around her fingers. It was beginning to get long. He had it trimmed every few weeks but didn't compromise the length. She quite liked it. Especially with his beard. "That feels nice." Jensen hummed with his eyes closed. He wondered if he asked if Avery would move in with him. Maybe not now. But when graduation came and she needed a place to stay while she was getting her doctorate. "How do you feel? About… graduating?" He asked. One more semester. Well, one more semester of having her friends with her. Avery pursed her lips. "It's hard to say it doesn't feel weird." She knew she said weird a lot. "I mean, I have a job secured and everything but I'll still be there . Like…" She paused, gathering her thoughts. "You ever feel like you know this is what you want to do and be but it's still like you're missing something? I think… I think I'm afraid my friends will leave me. Even though I know they won't." Jensen sighed and lifted himself up a bit from his place on the bed. Avery's fingers fell from his hair to land on his shoulder. "Elena would never dream of leaving you. She loves you. They all do. Even then, you got me. And I'm not going anywhere." He cupped Avery's cheek. He could see the turmoil behind her eyes. "I know I'm not… going to physically be with you all the time but you're my one and only, sweetheart." Now or never. "And I think, maybe if we lived together, it'd be nice." Avery tilted her head slightly. Shock washed over her but it was immediately replaced with happiness. "You're offering me a place to stay?" She asked."Only after you graduate. Wouldn't want to break up a family in the middle of the year." Jensen joked softly. It was his default mechanism when actually expressing his feelings became too much."Honey." Avery looked at him pointedly. Jensen breathed. Somehow, Avery always caught him. "I like living with you. Or, the glimpses I get of living with you. I want more." He admitted softly.Avery pressed a kiss to the bridge of his nose and gave him a smile. "I wouldn't mind living with you. Especially since you close the toilet seat." She teased. Jensen rolled his eyes.  elena: please tell me you're not smooching elena: i want food jacob: Portillos is a ten minute walk away "The kids are hungry." Avery checked her phone and shook her head. Her stomach felt empty too but she was a little preoccupied. She slipped from Jensen and put her jacket and boots back on. "You've had Portillos before, right?" Yes. Once. Long ago. Jensen simply nodded. Portillos was the most famous chain of restaurants in Chicago and the surrounding area. A visit to Chicago meant he had to try it at least once but, most of the time, he only had a day. Which wasn't a lot of time to fit everything he wanted to do. Jensen was able to go once and it was an experience. But he didn't remember exactly what it was like. Just that it was amazing. The walk to Portillos was nice and Avery took a few pictures of the snow in the night sky. It was only six in the afternoon but the sky was nearly as dark as midnight. She didn't have many pictures of the city before her time at college so she wanted to collect as many as possible. Once inside the restaurant, Jensen took in the sights. The ceiling was mostly exposed with wooden beams and piping that moved in different directions, the decor was vintage—with old license plates, signs, posters, etc—and a few jugs labeled 'XXX' sat on a high-up ledge. Elena looked up at the decor like a kid in a candy store. Specifically at a few pin-up posters, nothing explicit, but the style and the girl… was something. Jacob and Avery ordered first while Jensen and Elena were still unsure what to get. "What do you recommend?" He asked Avery in a whisper. "I mostly get burgers and fries. Jacob says the dogs are pretty good. Always gonna be Chicago style unless you ask for different toppings. Or the Italian beef. Personally, I'd go for the beef ‘cause onions on hot dogs ain't for me." Avery hummed, pushing her hands into the pockets of her jacket. "Oh, and I did order a chocolate cake shake so we can share that." Elena decided to play it safe and ordered a cheeseburger and fries like Avery. And then Jensen ordered what she suggested, an Italian beef sandwich. Avery got a large fry to share with him. "You're gonna destroy the bathroom after this, aren't ya?" Avery laughed at Jacob. His order was a hot dog with a chocolate cake shake. He was lactose intolerant but half the time he didn't care. Jacob shrugged. "I won't have to clean it." "Yes, you will!" Elena protested. "We're in the same room, bud, and I have too much anxiety to call the front desk for something like that." Jensen started his meal off with a sip from the styrofoam cup and promptly covered his mouth. There was a whole piece of cake in there and he almost choked. "You just keep choking on stuff." Elena teased, taking a bite from a fry. Avery glared at her. "I swear to—""What? I didn't even say anything!" Elena argued. "I was just surprised, that's all." Jensen butted in. There was an amused look in his eyes. Elena was a strange dichotomy of making sex jokes in regards to him and Avery whilst also never wanting to perceive them like that. Ever. "Y'all are weird as hell." Jacob commented between bites of his hot dog. Avery laughed. "Says the guy who calls hot dogs 'wieners.'" "Because that’s what they are!" Jacob laughed softly. He knew what he was doing. Avery uncapped her shake cup to dip a fry inside. Something about the sweet chocolate concoction paired with the saltiness of the fry just made sense in her mind. The contrast of the warmth and coolness. "Can we share?" Elena asked like a child wondering if she could have some of her mom's food.Jensen chuckled and then looked at Avery who had already pushed the cup to the middle of the table. She didn't mind sharing with Elena. Or with Jensen. Or both. "It's a lot and I probably wouldn't have been able to drink it myself anyway." Avery smiled softly as Elena's eyes lit up. She hummed as she grabbed another fry and popped it in her mouth. Elena promptly grabbed a fry from her stash and dipped it in the shake, humming and bobbing her head in satisfaction. —---Avery woke up on Christmas day to the sound of banging on her door. She groaned as she reached for her glasses on her nightstand. She missed a few times before she grabbed them and put them on her face. "God, what time is it…" She mumbled, brushing her hair away from her face with a hand.Jensen groaned into his pillow before he checked the time on his phone. "It's 8 am." He murmured, voice muffled by the pillow. "It's fucking Christmas!" Elena yelled from behind the door. "We have our presents!" Avery got out of bed and put on a proper shirt. She became more and more comfortable sleeping in her underwear with Jensen. Then she grabbed her presents out of her extra suitcase and laid them out on one of the extra chairs in the room. She didn't get much but she put a lot of thought behind what she did get. Except for her brother. Jacob was a mystery when it came to what he wanted. He never expressed the 'I want this for Christmas' emotion. Ever. He was like that for a lot of other people too. Jensen did the same before he slipped a shirt over his head and a pair of sweatpants on his legs. He was a bit surprised Avery was able to hide the presents she got for everyone. He was sure he wasn't as discreet as she was. Avery opened the door and let their companions inside. "Did you mean to wake up early?" She asked her brother when Elena bustled in, leaving him behind. "Hell no." Jacob sighed with a shake of his head. He had a couple of bags of stuff since he was too lazy to wrap anything. Their mom was the type to do all the extra wrapping and gift stuff. "But I was up. Nothing else to do right now." "Do you wanna separate by pile?" Elena asked, pursing her lips. Jensen hummed with a nod. "That sounds like a plan." He started to arrange the gifts by who they were for. A pile for Avery, one for Jacob, one for Elena, and one for him. Jacob set his gifts down and sat by the desk while Elena sat on the floor and Avery and Jensen sat on the edge of the bed. Jensen hummed softly as he looked at Avery. Her bedhead was a mess but she didn't care much, she just pulled it away from her face and hoped it wouldn't budge. "You should totally go first, Ave." Elena smirked. Partly because she wanted to see Avery's reaction to her presents first. Avery rolled her eyes and grabbed the gifts labeled Elena from her pile. "Fine." They were all thin. They had to be vinyls. She tore open the wrapping paper on the first one. "Oh, a Hozier vinyl!" It was the latest album. She smiled and then opened the next one. "Laufey." She ruffled Elena's hair out of thanks. Her friend simply giggled. "I'll cherish them forever." Avery knew she would.The next gift Avery picked up was from her brother. She pulled out the decorative paper from the bag that was meant to cover whatever was inside. Two books. The Madness of Crowds and A World of Curiosities. The latest books in her favorite novel series that she hadn't had the chance to get yet. So Jacob did listen to her rants. "Thanks." Avery smiled fondly at her brother. He simply nodded and leaned back in his chair. She stuffed her books back in the bag they came in and set it aside. Jensen grabbed his gifts for Avery and set them in her lap. One box was bigger than the other however they were both fairly big to put in a suitcase. She cocked an eyebrow at him before she opened the smaller one first. Inside was a pair of hefty headphones. Avery had a feeling they were expensive. "You always say you'd look more queer with a pair of chunky headphones." Jensen shrugged. "So I thought I'd get you some."Elena laughed and nodded. "She does say that." Avery shook her head. "I say I'd look more like a proper English major… therefore making me look more queer." She admitted. She wondered what the bigger box was. She'd say she wanted a lot of things for Christmas. Smaller things, usually. Like more jewelry, namely rings. Or a new headscarf so she could look like a woman in the 50s on a trip to France. Avery tore off the paper.A shoe box. Oh?She opened the box and blinked at the pair of shoes that lay inside. Ones she caught a glimpse of inside Jensen's closet and never thought about again. Inside were a pair of platform loafers that had a decorative latch on the front with a tassel and painted on cow-print on the vamp."So we can match." Jensen smiled softly. He felt a little… silly that he wanted to match outfits with Avery. He intentionally got the shoe for himself because he knew Avery would like it. She was very vocal about what she did or did not like on men. And the fact that they needed to stray away from polo shirts and khaki shorts and invest in a pair of slacks and a nicely tailored shirt. Or that more men needed to get a funky shoe. A better closet would form around that.So Jensen did. But then he never wore it. There wasn't an occasion for it. So he thought that maybe he would if Avery had the same pair and they would plan an outfit together. Avery pressed a quick kiss to Jensen's lips. He felt slightly dizzy. "Okay." "Fucking gay to wanna match with your boyfriend." Elena gagged jokingly. "You and Mark literally have matching Converse with little strawberries and bees, I think I'm allowed to match my boyfriend with cow-print loafers." Avery argued, shaking her head which only made Elena laugh. Jacob too. Then an idea popped into her head. She turned to Jensen. "We should totally go to a con and wear the same outfit!" Elena gagged again.Jensen's heart soared. "Yeah, that sounds fun." He wondered what the outfit would look like. They had a lot of the same kinds of clothes. Similar-looking sweaters, basically the same pairs of pants, and nearly matching jackets. But the way Avery dressed depended on the day. Much like Jensen, her closet was vast but she had quite a few different styles she went for. Soft, white, and incredibly feminine one day, sharp, dark, and gender-ambiguous the next. The first time Jensen saw Avery go for the latter he almost passed out. "My turn!" Elena hugged all the gifts she got to her chest before she set them back down. From Avery, she got yet another bee plush—she had tons already—a refill of her favorite perfume. She thought it was done until Avery sent her an image. An art piece of Elena's DND character. Her jaw dropped open and she immediately hugged her friend. Jacob's gift for Elena was fairly lax, one of the only things he knew she liked was Hozier. So he got her a Hozier shirt. On the other hand, Jensen knew of Elena's love of myths and legends so he got her a large book about urban legends and folktales as well as a few white t-shirts. She complained a lot about not having any. Her closet wasn't as large as Avery's, metaphorically and physically. Plus her style was more akin to a woodland creature. "You should open Avery's first." Elena said excitedly. She knew what Avery got him and felt like she couldn't hold onto the secret any longer. Jensen chuckled. He was probably going to do that anyway. Unless Elena really wanted to have hers be opened first. Much like Jacob's gifts, Avery's was in a slightly crumpled bag. From the flight. He looked inside and blinked at the jacket inside. He took it out. It was a leather jacket but not like any he's ever had before. It was a blueish-purple color with a strap around the waist and fringe in the same color down the sleeves. "Thought you'd like a little more me in your closet." Avery winked. Jensen bit his tongue to stop himself from smiling too hard. "Where'd you get this?" "A thrift store." Avery found it nearly untouched on a rack and immediately thought of Jensen. While she would wear it, something about it also made her think Jensen would like it too. "Wasn't too expensive too." The next con was going to be a blast. Jensen already knew it. Avery told him a lot about the fans' reactions to certain things he wore since she was still active on Twitter and, well, he had a feeling they'd go crazy if he wore this leather jacket in public. "I think y'all need a professional photo shoot together just because people would go insane ." Said Elena once. Jensen was considering it. Between his modeling experience and the few times Avery was in her university's magazine, he had a feeling it would turn out well. And he'd treasure the pictures forever.Jensen received an expensive bottle of whiskey from Jacob and Avery could sense some sort of unspoken understanding between the two boys. It was funny to her. Jensen was the older man yet Jacob had the upper hand in this situation. Like the father who would eventually give the love interest's blessing to marry his daughter. In a way, Jacob was that. The only man in her life who felt anything like a father to her. From Elena, Jensen got a hand-made friendship bracelet. He pursed his lips. "I don't always wear bracelets like this.""Oh," Elena looked at the floor. "It's okay. I just wanted you to have it.""No." Jensen shook his head. "I'm wearing it. And I'm never taking it off." He slipped it over his wrist and tightened it with his teeth. Avery laughed and shook her head. Much like her, Jensen had adopted Elena as his child. She had a feeling Jensen would happily do whatever he could to make her happy. He did give off girl-dad vibes… Avery pursed her lips at the thought. Did Jensen want children? Real children. She'd never talked about it with him before but she assumed he would. Coming from a Southern family and all. The next gift Elena got Jensen was a necklace with a bee pendant. "So when you're gone, you get reminded of me." Much like how Jacob didn't know what to get Elena, she had no idea what to get him. So she got him a random skeleton T-shirt she found. Her reasoning was that he had way too many solid-colored tees. Avery got Jacob a Paramore vinyl since she knew he was more into their older stuff—being a kid at the time, it was what he grew up with—and a Family Business Beer Company hat. She knew he liked baseball caps so why not get him one from the brewery? It wasn't like Jacob knew what the name of Jensen’s brewery was. Just that he had one. Which Avery thought was funny and was part of the reason she got him the hat as a gift. "To be fair, Elena and Avery made me get this for you." Jensen prefaced as Jacob grabbed the gift he got him. Avery made an offended noise and crossed her arms. "That was meant to be between us." Jacob shook his head. He had a feeling he already knew what it was. And it was what he thought. A simple black T-shirt with the word 'ALLY' on the front that had trans coloring inside the letters. "Now people will know." Jacob chuckled.Elena nodded. "I mean, you are the straightest-looking man I've been around in a while." Jensen was somewhat glad it wasn't him.Avery burst into laughter. Her shoulders shook so much she had to lay down and bring her knees to her chest. Jacob looked at her, amused but a little concerned."Sometimes she needs to roll around on the ground and giggle." Elena reassured which only made Avery laugh more. After gift exchanging, they ordered room service for breakfast and ate together in Avery and Jensen's room. It was nice. It reminded Avery of Christmas morning when she and Jacob were young. They'd run downstairs every morning at 7 am and tear open their presents. Avery would be disappointed Santa didn't give her Barbies, instead, she'd get Hot Wheels and action figures. Which were cool but not what she wished for. The only thing that rectified her feelings was freshly made eggs benedict. Her problems melted away. Not completely. But enough that she'd forget about the presents she didn't get. When Jacob and Elena gathered their stuff and left the room, Avery let out a sigh. "I need to shower." "Want me to join?" Jensen asked teasingly. While the idea sounded nice, Avery knew herself well enough that she wouldn't be able to control herself. "Maybe later." She hummed.—---The night of Christmas called for one last dinner. One that called for fancy clothes and a nice restaurant. As Jensen was slipping on his pants, he wondered what Avery was going to wear. He smoothed down his button-up shirt and hummed as he looked in the mirror. The shirt was a deep maroon color but it was the suit that stood out to him. Double-breasted in a dark brown shade. It was similar to one Jensen had previously worn for a press tour. He ran a hand through his hair and debated on getting it cut but ultimately decided it could wait. Jensen creaked the door open and gasped at the sight of Avery. He didn't see her in a dress often but it was always a treat when she wore one. The dress was similar in color to Jensen's button-up, long-sleeved with a sweetheart neckline and went down to the floor. It hugged her form nicely but flowed out so it was still a bit loose. And Avery's hair was styled a bit differently. A golden clip sat on the back of her head to keep the strand around her face away. "Woah." They sighed at the same time. Jensen looked Avery up and down as if it was the first time. "You look beautiful." He breathed. "And you…" Avery bit the inside of her cheek. "You look like a sugar daddy." It was the first thing that came to her mind. Besides that he looked incredible.Jensen chuckled. She said that a lot. And it was partly true. Jensen paid for a lot of things for Avery, unless she decided she wanted to get dinner or buy something specifically for Jensen. It happened a few times. A ring she thought he'd like, a pair of sunglasses, or a baseball hat. A baseball hat Avery would get for herself too. Like Jacob, she liked to collect hats. "Well, that makes you my sugar baby." Jensen whispered as he kissed Avery's cheek.Avery shivered. Not in delight. "Please never say that again.""Note taken." Jensen hummed and grabbed Avery one of his blazers to wear over the dress. He had a feeling she'd get cold if they dressed up so he brought a few extras. For the first time, Jensen and Avery were the first to get dressed so they stopped by Elena and Jacob's room. Jacob seemed completely fine, in a simple pair of black slacks and a deep blue button-up, his sleeves were rolled up though. "Elena's having a crisis." Jacob said.Avery nodded in recognition. "Elena goes through like ten different outfits before going out ." She explained to Jensen as she entered the room just as Elena exited. "Please tell me this looks good." Elena begged. She wore a corset top that had lace and little designs all over and a cream skirt that somewhat matched the color of the lace.Avery pursed her lips. "Do you think you're gonna be cold in that?" She assumed yes.Jensen and Jacob watched Avery play stylist with Elena. It was fun to watch. Their little back and forth and Avery giving Elena fashion advice. Jensen had been on the receiving end of it once when he hadn't known what to wear to a concert Avery wanted to go to. "Does this happen a lot?" Jacob asked Jensen in a whisper.Jensen nodded. He wondered how easy style came to Avery. She hadn't had much time to cultivate it. At least, her feminine style. Avery confessed she started her full transition as soon as she arrived at college. She was eighteen. Three years ago. Before then, though, Jacob was able to get her some HRT without their parents knowing. That must've helped. Eventually, Elena settled on a brown sweater with the same skirt and some tights to, at the very least, try to keep her legs warm. She grabbed one of her boyfriend's jackets to put on her shoulders. Then they were ready. The restaurant was nice and so was the food but the desserts… they were next level. Jensen and Avery shared a piece of tiramisu while Jacob and Elena each got a slice of chocolate cake. "I love tiramisu." Avery sighed wistfully at her first bite of the dessert. "It sucks that I never have the stuff to make it." The only reason she'd have ladyfingers would be to make tiramisu. They'd go bad because she wouldn't eat them otherwise. Elena practically vibrated in her seat with each bite of her cake whereas Jacob looked content and calm. Polar opposites that way. Jensen took a spoonful of the dessert and hummed at the taste. It's been a while since he's had a chance to have the coffee-flavored dish. He had a feeling he'd be up for a while that night. Espresso affected him at the worst times. "Maybe we can make some at home." Jensen hummed, glancing from the dessert to Avery. "I'll buy the ingredients."Avery felt a sudden overwhelming feeling. Home . With Jensen. Fuck. "Yeah, that…" She breathed. "That sounds nice." Her voice got quieter. Jacob watched the exchange with pensive eyes. He was sad Avery hadn't felt at home with their family. He was sad his parents couldn't love her the way she deserved. He was sad that he didn't see his sister that often. Jacob decided he'd make the time. He was so caught up in the physical distance between them that he didn't realize it was nothing compared to truly leaving her alone. The next day at the airport, Avery and Jacob stood across from each other. Avery shuffled awkwardly and pursed her lips. Jensen and Elena were behind them, talking about the logistics of a scene he was in. "My graduation is coming up," Avery said softly. Jacob nodded. "I have a few tickets. And… Jensen's gonna be our guest speaker so I don't have anyone to give them too. And I was wondering if you wanted to go." Jacob was surprised. At the fact that Jensen was going to be the guest speaker at her graduation. His guest speaker was some White House Correspondent that he'd never heard of but she apparently went to his University. "I'd like that." He smiled.Avery hugged him tightly. It was a bit awkward since he was a few inches shorter but he eventually wrapped his arms around her too. They didn't hug often so both Avery and Jacob savored the moment. "I'll miss you." Jacob admitted as she pulled away. "And your freak friend." He teased.Avery laughed softly. "I'll miss you too." Jacob waved at the two behind her before he motioned for Jensen to talk to him. Avery glanced between the two and joined Elena, deciding she didn't want to hear whatever Jacob was going to tell her boyfriend. It'd probably make her feel embarrassed. And she hated feeling embarrassed like a normal person would. The two men just stared at each other for a few minutes, making Jensen feel a bit unsettled. Jacob's dead stare was unnerving. The dark color of his eyes only enhanced the foreboding feeling. It was funny. Jensen was scared of a man younger and shorter than him. Perhaps it was the people pleaser in him. "I may not be good at fighting but I have a car." Jacob said with a straight face. "Do with that information what you will." Jensen laughed nervously. "Yeah."

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Avery felt as if she was on the cusp of something. Something great. But she couldn’t quite put her finger on what it was.The short novel she wrote for one of her previous classes was turned in with forty thousand words but then she kept working on it afterward. Refining it. Adding to it. Changing around a few things. Then Avery realized the paper would make for a great biography rather than just a story. Avery was glad she had kept quite a few journals since she was ten. She had Jensen read it to make sure that’s what she wanted to do and he agreed, after he cried a few times. He had known bits of Avery’s pre-transition life but nothing to the extent of what happened in the story. What she had to go through to become the woman she was. “You really should publish this,” Jensen said softly. “I think it’d also be nice to have a physical copy.” He hated reading stuff longer than a page on his phone. Avery squirmed under the prospect of publishing a book. Especially so young. What if it flopped? She knew her friends would buy it and a lot of trans people likely would too but that wasn’t enough to make a profit. Or maybe she was just making up excuses in her mind so she wouldn’t have to risk feeling like a failure. So she sent the paper to her brother. Jacob was good at giving unadulterated, truthful feedback. Critical, a bit mean sometimes, but needed.“It’s written beautifully. I cried near the beginning.” Avery was shocked. Jacob never cried. Well, he cried sometimes. But not at movies and certainly not books. “Jensen might be onto something. It is a niche but I think more people need to see this. More people need to see themselves.”With the affirmation of her brother, Avery published it. All by herself. Perhaps with a little help from Jensen. Under the name of “To My Ten-Year-Old Self.” The book cover wasn’t anything fancy, an art piece Avery did of a flower in a vase with a few petals missing. 
Excerpt from To My Ten-Year-Old Self:

I discovered Supernatural when I was fifteen. I was starting to fully understand what I was feeling around the same time, I think that’s part of the reason I latched onto Dean so much. Latched onto Jensen. I related to his character too much. The overwhelming need to please my parents, conform to what they wanted that I got so convinced it was me. But it never was. Seeing a character parallel so well with my experiences opened my eyes.

I got my brother to smuggle me HRT a few months into watching the show. I was on the current season by then, season twelve.

My parents hadn’t even noticed. Not for a while. I’m not sure if I should be grateful or disappointed. I was basically taking illegal drugs. Or, that’s what I was doing in their eyes. In mine, I needed them to live my life truthfully. Without it, I’m not sure my life would have ended but it certainly wouldn’t have been good for me.

As I got older, my love for Supernatural began to dwindle bit by bit. I was living my truth and I didn’t need to have Dean in my life as much. But there was one thing on my bucket list that I had been wanting to do for a while. For my 21st birthday, I had wanted to go to Jensen Ackles’ brewery—Family Business Beer Company for the uninitiated—and I had the chance to, so I did. With some friends, because I’m not insane enough to go alone.

My birthday is in the summer, late June, so the Texas heat was scorching and uncomfortable when we went.

I had only ever dreamed of meeting Jensen. I had no money to buy con tickets since I was—and at the time of writing this, still am—a broke college student, I’m not an actress so there was no fucking way I’d meet him for free because we were cast in the same show, it was a snowball’s chance in Hell that Jensen was at the brewery on some random Tuesday where there wasn’t an event going on, and I lived in South Carolina. Famous people didn’t go to South Carolina all willy-nilly. My South Carolina native friends will be the first to admit this state is a Hell Hole.

But then I did meet him. And I was on the verge of wanting to thank him for putting his all into a character that meant so much to me.

And then he asked me out later. I couldn’t believe it.

“I’m bisexual.” I had said. My defense mechanism. Jensen, for all intesnive purposes, was a straight man. A straight man who, to my knowledge, had never and would never date a queer woman.

The number of times in my life where being bisexual was the dealbreaker and not the fact that I was trans was depressingly hilarious. You would think it was the other way around.

“That’s okay.” Jensen responded. He didn’t care.

And I know that because he’s in the same room as I am while I’m writing this. 
The book was published a few days before Avery graduated and she was pleasantly surprised by its sales. She blamed it in part by Misha promoting it on his Instagram. And Jensen. And Felicia. And nearly every other cast member of Supernatural besides Jared. Avery didn’t ask any of them to do that, it sort of just happened. Jensen likely had something to do with it. Avery sat in a horribly uncomfortable plastic chair in the middle of May in her cap and gown. She waved to her friends who were in different rows than her and then looked up at the stage. She got a good laugh at how Jensen looked in his mandatory gown. It looked way too large on him.  Jacob: I'm here. Which row are you in again? Avery took out her phone and checked it, humming slightly as she counted. Jacob would likely be on her right side near the middle.  avery: three rows from the stage, im near the end on the right if you're looking straight-on at the stage Jacob: Alright. Sometimes Avery wondered how her brother was in the same generation as her. He texted like a millennial. She put her phone away and looked up at the stage as the president of the university came up to speak. Some generic speech about perseverance and how the world is their oyster that Avery didn't pay much attention to. And neither did a lot of her peers. They just wanted their degrees and be done with it. But then they invited Jensen up to speak. Avery straightened her back as she looked up at him. He easily found her in a sea of red caps and gowns and smiled. Avery could tell there was nervousness bubbling up inside him. He had to talk to a couple hundred students, some of whom probably didn't know who he was. "Hi." Jensen addressed the whole class. "When I was asked to be your guest speaker, I was pretty shocked. I mean, I've been doing the same exact thing for the past fifteen or so years so not that exciting." That got him a few laughs. Just as he wanted. "But I have learned a lot in those fifteen years. So why don't I tell you? Maybe you'll take it to heart. Or not. Up to you." Jensen took a deep breath and glanced at Avery for support. She gave him two thumbs up."Your life, it ain't always going to be pretty. You will fall, you will go down the wrong path, you'll get so drunk you forget your last name, you'll hate everything and everyone around you, you'll make that call to your ex." Jensen pursed his lips as he grabbed the sides of the podium. "You'll fall in love. You'll become a better person. Be successful. Make friends that will be there for you at your lowest. Have times when you feel like you're on top of the world. And maybe you are. But you will fail far more than you succeed." He smiled softly. "That's not a bad thing. Hopefully, that means you'll learn from it and get better at navigating the game of life. It's all about how you bounce back. Will you get ground to dust? Or will the pressure turn you into a diamond? I hope the diamond. But it all depends on you."Jensen glanced down at his printed-out speech. That was where it ended. But he had more to say. Something he felt like needed to be said. He glanced at Avery and took a breath. "I hope that, as you grow, you will not compromise who you are for anyone. For most of you, this is where your college journey ends, and you will become adults with real jobs. You're young but you are not a child anymore. Meaning that your parents have no control of you. You'll live in different places and not have to see them more than you want to. And for some, that's scary. For others, that means freedom. Freedom from expectations. The freedom to be who you truly are. Become who you've always wanted to become. That's exciting, isn't it?" He returned to his seat as a swell of applause started.Avery bit the inside of her cheek, smiling softly as she clapped. Probably the loudest and most enthusiastic. She knew this day was mostly about celebrating her and her friends but something inside her made her proud of Jensen. His speech was heartfelt and hit her deeply. Even after the fifty or so times he practiced it with her. But this time it felt different. Had a different weight to it. Maybe because it was the real thing.Then the president started calling names of graduates. Avery was glad she was near the front but she didn't want to leave without Jensen so she'd stay with her brother until the precession ended. When Elena's name was called, Avery cheered loudly as well as a few of her other friends. She grabbed her diploma and shook hands with the president. Then Jensen. As she walked off the stage, Avery noticed he had to push his hand into his pocket. Her eyebrows furrowed. Elena must have given him something. "Avery Cairo, Bachelor of Arts in English." She stood from her chair and walked down the line to get onstage. She took her diploma from the President and shook his hand then quickly did the same with Jensen. He gave her a warm smile. The kind of smile that was only reserved for her. She met Elena off the field and hugged her.Elena vibrated with excitement. "We're free!" She nearly yelled. "Well, I am. Not you." She teased as she wrapped an arm around Avery's shoulder. Which was hard since she needed to reach so high. Avery ended up hunching her back. "Yeah, well… I think being Dr. Cairo sounds cool." Avery smiled as they walked into the stadium. Elena's parents were waiting for her, as well as her boyfriend. Avery waved a quick hello and left to go find her brother. Elena's parents weren't the greatest… Thankfully they had no idea she was trans.  avery: im in the stadium Jacob: I'm on the way in Avery hummed as she leaned against a wall, watching different graduates find their parents. They got hugs, flowers, and words of affirmation. A part of her knew she would have wanted that a year or two ago. Not so much anymore. She had Jensen. Her brother was trying. And her friends would always be there for her. "There you are!" A familiar voice. Not the one Avery expected. Misha stood with a bouquet of different colored roses and offered them to her. "Jensen got these for you. Well, I bought them with his money." He winked.Avery took the flowers from him. Speechless. She looked from the flowers to Misha. "Why are you here?" She asked. It was the only thing she could muster. She hadn't invited him. Jensen probably did. And she didn't give him any tickets. But then again, the people at the gates could care less about checking tickets. "Jensen told me to." Misha shrugged. "He didn't tell me to. But I think he thought it'd be nice to have someone else wait with you." He nudged Avery with a sly smile. "He really likes you, y'know?"Avery nodded, feeling her heart swell. Her lips formed into an easy smile. "I know." Something inside Avery made her think Misha was like Jensen's Elena. The friend he could say anything and everything to and they'd be immediately understanding of it. And vice versa. She brought the flowers to her nose and took a deep breath. They smelled amazing. Misha had good taste in flowers and how to pick them. "Who's that?" Jacob asked with a furrowed brow once he met Avery. He looked at Misha, skeptical. Jacob may have known Jensen, but that's only because Avery could not shut up about him when they were younger. Misha, not so much. He caught her watching Supernatural in passing and wouldn't recognize him outside seeing his character in the show. Misha held out his hand and offered Jacob a smile. "Jensen's—and now Avery's—bestie. Dmitri." He said with a straight face.Jacob shook his hand as Avery glared at Misha. "It's Misha. Dmitri is his given name but he goes by Misha." She clarified. Jacob was still confused. He shook his head and then focused on Avery. "Are all your friends weird?" "Yeah, pretty much." Avery admitted with a fond smile. Mercer could blanket himself as normal far better than others but he was still plenty weird. Jensen was similar, but more willing to show his weirdness to the entire world than Mercer. Misha was able to make an easy conversation with Jacob. They talked about houses, specifically how Misha built his own as well as some furniture pieces. Avery just listened, finding it fascinating. On the surface, Misha was just some guy . Someone she'd probably see at a mall or grocery store and not think twice about if she hadn't seen the show. But he was a carpenter, a charity organizer, an actor—a damned good one by Avery's accounts—and a pretty funny guy. Personable. He could make friends with almost anyone. Being friends with Jacob was like a piece of cake. The actor was in the middle of showing a few pieces of furniture he recently made to Jacob while Avery saw something out of the corner of her eyes. Their parents. And they were making a B-line towards them. "Jacob!" Avery hissed, gripping his arm. "You didn't tell them about this did you?" Even if he did, she wasn't sure why they'd want to come. They had cut contact with her completely for a reason. Jacob's eyes shifted to their parents and shook his head. "I may have mentioned it but I never said when." He admitted in a hushed voice. "Who're we talking about here?" Misha asked, confused. Avery had hinted at her bad relationship with her parents to Misha but nothing more. "Hello." The familiar sound of her mother's voice. Sweet, but too sweet. Avery straightened her back. She promised herself she'd be strong if she ever saw them again. Three years was not enough time to completely get over what she went through all because of her parents. "What, no hello?" Her father asked. He looked Avery up and down. She could see the disgust in his eyes. Avery pursed her lips, resisting the urge to start yelling at them. But she was in public. Surrounded by other people who were happy, excited even. And Avery was. For a few minutes. "You don't deserve one." She was surprised at how even her voice sounded. She didn't feel calm or collected. "Why are you here?""We paid for this, I think we deserve to be here." Her mother stated, narrowing her eyes at Avery. "And we wanted to see what you've become. Just look at yourself. Why don't you come home, J–"Jacob grunted. "Don't say that." Avery was astonished. The audacity of her parents was unmatched. "You're paying for nothing." Jensen said with a tight smile. He was freed a few minutes ago from the stage and promptly threw his robes off. Underneath, he wore a crisp navy blue suit and a matching tie. Jensen looked for Avery and found her, talking to people he didn't recognize but she looked irritated. He caught a few words from their conversation as he got closer. It was her parents.Avery's father looked at Jensen. He didn't recognize him at all—her mother did—but he could tell he was far older than Avery. And by the way Jensen's hand was around her waist, he had an inkling of the nature of their relationship. "So you're a hooker now?"Avery let out a breath through her nose. Jacob was gearing up to defend her while Jensen stepped closer to her father. His jaw was clenched as were his fists. He was in protective mode. "You are a sorry excuse for a father. All of your children have moved miles away from you. To get away from you. Doesn't that say something? About who you are? I'm sorry you can't see that your daughter is happy. Happier with me than she ever would have been staying with you. Not to mention, far more successful too." Jensen looked at the older man carefully, thinking about how easy it would be to kill him. Just for a second. Her father's gaze wavered for a second. He wasn't scared… perhaps ill at ease. "My son is delusional. So are you. You like taking it up the ass, huh? Is that why he's got you wrapped around his finger?" Her mother gasped behind her, mainly at the mention of sex. Jensen let out a dry laugh. "Yeah. And?" He cocked an eyebrow. Her father didn't have a response to that. "My wife has given me the time of my life on more than one occasion,""Did you two get married without telling me?" Misha asked Avery in a whisper. She shook her head, also confused. "So I think you should shut the fuck up. And never talk to Avery again." Jensen finished with a small huff of air. He glanced from her father to her mother.Her father backed down while her mother did not. "You don't understand. You are feeding into his delusion. There's something wrong in his head. Biologically, he's–" She tried.Jensen glared at her. Jacob took the lead this time, considering that Jensen looked like he wanted to kill someone. "Avery is not a man. She never was and never will be." He said firmly. "Maybe if she had parents who loved her, she wouldn't have felt the need to hide it for so long. She would've grown up as a woman and been happy. But that didn't happen. Instead, we got you ." "Julien." Her mother looked right at Avery, eyebrows furrowed with concern. "Please."The use of her dead name didn't affect her. What did was the pity her mother wanted to have for her. For herself. "No. No!" Avery growled. "You cannot guilt trip me into doing whatever you want anymore. You do not control my life. I am happy. So happy. And it just sucks that you can't see that. You don't get it. I don't think you ever will. And I never want you in my life ever again because of that." She wanted to say more but she was afraid she'd start yelling with tears rolling down her face. She always got emotional when she got angry. Avery turned on her heels and walked out of the stadium. Jensen quickly followed with Misha and Jacob behind him. She took her cap off and ran a hand through her hair. Her heartbeat was running a mile a minute and she couldn't focus. The flowers. She brought the flowers to her nose and breathed. A familiar smell always calmed her down. Something simple to focus on.Jensen set a hand on one of her arms as he came up behind her. "You okay, sweetheart?" He asked softly. "No. Not really." Avery mumbled. "This day was meant to be exciting," She pursed her lips, "The start of a new chapter. But it just feels like I've been rereading the same part over and over again." Jensen brought Avery close to hold her in his arms. "It is a new chapter." He pressed a kiss to her forehead. "You have me. And you don't ever have to see your parents ever again. Not if I can help it." He ran a hand through her hair then nodded at Misha and Jacob who seemed to be wondering if she was okay. Avery clung to Jensen and sighed. She wanted to cry. But she didn't have any more tears. Or maybe she was dehydrated. It was a hot day in the middle of May. "I love you so much." She whispered. "I love you too, sweetheart." Jensen smiled softly. He slipped a hand to her waist. "Now, there's this party happening tonight…" He hummed softly. "Might be nice to forget about your problems. At least, for a little while." Avery let out a small laugh. Jensen liked seeing her smile. "It's at my house, I kinda have to go." She pointed out with a fond look. "We could always hole up in your room. If you really want that." Jensen suggested softly, cupping her cheek.Avery shook her head. "No, no. Uh, I do want to get drunk out of my mind so I don't have to think about that anymore." She admitted with a small laugh. Avery knew it wouldn't be a good coping mechanism but, fuck, she deserved it. At least once. —----Seeing Avery properly let loose was something. There weren't many people in the house, about fifteen or so more people than those who inhabited the house—including Jensen. Music was blaring, he recognized it as Taylor Swift's style. Elena and Avery were screaming the lyrics at each other while Jensen nursed a beer, watching them with amused eyes. It's been nearly a year and Avery still had a few cans of Cosmic Cowboy leftover from her trip. Avery glanced over at Jensen and pulled him close. She had a can of some sort of seltzer he didn't recognize in one hand. She had quite a few. More than he'd ever seen her drink. So getting absolutely smashed was her plan. "I love you so much…" Avery breathed into Jensen's ear before she pressed a kiss to his cheek. So Avery was a sappy drunk? Fun.Jensen let out a small laugh. "I love you too." He pressed a kiss to her head, wrapping an arm around her waist. Avery maneuvered out of his arm and shook her head, a smirk graced her lips as she set her drink down. "Dance with me."The music in the background had changed. It sounded retro but Jensen couldn't quite place what it was. He set his drink next to Avery's and smiled back at her. Her eyes glimmered with excitement. She took his hand and stepped backwards a bit, closing her eyes as she shook her hips to the beat and mouthed the lyrics. Jensen did the same but kept his eyes on her. Avery was stumbling a bit and he wasn't sure if it was on purpose. After a few seconds, Avery let go of Jensen's hand and twirled around in a circle with a wide smile on her face. When she opened her eyes, they landed on Jensen yet again. But for a different reason. "Do you think, if we left, people would notice?" Avery asked in a whisper. Jensen pursed his lips and shook his head. "Unless we're talking about you going to bed, yes." "I'm definitely talking about my bed." Avery teased softly. So Avery was also a horny drunk. Jensen sighed and shook his head again, wrapping an arm around her waist. "I mean sleep, sweetheart." He looked at her pointedly. As much as he liked seeing her so carefree, he wasn't one to take advantage of her like this. Jensen liked knowing Avery's more coherent brain wanted him. Not her under the influence. "Oh, c'mon, honey," Avery whined, leaning into Jensen's shoulder. "I'll make it worth your while."Jensen let out a chuckle, amused as he led Avery upstairs and motioned to Elena that she needed some sleep. Elena immediately turned the music down. Avery couldn't sleep well unless it was nearly silent. "And how are you gonna do that?" He asked with a cock of his eyebrow. Begrudgingly, Avery moved her feet. "I can suck dick pretty well." She hummed, a mischievous glint in her eyes. Jensen pursed his lips and laughed quietly. He didn't doubt she could, but he had a feeling it'd be better when she wasn't under the influence. He might've thought about it a few times before then though. Couldn't blame him, Avery had a nice set of lips. He had a few daydreams. Closing the door, Jensen locked it once he sat Avery on the bed. The alcohol didn't make her look too different. Her hair was messier than usual and her makeup was a bit smudged, but that happened throughout the day anyway. "I'm gonna take off your clothes, okay?" Jensen said softly, cupping her cheek gently. Avery pouted softly. "For the wrong reasons." But she let Jensen unzip the dress she wore anyway. The skin-to-skin contact wasn't foreign to her anymore but the feeling was still electric. Jensen pulled down the straps as he pressed a kiss to Avery's forehead, glancing down at her face as she took a deep breath. Then he kneeled between her legs to slip the dress all the way off. "Reminds me of something." Avery commented with a smirk. Jensen rolled his eyes. "I'll be between your knees again some other time." That was a promise. He stood to set the dress in her laundry basket. "Oh? You like my dick that much, huh?" Avery teased playfully. She'd be mortified in the morning if Jensen told her what happened. He planned on keeping this funny, harmless moment to himself. Jensen turned back to Avery. "I do," He admitted with a light smile. "Now, c'mon, it's time for bed." "Why are you still wearing clothes?" Avery snuggled underneath the covers, pulling them up to her chin. She looked adorable. Jensen tucked a stray piece of hair behind Avery's ear. "I'll take 'em off. But I'm wearing a lot more than you were." He pointed out softly. The suit he wore came with a vest, not to mention he'd also have to take off his tie. Avery's eyes started to droop with sleep. "True. I'm not sure what I like more…" A crease formed between her eyebrows while her tongue peeked out from her lips. "You with a three-piece suit on or naked. It's hard to choose. You look great in both." Jensen let out a soft chuckle as he sat on the edge of the bed, tilting his head. "You must think about this a lot." "At least once every week." Avery admitted. The answer didn't surprise Jensen. He simply closed his eyes for a second and looked away from Avery who fell asleep almost immediately after, soft snores coming from her. Jensen smiled softly at her before he stood and stripped from his clothes. When he got in bed next to her, the sheets moved slightly. Avery got a few new tattoos over the past few months, ones Jensen hadn't gotten the chance to see yet. On the side of her torso, near her ribs, sat a small anti-possession symbol. Jensen bit the inside of his cheek to hide his smile. From who? He didn't know. Avery was asleep and everyone else was downstairs. He pressed his face into Avery's neck and took a breath. Jensen was glad Avery was going to move in with him soon. He couldn't wait to go to sleep like this every night. Hopefully for the rest of their lives. It was futile to try to put how Jensen felt into words. There weren't enough words across any language to truly describe it. The magnitude. Even the simplest of things, like being in bed with Avery, made him feel so much. For a while, he didn't think he'd ever feel love again. Jensen was content with just work, work, work. But that wasn't living, was it? Looking back, it wasn't. It was a distraction of sorts. There was something missing in Jensen's life. He felt it before he got divorced but it was easier to deal with. But then the divorce happened and it wasn't so easy to deal with. Apparently, that missing thing was Avery. Her perfect smile, her horrible Southern accent, her ice-blue eyes, her wonderfully unhinged jokes, her freckled body, her compassion, her everything . Jensen wanted to worship her like she might worship the moon. He was halfway there.Just one more step.

----- CHAPTER BREAK -----

Avery assumed her birthday would be spent at her house, or Jensen's apartment, where they'd have dinner, play some music, or something like that. Nothing too special. Maybe she'd get a few gifts but it wouldn't be a lot. Instead, Jensen said it would be nice to have her birthday at the brewery again. She agreed and she expected to go on a flight but Jensen suggested they make a road trip out of it. She and all her friends could stay at his house since he had enough room. The trip would last about a day so they'd have the weekend to celebrate her birthday. It ended up being on a Sunday. Avery couldn't help but agree. She zipped up her suitcase and hoisted her black backpack on her shoulder before she went downstairs. Avery still hadn't moved in with Jensen just yet so they were going to meet this morning. When she got to her front porch, she was met with Jensen leaning against his Impala with a cardboard carrier full of cups. He wore a simple white T-shirt and a pair of cuffed jeans. Even in the middle of summer, he didn't wear shorts too often.He picked up a cup and handed it to Elena. "Your tea, miss." Jensen smiled. Elena took a sip and hummed. "I give you full permission to keep him." She nudged Avery as she put her stuff in the trunk. It was propped open and she was short enough that she wouldn't bump her head against the trunk door. Jensen handed Mercer his coffee who simply nodded in thanks as he followed Elena to put away his stuff. Besides his chargers. But then he looked at the car more closely. It looked old. In nice shape, but definitely an older model. The drive would be long. Avery took her cup of coffee and hummed slightly at the taste. It was made just the way she liked it. She pressed a kiss to Jensen's cheek, he lifted a hand to her waist out of instinct. "Like it, sweetheart?" He whispered."Yeah." Avery sighed happily then took another sip of her coffee, looking Jensen up and down. "You look like a bisexual man in an '80s movie." He had also trimmed his hair a bit so it didn't look much like Soldier Boy anymore. More like Beau Arlen. Which added to her statement. Jensen laughed and shook his head. It was a compliment. "Would it make it better if I tucked my shirt in my jeans?" He teased softly as he pushed off the Impala and took a sip of his own coffee."It totally would." Avery pointed out. Jensen licked his teeth and then threw the coffee carrier in the Impala. "When's Jay supposed to be coming down?" He asked. "Tomorrow—""They're getting bitches in Atlanta right now," Elena added with a small smile before she pointed at Jensen. "You do have an adapter or something right?"Avery rounded the back of the Impala to set her stuff in the back. Besides her chargers and anything else she wanted to keep on her person. She had a cooler of snacks and drinks she knew they'd want during the trip. She put that in the middle of the backseat.Jensen nodded, "Of course I do. I know you kids." He teased. In reality, he's always had a charging adapter in the Impala for this reason. Long road trips. Though, until now, he hadn't really been on one. Not in that car. "I think we're all good. We'll only be stopping for pee breaks and food, we're driving through the night. That okay with you?" Avery was mostly asking Elena. She had a habit of wanting to see random roadside attractions when she wasn't the one driving. Mercer let out a chuckle as he got in the car. Elena pouted softly as she followed him with a nod. Then it hit her. She was going to be in the Impala for an extended period of time. The Impala. A giddy feeling bubbled inside her as she fastened her seatbelt. Avery got in the passenger seat as Jensen got in the driver's. Their doors closed at the same time and Elena had half a mind to call them out on it. But she didn't. She just thought about how cute it was. Almost immediately, Avery plugged her phone into the AUX as Jensen started up the car."I thought it was 'driver picks the music, shotgun shuts his cake hole.'" Elena said with a cock of an eyebrow. Mercer just shook his head.Jensen shrugged, "Yeah, well—""He does as he's told." Avery smirked."I do what I'm told." Jensen agreed.Elena gagged comically. It was cute, though. Even she couldn't deny it. "It's cause you're the bottom, isn't it?" Avery turned her head and looked at her pointedly. As if she was the kind of dad who was about to say 'don't make me turn this car around.' Jensen turned onto the highway with a blush on his cheeks."What? It's not like I'm oblivious." Elena pointed out before Avery started to play some music, hopefully to drown her out. Not all the way but enough to let her know she was done with this conversation. Elena crossed her arms and leaned back into her seat. Mercer laughed next to her. Elena glared at him. "You just got got ." He teased. Jensen glanced at Avery from the front. She just shook her head. Better not to ask. There were still some terms and phrases Jensen never quite understood and Avery had a feeling he never would. About an hour or so into the trip, Elena complained about needing to go to the bathroom so they stopped at a gas station just outside of Georgia. It was a small place that looked like something out of the sixties. Avery was overly conscious of the way she looked as she exited the Impala to follow Elena into the bathroom. She wore some shorts, a white tank, and shoes with socks that stopped mid-calf. Her tattoos were showing but that wasn't what she was worried about. Avery's shorts were short. Left almost nothing to the imagination. She pulled them down slightly as she entered the gas station. She caught a glimpse at who was working the counter as she pointed out where the bathroom was. It was an older man. He looked rough and not to be messed with. Unfortunately, the bathroom was for a single person. Avery let Elena do her business as she waited outside the door, hoping that if she just ducked her head and scrolled on her phone that nothing weird or bad would happen. But when did life ever go how she wanted it to?A different, older man started to make conversation with her. He had a crisp shirt on. He must've worked there too. "That beauty out there yours?" He motioned to the Impala that was parked outside the window. "It's my husband's." Avery tried to keep her responses short. She didn't feel safe but she also didn't want to leave Elena alone. If she needed to, she could beat this guy up. She had the muscle and a good enough punch for it. "Oh." He pursed his lips and then looked around the store. "I don't see him." Avery narrowed her eyes, "He's in the car." A few seconds later, Elena opened the door and glanced between Avery and the old man. "Bye." Avery pulled Elena out of the gas station and let out a breath as she sat in the car."You alright? You look a little spooked." Jensen asked, voice laced with concern. "Pretty sure this is a Sundown town." Avery admitted with a glance at Mercer. She had a feeling. There wasn't a town for miles and those men looked… off. She felt like she was at the start of a Supernatural episode for a second. "Let's get out of here." Jensen's eyes widened as he did as told, starting up the car again. "Yeah." "Now I'm glad I didn't get out of the car." Mercer joked softly.Elena pressed her lips into a thin line and looked at Mercer. Deciding to change the subject, she opened up the cooler that sat between her and Mercer. "Want anything?" She asked.Jensen didn't feel hungry yet. Maybe in a few more hours. "Nah." "Actually, yeah." Avery turned her waist to face Elena. "There should be a small bag of Chicago-style popcorn in there." Elena riffled through capri-suns, water bottles, various bags of chips, and even a few packs of trail mix and granola bars—her snack of choice. "Can't find it." She came up empty-handed. Avery let out a huff of air. "Let me look. It must be buried underneath everything." She stretched her upper half over the bucket seat while her lower half, her ass, was out there and Jensen couldn't help but take a look. Avery's shirt rode up a bit and the waistband of her jean shorts lifted in her bent position so that he could see the skin of her lower back. Turning his attention back to the road, Jensen wondered for a moment if they could have a motel stop. Or drop off Avery's friends somewhere and have a moment in the Impala to themselves. He adjusted his grip on the steering wheel, shuffling his left leg to ease the tension in him as much as possible. "Found it!" Avery cheered as she retreated into her seat and promptly opened her bag of popcorn. Elena rolled her eyes. "You packed it under everything ! How was I supposed to find it." She complained. Avery just shrugged as she stuffed an equal amount of caramel and cheddar popcorn in her mouth. "Get good." Elena scoffed as she pierced her capri-sun with the straw and took a long sip. "Baby moment." Mercer commented as he drank from his water bottle. The next few hours were filled with music and Elena and Avery screaming the lyrics to certain songs while Mercer simply hummed. Even if he had heard one of the songs before, he didn't always remember them. Mercer was more partial to listening to Lo-Fi or classical than anything lyrically involved. The only reason Jensen didn't sing along often was because he hadn't known just how vast Avery's music taste was. Almost a year of dating and he hadn't had the chance to listen to her entire catalog. When Jensen was with Avery, she usually listened to Taylor Swift or Hozier. Not—
Cause my insides are red

And yours are too

And the red on my face

Is matching you

And goodness, you're bleeding

What a wonderful feeling

You're down and you're pleading

My head is just reeling
Jensen glanced in the rearview mirror and saw Elena was singing as enthusiastically as she sounded while Mercer read a book. He didn't seem too bothered. Must've been something he put up with a lot when living with them. And then Jensen heard a familiar chord progression after the previous song finished. His own voice filtered through the speakers of the Impala. "Shit." Avery hissed, picking up her phone from the console to skip it. Jensen laughed and held out a hand to stop her. "Embarrassed?" He asked with a cock of his eyebrow."A little." Avery admitted. Elena chimed in. "She listens to you a lot. Especially when doing projects. Helps her focus, I think." Jensen had seen Avery intensely focused on writing before, headphones on while her eyes trained on her laptop. And to think, she was listening to his music all this time? Avery's cheeks went red. Jensen chuckled and then nudged her slightly. "Time is only passing if you think of it that way. This life of crime is lonely, but only if you let it in to stay." He sang along to his own voice. Avery lifted a hand to her head, a smile crept its way onto her lips. Jensen sang his song to her. She didn't think she'd ever get over the surreal moments that were bound to happen. Jensen nudged her with his elbow, a sly smile on his face. "C'mon, sweetheart. I wanna hear you, I haven't heard your voice in a while." Come to think of it, he hadn't heard Avery actually sing since the convention. He'd catch a few moments of her softly singing in the shower but that was about it. Reluctantly, Avery sighed. "Headed southbound for no reason. Cut a trail no one would know," Jensen smiled brightly. She sounded as wonderful as ever. "To hell I ride before I give in with the cavalry in tow." " That's my girl." Jensen beamed.Mercer and Elena watched from the back. Mercer leaned towards Elena, keeping his eyes trained on the lovebirds in the front as he whispered, "Do you think they're gonna drop us off somewhere soon?" While Elena found the sight charming, she had the same thing on her mind. "If Jensen has another moment, definitely." "Then maybe hand the cooler to Avery next time." Mercer pointed out.Elena pursed her lips and shook her head. "Her ass was already halfway in the air when I tried to." They made a quick stop for lunch. A diner at a more populated area—at the request of Avery—just outside of Columbus, Alabama where Elena had to refrain from making Alabama jokes every two seconds. But she gave Avery a few looks and they promptly started giggling at each other. They were almost finished with their lunches when Elena pointed out they had pies. "We should totally get a few slices." She winked. She knew what she was doing. Avery rolled her eyes while Jensen waved down their waitress, following her advice. "Can we get a few slices of pie?" He smiled kindly."Of course, darlin'. What kind do you want?" Their waitress asked.Jensen glanced at the rest of the table. "I'll get coconut cream." Avery hummed in thought. Pumpkin pie was her favorite so it was unfortunate for her that it was only a seasonal thing. "Apple, please." "Pecan, please!" Elena beamed. The waitress noticed Mercer didn't say anything. "You want anything, darlin'?" Mercer shook his head and gave her a kind smile. "No thanks. I'm full." She nodded and retreated to the back. "I can't believe you eat coconut cream pie." Avery shuddered. She didn't like most things that had coconut in them unless it was subtle enough to the point where she couldn't taste it. But there were exceptions, like Girl Scout Cookies.Jensen rolled his eyes as he pressed a kiss to Avery's cheek. "It's because he likes getting creampied." Elena commented. She had become far more comfortable making sex jokes, seeing it as a sort of torment she could inflict upon Avery and Jensen because of what she saw that one night.Mercer lifted a hand to his face as his lips formed into a thin line. "Elena, I swear to fucking God." Avery huffed, elbows on the table as her hands pushed into her hair from frustration. Elena shrugged innocently with a sly smile on her face.Jensen laughed nervously as he felt a heat rise in his cheeks. The waitress thought it would be a good time to serve them their slices of pie. Jensen immediately asked for the check afterward. They ate their pie in silence besides the soft laughs Elena would occasionally let out. In reality, Avery and Jensen hadn't done anything sexual since the fall. Months ago. They hadn't had a prolonged moment together, just the two of them, in a while. Which Jensen wasn't mad or disappointed about but his libido was far more active than Avery's, even in his older age. At first, he'd assumed Avery would be the one that wanted to ravage him more. He was surprised when it turned out to be quite the opposite. After a bathroom break before they left to go on the road again, they started their trek to Biloxi. They'd stop for dinner, maybe have Mercer and Elena nap while Avery and Jensen stayed up or switched places. Avery didn't mind driving, plus she had experience driving older cars so Jensen knew the Impala was in safe hands. On the drive, Avery counted at least ten 'Jesus Saves' posters and five gun billboards. Sometimes she wondered why she still lived in the south. She glanced at the backseat. Mercer was snoring, and a spare jacket acted like a pillow while Elena read the book Jensen got her for Christmas. It was the golden hour and Jensen's eyes looked so pretty in the warm light shining through the windshield. Avery smiled softly and thanked whatever God that was out there, if any, for what her life had become. Amazing friends, an even better boyfriend, and a steady job was like a paradise for her. Even this simple moment in the Impala. Once they hit Biloxi city limits, Avery was on the hunt to find a good spot for dinner. It might have been a little early, considering it was only five, but they had to drive nearly eight more hours so they'd get more food along the way anyway. At that point, it'd be drive-through or something so Avery wanted someplace they could sit down for a little while, stretch their legs. She found a nicely rated, hole-in-the-wall spot on Google. Jensen found a place to park after he got gas as Elena nudged Mercer awake. He mumbled something she couldn't hear as his eyes slowly fluttered open, adjusting his glasses. "I thought you'd wake me up when we got there." He groaned.Elena shook her head. "We need food first." She laughed quietly. She was glad she had Avery to remind her or else she would have forgotten too, she was engrossed in her book. They all climbed out of the car and entered the restaurant. They got seated in a corner booth, out of the way of most people. Jensen was a little grateful for that, he didn't want to meet fans when he was half-asleep and his muscles were sore from being in the same position for hours on end. It would just drain him even more. He decided it was best that Avery took over driving, at least for a few hours just so he could get some sleep and get his energy back up. Avery got a hearty burger, Elena ordered her go-to—some chicken strips—while Mercer got a sandwich, and Jensen got a burger as well. "God, I can't wait to be back at FBBC." Avery admitted with a sigh. The brewery was a somewhat important part of her life. Almost exactly a year ago, she met Jensen and her life changed so drastically in that time. Jensen smiled tiredly at Avery. He couldn't wait either. Their meeting was like love at first sight. Or, for Jensen, he was so attracted to her and wanted to get to know her. It just so happened to turn into love, a relationship that would last longer than he honestly expected. Avery was young, he assumed that after a few months, she'd move on to find someone else. Someone her age. Evidently, that never happened. Jensen wanted to make himself a more permanent fixture in her life. "What's it like?" Elena asked. Avery talked about the brewery occasionally but it was mostly things she already knew. Avery took a bite from her fry and popped the rest in her mouth. "The staff is so friendly, the vibe is just really cool, and—I dunno—the inside is decorated nicely. There are festivals and stuff occasionally but I haven't been to one yet. I don't think there's one happening this weekend anyway." She shrugged, glancing at Jensen.Jensen took a sip of his water. "Don't know. Tessa takes care of that stuff. She runs it by me but I forget half the time." He admitted. A slight lie. He knew what was happening this weekend, partly because he planned it. "Pretty lazy management, Jensen." Elena chuckled."I'm a busy guy, Elena." He countered with an easy smile. Avery watched the two for a moment then cocked an eyebrow as something came to mind. "Aren't you coming out with a new album soon?" Jensen told her about times he'd go into the studio to record but she wasn't able to get the chance to even peek at his lyrics, let alone come with him to listen to his process. He was being secretive about it, she could only guess it was because some of the songs were about her. "Yeah," Jensen scratched the back of his neck. "In a few weeks." He planned it for the middle of July instead of the usual first week of November. Avery hummed. She couldn't wait to listen to it. The sound of Radio Company shifted ever so slightly with each new album. Volume One and Two kept a similar sound while Keep On Ramblin' leaned more into country folk than the others. She wondered if that'd change. She couldn't imagine it would be a drastic change like full-on pop or anything like that. Once they finished up their meals and made their way back to the Impala, Jensen fished out a few blankets from the trunk and handed them to Mercer and Elena whilst he kept one for himself. Jensen handed Avery his keys before he climbed in the passenger side. Contrary to earlier, soft, gentle jazz music filtered through the Impala's speaker at a lower volume and lulled Elena and Mercer to sleep about an hour into the ride. Jensen looked out the window, the sun was just over the horizon, about to set as purple, orange, and blue hues covered the sky. He stretched across the front seat, cracking his knuckles in front of him as his feet lay on Avery's lap. She didn't seem to mind. "You can sleep, y'know." Avery glanced at Jensen, a lop-sided smile on her lips. She could tell Jensen was tired. He just shrugged. "I like being able to see you." He whispered. His blanket covered his lap and that was about it. Avery laughed softly. "You're tired, honey. And we're gonna be driving for at least six or so hours before we get there. Sleep. You can look at me later." She stressed. Jensen was the kind of guy who'd do anything just to see her again. Not sleeping was part of it. Jensen pursed his lips and sighed as he pushed a hand in his hair. "What about you? You need to get some sleep sometime too." "I used to stay up until three a.m. when I was in middle school, I think I'll be fine for the next few hours." Avery countered. Jensen let out a noise of discontent. She got him there, that's for sure. He pulled the blanket up to his chest and tried his best to get as comfortable as possible. It wasn't the seat that was uncomfortable, no, that was fine, it was the fact that his head was leaned up against the hard window and his back was pressed against the door. Sensing this, Avery made a suggestion. "Wanna use my lap as a cushion?" Jensen glanced from Avery's lap to her face. She was serious. "Uh, yeah. Sure." He coughed out. He shifted in the front seat so he could lay his head on Avery's thighs, adjusting his long legs so they were bent but not nearly as uncomfortable as earlier. Her thighs were like pillows, soft but not too much. They were one of his favorite physical parts of her. They changed in size when she sat down and he found himself staring at them when she wore something tight or something that showed off her legs. His eyes fluttered closed as he felt sleep take him. Avery smiled softly at Jensen as her left hand fell to his chest. His lips were slightly parted and, even over the soft music, she could hear his breaths. She turned her focus to the road, counting the few trucks that passed by them in the opposite direction. It was something she did when she was bored on the road. Or there was punch-buggy but there were no Volkswagen Beetles on the road to be found, nor did she want to wake Jensen up because he was the only person within reach. Eventually, the dark of night arrived as Avery hummed along to the song that filtered through the car's speakers.
You look quite divine tonight

Here among these vibrant lights

Pure delights surround us as we sail

Signed, yours truly, the whale
Jensen turned in his sleep, his cheek against Avery's skin as he lifted a hand next to his face. Avery swallowed thickly. The feeling of Jensen's hand on her thigh wasn't foreign but it made her brain buzz.
Joy mirage's kingdom come

No one left at stake

Now that existence is on the wake

Let's see what we can make
After falling asleep for a few hours, tossing and turning during that, Jensen woke up and sat up from his position. He rubbed at his eyes as he leaned against Avery's shoulder. They had just passed by Baton Rouge. He'd recognize Louisiana anywhere, anytime, even if he was still half asleep. "We should go to NOLA sometime." Jensen mumbled absentmindedly, adjusting the blanket that pooled at his hips. Avery nodded, sliding her hand to the bottom of the steering wheel. "I've been there before but I was young so I couldn't party like you're supposed to." She laughed softly. Jensen hummed in response. His brain needed some more time to properly boot up. But the contact with Avery helped. He leaned his head against her shoulder, watching the passing woods, cars, and road before his gaze turned to the tattoos on Avery's thighs. He traced a few with his fingers, appreciating the dark lines. Avery's face burned at the contact. She tried her best to focus on the road but it was getting hard. "Honey, I love you but… maybe keep your hands off while I'm trying to drive?" She suggested softly."Right. Sorry." Jensen realized and promptly took his hand away, setting it in his lap. "Can we make a stop for coffee?" He wanted to stay up for Avery's sake. Or trade places again so she could sleep. A coffee or some other hot, caffeinated drink sounded nice. "Yeah, uh, look up a place nearby. Hopefully not in the middle of nowhere." Avery said with a glance at Jensen. It wasn't even midnight yet but she could feel that being stuck in a car the whole day was getting to her. Just a little. After a couple minutes of searching, Jensen found a nice, small café on the route they took. Avery parked outside the building. It was cute and had a '60s theme. She looked at the backseat through the rearview mirror. Elena and Mercer were still happily asleep. "Wanna drink 'em in here so we don't leave them?" Avery asked in a whispered tone.Jensen nodded, "You wanna get the coffee?" He could tell Avery was getting restless and needed to stretch her legs. "Yeah," Avery pressed a quick kiss to Jensen's cheek before she exited the car. It closed with a light slam, not hard enough to wake Elena and Mercer. She took out her wallet, asked for two coffees—one the way she knew Jensen liked his, the other the way she liked hers—and waited for a few minutes. Jensen: Use this for later. For blackmail or something. Attached to his message was a picture of Mercer and Elena cuddled up together. It was cute. Avery immediately downloaded it right before her name was called. She grabbed the two coffees and made her way back outside. The cool, southern night air made her take a deep breath, just to savor it for a moment. She climbed into the car and handed Jensen his coffee. He hummed happily at the taste. Avery took a sip of her coffee and let out a satisfied sigh. She felt a lot more energized than before. "You wanna switch again?" Jensen asked softly, glancing from his coffee cup to her face.Avery shook her head. "You drove almost seven hours, I can handle five and then we can switch again." She compromised. It wasn't necessarily the driving that made her restless, but the fact that she couldn't do anything besides drive. Her music was the only thing that kept her sane when she had to drive for more than an hour and she couldn't even play it at the volume she wanted because her friends were asleep. "Alright. But lemme know if that changes, okay?" Jensen offered, kissing her softly.Avery sighed at the kiss, "Okay." They stayed in the parking lot for a few more minutes, just talking. Well, talking quietly. They didn't want to be rude and unintentionally wake up their friends in the back. "Have you ever thought about having kids?" Avery asked. It's been on her mind for a while. She wasn't physically able to have children and it wasn't something she thought was necessary most of her life. Elena was the only friend she knew that wanted kids. Jensen cocked an eyebrow at the question. Should they be having this conversation at some random café in the middle of the night? "I don't know," He admitted, "I think I was taught to want to have kids but it sorta… never happened. Like if I didn't have kids after a certain age, I'd be considered a disappointment." Avery pursed her lips and gave Jensen a gentle smile. "I think you'd make a great dad." Jensen had this way with kids—he was gentle, kind, and made them smile so easily. Not to mention he acted as a surrogate father to Elena at times. "Yeah," Jensen ducked his head, feeling a heat rise to his cheeks. "Why'd you ask anyway?" Avery scratched at her neck and sighed. "You just seem like you'd want kids and… I can't exactly give that to you. Seeing as I don't have the right parts." "Sweetheart, adoption is a thing." Jensen pointed out with a chuckle. He set his coffee cup on the Impala's dash and leaned in closer to Avery. "I'd never want you to change if you don't wanna change. Plus, I like your parts." He winked, sliding a hand up her leg. Avery instinctively closed her legs. "Jensen!" She hissed softly. She knew he was a little sexually frustrated but she didn't think he'd try anything until they got to the house.Jensen withdrew his hand but stayed close to Avery, pressing a kiss to her temple. "I want you to have your way with me once we get home. I'll do whatever you want," He whispered into her ear, breath hot. "Your treat.""Is that supposed to be my present?" Avery asked with a small surge of confidence. Jensen's eyes darkened, "Maybe it's part of it." Avery bit the inside of her cheek and chugged the rest of her coffee, setting it in the cup holder on the center console. Jensen settled back into his side of the front seat and smirked at his successful mission to make Avery as frustrated as he was. She made her way back onto the highway soon after that… situation . The pair made one more switch between Baton Rouge and Austin, just outside Texas. It was partly because Avery didn't know exactly where Jensen lived, just that it was near Austin so she had him take over. She was bad at remembering addresses unless it was where she lived.Elena woke up in the middle of the drive and yawned with a stretch. "Are we almost there?" She asked softly, glancing at her phone to check the time. It was two-thirty a.m."Just about another thirty minutes." Jensen answered with a small smile. Elena sighed and leaned back into her seat, glancing at Mercer whose glasses were hanging onto his face by a thread. She chose not to move them or else he'd stir and wake up. "Can we get some food? Like McDonald's breakfast or something?"Jensen and Avery shared a look. She shrugged. "Alright." Jensen hummed. They were just outside Austin when he found a drive-thru. They mostly ordered breakfast sandwiches while Avery got a few McGriddles, her favorite from the breakfast menu. She handed the bag to Elena once she took hers and Jensen's food from it. Elena grabbed her sandwich and began eating, flattening the bag to keep Mercer's food warm for when he woke up. Feeling more confident on the Texas roads, Jensen steered with his left hand and ate with his right. Avery took in the sights under the night sky and hummed with each bite she took. The past few times she'd been in Texas, she didn't have much time to appreciate the state under the blanket of darkness. Last year, she was beat by the time the moon started to shine and, for Thanksgiving, there was that one time. She cherished that moment. The bright stars, the navy shade of the sky, the Impala underneath them, were all made perfect by sweet potato pie and Jensen . Unknowingly, Avery let out a happy sigh. It was weird that Texas held so many good and happy memories. She hadn't expected that. And she knew she was lucky. She blamed it on the fact that her boyfriend was a careful guy that knew only the best places to go within the state. Soon, Jensen pulled into his neighborhood. Elena's eyes widened at all the different large houses around. Sure, she knew Jensen lived in a mansion of sorts but she wasn't quite prepared to actually see it. Even under the dim streetlights, she could tell just how big they were and how rich the people who owned them must have been. The garage to his house opened and Jensen parked inside, letting out a soft yawn. "Well, I'm beat." He murmured as he settled into his seat. Elena nudged Mercer awake. He groaned softly as he moved the blanket off him. "We're finally here? What time is it?" He asked, a bit delirious from sleep."Three in the morning." Elena answered, stretching her neck and rolling her shoulder before she opened the door. She grabbed her stuff and pursed her lips. "Where are we supposed to be staying?" Her eyes were tired and, while the Impala wasn't uncomfortable, it wasn't the same as being in a full-fledged bed. Mercer followed Elena and grabbed his stuff as well. Jensen climbed out of the car as did Avery and showed them to their rooms while she grabbed hers and Jensen's bags to put in their room. "Don't do anything weird." Elena said when she and Jensen were alone. "Or… I don't know, make sure I won't be able to hear." Jensen coughed and then nodded as he left the room to leave Elena to whatever nightly routine she had. His room was on the other side of the house and had thick enough walls that the sound wouldn't travel too far.—--He made his way to his room then blinked and stopped as soon as he entered when he saw Avery in black, lacy lingerie. Jensen locked the door. Just in case. "You said I could do whatever I wanted to you," She smirked. "So I plan on doing just that." Avery watched Jensen intently. The way his chest rose and fell, how his eyes darkened, and how his lips parted at the sight. Jensen wet his lips then wiped a hand against his hip, feeling his heartbeat pick up. "What do you want?" "Take off your clothes." Avery ordered.Clumsily, Jensen followed her instructions. His shirt was thrown off while he played with the buttons of his jeans. A little too long for Avery's liking so she took pity and helped him and shoved them off his hips. Jensen was about to take off his boxers before Avery stopped him."That's not what I want. Yet." She whispered before she brought Jensen into a kiss. A deep, passionate kiss that took away Jensen's breath. Avery had her arms around Jensen's waist, bringing him flush against her while he wrapped his arms around her neck. He could feel her bulge against his leg and it only made his brain buzz more. Jensen was glad she was as affected as he was. While Avery didn't feel the overwhelming need to have sex as much as Jensen did, she left him completely satisfied and thoroughly fucked for a while. He had a feeling this was going to be one of those times.  As Avery attached her lips to Jensen's neck, biting and nipping, she guided him to the bed. Jensen let out a sharp breath as he fell onto the bed with Avery on top of him. "Sweetheart—shit!" She had bitten a particularly sensitive part of his neck. Avery relented her attack on Jensen's neck, sitting up on his lap. He had to refrain from letting out a groan. "I think…" She breathed. Jensen watched as her chest heaved, admiring her cleavage. "I think it's my turn to suck you off." "Y-Yeah, okay." Jensen stammered out. He felt himself getting harder simply at the words. Avery shimmied down Jensen's body to take off his boxers and get in between his legs. Just the sight made Jensen adjust his hips. "C'mon, honey, don't be shy." She licked a single stripe up his dick that made Jensen shudder. "Please, more…" He breathed. "Look at me," Avery said, pushing down Jensen's hips to keep them in place. Jensen lifted his eyes to keep eye contact with her. "Good boy." Those two simple words made him melt. She wrapped a warm hand around Jensen's dick began to stroke it slowly. Jensen let out a soft, choked moan which made Avery hasten her pace. He let out a gentle whimper. He wanted her mouth, not her hand. And she could tell. "Be a good boy and tell me what you want." Avery whispered. Jensen's face burned as he glanced at a random point in the room before he kept his gaze locked onto Avery. "You said… you were going to suck me off." He pointed out softly. Avery nodded, a smirk appearing on her face. "Can't wait, can you?" She chuckled. Jensen loved to tease her but he couldn't take it in return. His façade crumbled when Avery took charge. "Alright, honey." A hand lowered to Jensen's thigh, pressing slightly into the skin. She slipped Jensen's dick into her mouth, hearing him take in a sharp breath as she did. It's been a while since he had his dick in someone's mouth. He missed it. The warmth of a mouth, the feeling of a tongue feeling up all the right spots. Avery glanced up, watching as Jensen took in a harbored breath. She began to move her head, pressing her tongue against his cock. "Fucking God !" Jensen gasped, hands flying to the sheets. Avery wasn't even going fast but, as she said herself, she was the best at sucking dick and he couldn't argue. Not only because he was busy having the time of his life but because it was true. Her mouth, her lips… "Fuck…" He whined. Caressing Jensen's hip bone, Avery swallowed him down to the hilt then released him with a small pop. She wiped her lips from the saliva that was starting to build before she dove back in with a faster pace which only made Jensen whine a whimper more."Avery, fuck—" He started to wonder just how Avery learned this. Her mouth was heavenly. "Shit," Jensen hissed, "Sweetheart, I'm—fuck—I'm close." The admission made Avery bob her head faster, eliciting a loud whimper from Jensen's lips. He came a little after with a whine of Avery's name. She sucked down every last drop before she let go of his dick from her mouth. Avery licked at her lips, catching the taste of Jensen yet again. It was salty. But in a good way. She held herself up with her hands and observed Jensen. His chest was heaving as he tried to catch his breath. He felt amazing but Avery was still a little frustrated . Tense was the better word. After a few seconds, Jensen noticed and pulled Avery close, pressing a kiss to her lips. He could taste himself and it strangely made another wave of arousal wash over him. "What do you want me to do, sweetheart?" He asked against her lips. "Touch me." Was Avery's immediate reaction, moving to lay next to Jensen. She grabbed his hand and guided it to the waistband of her underwear. "Fuck me with your fingers," Jensen nearly tore it off her hips. "We do need lube, though…" Jensen pressed a kiss to Avery's cheek and reached over to his nightstand to take a bottle out. "I come prepared." He winked."Ha, ha." Avery laughed dryly, rolling her eyes. "Get on with it, Jensen. I'm hard and not in the mood to wait." Jensen chuckled softly. "Anything for you, mistress ." He teased as he lathered a few fingers, warming up the lube a bit so it wouldn't be as cold. "I swear to—Fuck—" Avery let out a choked moan as Jensen pressed a finger inside her. It was just one but Avery couldn't remember the last time since she felt anything like this. A hand flew to Jensen's shoulder. Her chest heaved as Jensen let her adjust to the feeling. "Take a second." He advised softly. It was reminiscent of their first time having penetrative sex, except Avery was the one who was receiving. "I planned on it," Avery murmured, adjusting her grip on Jensen's shoulder. She took a deep breath. "Okay." Avery nodded. Jensen pressed in another finger, watching as the muscles in Avery's legs tensed. "Holy fuck!" She hissed. Jensen's eyebrows furrowed with concern, "You okay?" He didn't want to hurt Avery."Yeah," Avery swallowed, "Yeah." It felt amazing, if a bit jarring but there was no pain. Only pleasure. "Please start moving." Hearing the desperation in her voice, Jensen complied as he began to move his fingers in and out. "That's my girl." He praised.Avery moaned softly, moving her hand from Jensen's shoulder to his hair and gripped it tightly. Her chest flushed red. She felt overwhelmingly hot. Like she was on fire. "Say that again." She began to pant, rolling her hips onto his fingers. So Avery liked territorial names? " My girl." Jensen whispered into her ear, curling his fingers at just the right angle to make her choke out a whimper. "You've always been my girl. My good girl." That hit a nerve. A good one. Avery whined softly, face contorted into pure pleasure. "Shit, Jensen!" He knew he said something right. Jensen began to kiss at Avery's neck, marking it similarly to how she marked his as he continued thrusting and curling his fingers inside her. " Such a good girl. You make me feel so good, sweetheart, I just want to return the favor." Avery shook with pleasure, letting out moans and whimpers as Jensen worked her to her orgasm. It was like she was his guitar and he knew how to play her just right. "J-Jensen, fuck!" She panted, pulling at his hair. "Be a good boy and make me cum." "Ah–!" Jensen's head was pulled back with his hair. He swallowed thickly at the feeling. Even when he was on top, he never really was the top. "O-Okay, sweetheart. Anything for my girl." He let out a shaky breath and made it his mission to do as she asked. Jensen turned his hand slightly, thrusting his fingers in faster. He unintentionally pushed right against her prostate, causing her to shudder and moan and fully let the tension in her stomach go. Avery's legs shook slightly as she came down from her high. Jensen slowly stopped his ministrations, pulling out his fingers. —--Catching her breath, Avery pulled Jensen down to lay with her. He immediately peppered her face in kisses, draping an arm on her stomach. "Love you." He mumbled.Avery smiled softly at the kisses. "Love you too." She sat up a little but immediately regretted it. The muscles in her legs didn't want her to stand. "Honey," She glanced at Jensen. "I think we should shower but… I can't exactly stand." Jensen let out a soft, low chuckle and crawled over Avery to stand. He knew exactly what to do. He picked her up bridal-style and carried her into the bathroom. "I gotcha." After a quick shower—Jensen had to hold up Avery for a bit until her legs felt less wobbly to stand on—and a change of underwear, they went to bed for the night. Or was it technically morning? Either way, they didn't wake up until hours later. Jensen had planned to wake up before Avery to make breakfast but that didn't work out as well as he hoped it would. Elena and Mercer made breakfast anyway. Mercer flipped pancakes while Elena cooked sausage patties. As soon as Elena saw Avery she lunged for a hug. "Happy birthday!" She cheered. "You're twenty-two!" Avery smiled fondly at Elena as she took a patty and took a bite, humming. "I am."Jensen smiled as he watched the interaction. "I think what Elena means to say is," He began to sing off the top of his head, "I don't know about you, but I'm feeling twenty-two!" Avery burst into laughter and shook her head. Elena seemed a bit surprised Jensen even knew the lyrics to that song, let alone any Taylor Swift song. She chalked it up to him hanging around Avery so much. "Anywho," Elena hummed, "Jay said they should be here in a few hours. Hear anything from Nate or Parker?" She asked as she nibbled on one of the small test pancakes Mercer made. Avery leaned against the countertops, only giving Jensen the incentive to slot himself next to her with his arms around her waist. "Nate said he'd be here around three or four." She'd gotten a text in the middle of the night while she was asleep. Mercer glanced behind his shoulder as he set the completed pancakes on the counter. He wondered if any bystander who knew nothing about Jensen or their relationship besides just what they saw would assume they were married. He knew Jensen had a few slips, calling Avery his wife when they weren't even engaged. Well. Yet.Elena might have let it slip to Mercer that Jensen told her of some plan . They ate breakfast, a proper breakfast, and not the fast food one they had at three in the morning. They all got dressed for the day and Avery expected to have Jensen too but he said he had to do some last-minute work at the brewery. So he left Avery, Elena, and Mercer to fend for themselves. Avery was a bit suspicious of Jensen. She didn't think it was anything malicious or particularly scandalous but he didn't just get last-minute stuff to do at the brewery. "He's probably planning something with Tessa." Elena shrugged and Avery had to agree. Mercer pursed his lips. "Who's Tessa again?" He knew that Avery and Jensen met at the brewery and how but he didn't remember every detail."Only the reason Jensen and Avery are together." Elena winked Avery's way. Avery rolled her eyes then began to wonder how Tessa's vacation a few weeks ago was. Or if she actually ate that edible arrangement. "Jay's here!" Elena jumped from the couch and ran to the front door. Sure enough, there was Jay in their beat-up pickup truck. Avery and Mercer began to follow Elena out the door before Avery's phone went off. She stayed behind as she checked it. Just a notification. For Instagram. She had only a few notifications on for Instagram, her friends, and Jensen. And the brewery. She clicked on it to see the post. familybusinessbeerco: We're very sorry to announce we won't be open tonight from 3 pm to 10. We're holding a special event. More details on that later. ;)  The picture was a flier that had more information about when and perhaps why they were closed but nothing too in detail. Avery could tell the caption was Jensen's handiwork. She glanced down at the comments, scrolling through a few.  deanswiftie: OH ???  lesbiandean: "special event" for sure…. moccaindean: bruh acklesfrckles: we know it's averys birthday, no need to be secretive ! Avery laughed at the last one before she set her phone back in her pocket and helped Jay get their stuff out of their truck. She guided Jay to their room. Jensen told her they could have literally any room since he had plenty to choose from. "So where's Jensen?" Jay asked, pushing their hands into the pockets of their overalls. "Decorating the brewery probably." Elena teased softly. Avery's eyes remained unimpressed. Jay glanced between Elena and Avery. "That's pretty gay."The group burst out laughing. Much like Mercer, Jay had some pretty good one-liners. They always came out of nowhere too. "You should've seen the way he dressed yesterday," Elena smirked. "He totally gave off bi-vibes. If he wore a leather jacket, it totally woulda completed the look." Avery rolled her eyes and crossed her arms. "Elena." As much as Jensen didn't mind Avery calling him 'bisexual-looking,' she had a feeling he wouldn't appreciate it if other people did the same. Unless it was a joke, Avery didn't want people assuming Jensen was something he wasn't. Jensen was a straight man. Who just happened to really like getting dicked down by his girlfriend. "Yeah, right." Elena straightened up and then shrugged with a tilt of her head. "You know what I mean, though." Jay nodded with a small laugh. "For sure. How many times has he gotten on his knees for you again?" They turned to Avery.Her eyes widened. "Uh, next question." Talking about her real sex life with her friends wasn't exactly what she wanted to do. It was different when Avery thirsted from far away and Jensen was seen as unattainable. Elena, Mercer, and Jay laughed at her misery. Avery made her way out of the room with pursed lips. She loved her friends. Dearly . But they really knew how to get on her nerves when they wanted to. About an hour later, Jensen came home to find Avery and her friends spread across the couch in front of his TV. The first episode of Big Sky season three was on the screen. Jay seemed uninterested, large headphones on as they scrolled on their phone while Mercer occasionally watched and Elena and Avery watched intently. Occasionally making fun of the episode. "Thank God Jensen doesn't wear a large-ass Texas Longhorn belt buckle or else I would laugh in his face." Avery admitted with a chuckle. She was referring to a costume Beau wore in a later episode but it was on her mind so she brought it up.Jensen looked at the back of Avery's head with amused eyes. "Tell me what you really think." He leaned over the couch with a smug smile. "Ooohhh, dad caught you making fun of him." Elena gasped jokingly. Avery realized she was caught but pressed a kiss to Jensen's cheek. "I think Beau's really cute, especially in that outfit." She smiled. The tan brown—was it suede?—jacket and button-up combo was nice and she could imagine Jensen wearing something like that out in public. "I think I stole that jacket." Jensen hummed, glancing up at the screen. "God—! Sorry." Mercer cursed, covering his mouth. He was surprised by his own reaction. Elena and Avery looked at him weirdly. "His ass was in the center of the screen." Sure enough, there was a shot from behind Jensen as he walked away from the camera. Elena snorted. "The closet is made of glass, my friend." Jensen gave Avery a look of confusion. "Mercer's a queer, he knows it, we know it but he just doesn't want to come out." She explained before she looked at Mercer. "Totally fine but Elena's gonna keep saying 'glass closet' jokes until you admit it." Mercer shrugged and shook his head. "Don't care.""I have my money on Mercer being a transfem." Jay chimed in. "Something about the way he wears pearls…" Jensen nodded, confusion still evident on his face but Mercer didn't seem offended so he wasn't going to be offended for him. He's been indoctrinated into their friend group long enough to know the ticks of everyone. When Mercer didn't like something that was said, his eyebrow would twitch. Only slightly. Unnoticeable for someone who's only been around him a handful of times. For Elena, she'd make a certain kind of face. Her lips would press together and her eyes would narrow slightly. Jay would simply just leave the conversation if they knew it was turning into something they didn't like. Avery's eye would twitch, almost like a wink, but it was accompanied by a small crease between her eyebrows. Jensen checked the time on his watch. It was almost three and it took a little while to get to the brewery. "Wanna get going soon?" He asked.Elena jumped from her spot on the couch and ran into her room. Jensen and Avery looked at the direction she ran in. "Elena?" Avery yelled."Yep?" She called back."Where you going?""I'm getting your presents!" That made more sense than her randomly running out of the room. However, Elena did get the zoomies sometimes. After being reminded, Mercer and Jay retrieved their gifts for Avery too. Avery, Jensen, and Elena took the Impala to the brewery while Mercer and Jay took their truck. Jay liked to drive themself places and Mercer decided to tag along so they weren't alone. Once they arrived at the brewery, Elena took in her surroundings. When Avery said the brewery was inside a barn-like building, she didn't expect a literal barn. Actually, it looked more like a horse stable from the outside. Avery and Jensen got out of the car as Elena grabbed her gifts and did the same. There was another car next to Baby. One that wasn't Jay's. The trio walked inside to be greeted by Misha, Felicia, Rob, Rich, Ruth, and a girl Elena could only assume was Tessa. Not to mention the different balloons and streamers strung up or the happy birthday banner that hung near the stage. "You must be Elena." Tessa smiled. "The gift pile is over there." She pointed at a stack of presents next to the stage, there were about six or seven already there. Elena nodded and went to drop hers off. Avery let out a breath as a wide smile formed on her lips. Her chest swelled with happiness. "You didn't have to do this ." She would've been content if she had to drink at the bar while customers came in and out. "I think I did," Jensen countered softly. "You mean so much to me, Avery. I wanted to make this as perfect as I think you are." He pressed a kiss to her lips, brushing a hand through her hair. Tessa leaned over to Misha and pursed her lips. "They always been like this?""Yeah." Tessa was glad she only caught the beginning of their relationship and whatever Jensen told her. Seeing it in full was a different ballpark. They were disgustingly cute. She adored them together. The front door opened and closed and Avery expected to see Mercer and Jay. She did but there was a third person with them. Her brother.Avery blinked. She'd talked about the trip with Jacob and how she'd appreciate it if he came but he said he was unfortunately busy with work on that weekend. "Surprise." Jacob said with a small wave of his hand. Avery hugged Jacob tightly, almost to the point where his feet left the ground. "Woah, woah, woah. I need to breathe." He patted her back. Avery coughed once she let go to compose herself. "Uh, why're you here? I thought you were busy." "Got a last-minute flight. Jensen said he'd still have room in the house if I felt like coming." Jacob explained, rolling his shoulders. When Avery hugged, she hugged hard . Avery glanced from Jacob to Jensen. "Y'all text?" She couldn't imagine they texted often. Jacob shrugged in response. Jensen nodded. "Not much." He tilted his head slightly, a small smile on his face. "Only when I need to make plans I don't want you knowing about." Soon, the party was in full swing as a small, select group of staff manned the bar. Nate and Parker arrived near the beginning and naturally gravitated towards the bar where Avery sat while Jensen talked with Misha and Elena with a glass of beer in his hand. "And to think, you thought your Supernatural phase was coming to an end just over a year ago." Nate teased softly as he took a sip of his beer. Avery shoved him and then gave him a smile. "It's nice to see you." "You too." Nate smiled back, wrapping an arm around her. He was one of the only people she knew who was taller than her, including Jensen, but Nate was quite a few inches taller than her. Across the room, Elena nearly had Jensen cornered. "You did get my note, right?" "Yeah, unfortunately." Jensen shuddered at the memory of Elena handing him a note while she walked across the stage.Elena rolled her eyes. "No, the other part." Jensen wanted to keep a straight face but he couldn't. "Looks like you did." She pumped her fist into the air. "You better thank me later." "There's cake, isn't that thanks enough?" Jensen pointed out.Elena's eyebrows furrowed, unimpressed. "Cake is nice but we were gonna have that anyway." As the night progressed, Avery saw Nate get drunker and drunker and had to suppress her laughter while Jacob seemed more and more devastated with each joke Jay made at his expense. But he took it like a champ. Ruth eventually made her way over to Avery and gave her a kind smile. "It's nice to meet you, dear. I'm sure you get this a lot, but you're so beautiful." Avery blushed, rubbing a hand against her neck. "Thanks." Something about Ruth's accent made the compliment just mean more to her. "You're pretty too." Ruth smiled wider, eyes sparkling. "Jensen found himself a cute one. He's lucky." Meeting the men of Supernatural was something, but meeting the women? Now that was on an entirely different plane. Ruth kept up a conversation with Avery for a little while before they were interrupted by a large cake making its way from the back. Avery's eyes widened at the sight of it. It was chocolate-frosted, had three tiers, and required two staff members to hold it up right before they set it down on a table near her. Two candles in the shape of two sat on the tallest, smallest layer.The music died down to a lower volume as Jensen took his spot next to Avery, a hand on her waist as he guided her to the cake and a swarm of people started to sing happy birthday to her. It all felt like a lot to her. Not in a bad way. She felt tears begin to sting at her eyes. It had been so long since she had a proper cake for her birthday. Elena would make a box cake and they'd eat it out of the pan. Avery appreciated that more than she'd ever know but this ? Jensen frowned as he held her in his arms. There he went, making Avery so happy that the only way she could express it was through tears. "Don't cry just yet, sweetheart." He whispered softly, cupping her cheeks before he took one of her hands. He got down on one knee. Avery's free hand flew to her mouth. "Holy shit." She felt her heart stop as a new wave of tears welled in her eyes. "I have loved you for nearly an entire year today," Jensen started softly, "I want you to be mine, Avery. I want to wake up next to you every morning, listen to every awful joke you come up with," Avery let out a choked laugh at that. "Hear you rant about your day, swap clothes, watch you dance in the kitchen as you make breakfast. I want to go to sleep next to you every night. And do the whole thing all over again." He took a deep breath as he took out a ring from his pocket. It was silver with a teardrop alexandrite stone embedded in the middle with smaller ones around it. That little note did come in handy for something. "Marry me?" Avery sniffled as she nodded, unable to form any words. Jensen smiled and slipped the ring onto her finger. Once she felt the weight of it on her hand, she sank to her knees too, and kissed Jensen. Hard. Rich let out a whistle, nudging Rob with his elbow. "I think I need to get me someone like that." Rob rolled his eyes. As Avery and Jensen finally stood back up, it was time for cake. Jensen had Avery cut the first slice. "'Cause you're the birthday girl, it's good luck." Was what he said. When she did, she was surprised to see it was her favorite flavor. Chocolate cake with strawberry glaze filling. Avery didn't remember telling Jensen about her favorite kind of cake. That must've been Elena or Jacob's doing. "You should do the cute couples thing!" Elena suggested with a large smile, getting out her phone for a picture.Avery immediately knew what she meant. And so did Jensen. So Avery got a sliver of cake on her fork while Jensen did the same, severing a piece off from her plate. They interlocked their arms and took their bites with a smile. After the cake was distributed to everyone in the brewery and Avery decided she only wanted one piece, there was only one tier left. Jensen was glad he went with a smaller cake rather than the other one he was thinking about. He noticed Avery starting to zone out a bit so he took her outside by one of the benches. He knew the night air would help her come back to Earth. "Too much?" Jensen asked softly, a gentle hand on her arm. Avery bobbed her head. "Just a bit." There was still a smile on her face as she glanced at her ring. It was unbelievable, what she got herself into. "Just… started to get too loud." Jensen hummed, wrapping his arms around her waist to bring her flush against his chest as he nuzzled into her neck. Avery smiled at the touch, leaning her head against his. A soft, familiar tune began to play. 
I know I stand in line

Until you think you have the time

To spend an evening with me

And if we go some place to dance

I know that there's a chance

You won't be leaving with me
Jensen turned Avery in his arms. "Dance with me?" He offered, the hope evident in his voice. Avery's eyes narrowed for a second. "You planned this, didn't you?" She took his hand and set the other on his shoulder. She couldn't find it in herself to care that much."Maybe a little bit." Jensen smiled, adjusting his hand so it lay on the small of Avery's back so they could sway along to the music properly. "Why? Is it working?" 
Then afterwards we drop into a quiet little place

And have a drink or two

And then I go and spoil it all

By saying somethin' stupid like, "I love you"

I can see it in your eyes

That you despise the same old lies

You heard the night before

And though it's just a line to you

For me it's true

And never seemed so right before
Avery glanced off to the side, feigning a look of thought. "I'm not sure. Are you going to play Sinatra's entire catalog? Maybe then." Her eyes focused back on Jensen, a glint of mirth sparkled in her eyes from the fairy lights hanging outside the brewery. "If you want me to." Jensen said honestly. He'd do just about anything for Avery. "No, no," Avery licked her lips, they suddenly felt very dry. "This song's my favorite." Jensen knew that. And she knew he knew that. 
I practice every day

To find some clever lines to say

To make the meaning come through

But then I think I'll wait

Until the evening gets late

And I'm alone with you
"The time is right, your perfume fills my head. The stars get red and, oh, the night's so blue. And then I go and spoil it all by saying somethin' stupid like, 'I love you.'" Jensen sang along softly to the song as he swayed with Avery. His voice had a different cadence than Sinatra's but Avery liked the way it sounded nevertheless. When he used his falsetto, all the roughness of Jensen's voice faded away and it felt as if Avery was wrapped in a warm blanket on a cold fall day. Avery pressed a kiss to Jensen's cheek and joined in on the singing. "The time is right, your perfume fills my head. The stars get red and, oh, the night's so blue," She glanced up at the night sky. Sure enough, there were a few red stars shining down on them. "And then I go and spoil it all by saying somethin' stupid like, 'I love you.'" 
I love you. 
Jensen pulled Avery closer. "I love you." He whispered into her ear. Similar to how he assumed Sinatra felt, he couldn't come up with any other way to tell Avery just how he felt.
I love you. 
"I love you." Avery breathed the last line, finding that the fairy lights twinkled nicely in Jensen's eyes as well. She leaned in for a kiss. Jensen met her halfway there, sliding his hand to her cheek.  jensenackles: One year ago today, my life changed forever. Now, I want it to change even more. Happy birthday, averyxcario , here's to a smooth wedding.