Thank you to EVERY SINGLE ONE OF YOU who commented. Seriously. This story is like my child, and I hope the ending is suitable.

Z is for Zombie

I slowly pulled myself from the sleeping bag as I heard the Impala make it's way down the trail and stop at the campsite. Dean was back. Good, because I had a few things that I needed to say. Well, actually, only one, but I was sure it would turn into a few. I walked toward him and bit my lip. He looked like…a shell of himself. No Dean grin, no confident air in his step, none of it. He looked like one of the walking dead. Okay, so, maybe he had meant it. But, there as just as much of a chance that he hadn't, right? Because this was Dean, not Sam. So, I had to know. "Dean, can we talk?" I asked, though I knew I didn't deserve the chance to, with the way I'd handled it before.

He shrugged and walked past me, taking a seat on the log we'd set up next to the fire pit and getting started on a fire. "I guess, if you're ready to talk again. What do you want?" he asked, obviously hurt. Never before had I seen Dean's face like that. And I didn't like it.

I took a seat next to him, close enough for him to notice that I was there, but not so close that he would be weirded out, or more confused than he already was. "I'm sorry, okay? I'm sorry for how I acted the other day. Really. But, you have to understand why I would think that, Dean. I mean, it isn't exactly…YOU to fall in love. You're…not really the type. Did you think I was just going to act like Rhys and fall into your arms?" I asked. I was sure he hadn't expected that, but…I figured it was a good way to get an answer.

He scoffed and kept his eyes on the fire pit. "Well, no. But, I didn't think you'd walk away. You were the last person I ever expected to walk away from me, Chloe. I mean…" he was speechless, which was new for Dean. He always had some sarcastic remark to give when we talked like this. Something to make the situation a little calmer. "And, I know it's not believable, Chloe. But…it's true. Don't you remember when we were in that abandoned cabin? And…I said it?"

I remembered the night, yes. How in the hell could I forget, really? I'd been so weirded out when he said it that I wondered for a little while if it was really true. "I do, yes. But I thought you only said it because you were getting off. I mean…I know you've never said that before, but…there's a first time for everything and…" I wasn't making sense. I shook my head and sighed. "Dean, listen. I'm really sorry. And I know I really hurt you and don't deserve to be forgiven. But imagine being in my shoes, and all of a sudden having me come out and tell you that I loved you. What would you do?"

He shook his head and looked at me, hurt still in his eyes. "Not what you did, Chloe. At all. I wouldn't run off and accuse you of lying. And I definitely wouldn't not talk to you for three fucking days. I don't think it's what happened that hurt. It's not talking for three days that was the nail in the coffin."

I bit my lip. I deserved that. "Well, I've been thinking. And talking to Sam and Rhys. And thinking some more. And, I was thinking that maybe…we…made sense. I mean, we already to all the things couples do, right? We talk, kiss, have sex, hang out, laugh at each other's jokes and look out for each other, right? Maybe uh…we could take a leap of faith and…call us a…couple?" I looked at the ground, at my shoes, and wondered how they stayed that unEarthly shade of white in all the dirt and mud I walked through. Then, I looked back up at Dean, who had a little bit of a grin on his face.

"Really?" he asked, a little nervously.

I nodded. "I mean, I don't really know…what love is, but…I figure, whatever it is, I must feel it for you. Because, I mean…you're the one person on the planet that I would lay my life on the li--" I didn't get to finish my sentence, because Dean's lips engulfed mine, and for the first time, we shared a kiss that I didn't think would lead to sex. And when we pulled away, and he looked into my eyes, I think I realized what love was. Love was…Dean Winchester. "I…love you, Dean."

He stared at me and blinked his eyes quickly. "But I thought…"

I grinned. "And that is why I do all the thinking. Because what you're supposed to say right there is 'I love you too, Chloe,'" I stuck my tongue out at him.

He smiled and put his hand on mine. "I love you too, Chloe."

"IT'S ABOUT FUCKING TIME!" I heard Rhys' voice chiming up from the tree line. She and Sam were apparently done with mushy romance hour, just in time to pick on Dean and I.

Sam nodded in agreement. "I swear to god, if I had to deal with one more day of angst ridden Dean and Chloe, I was liable to frigging run the Impala into a tree and blame Chloe."

I scoffed. "Fuck off, Sam!" I leaned sideways, leaning my head on Dean's shoulder.

Dean half-smiled and looked at Sam. "You know, I noticed on my drive that the Impala smelled strangely of a combination of Febreze and sex. So…what happened on that nice little…ride…you guys took?" he asked with a small grin on his face. Good. Dean was back.

Sam and Rhys exchanged horrified glances and then looked back at Dean. "Um…so, yeah. We were just coming to tell you that we were going for a walk. Be back uh…later." Sam whispered as he and Rhys rushed off.

Dean chuckled, but he had a disgusted look on his face. "They ruined the sanctity of my Impala with their Sexcapades. Disgusting."

I half-smiled and ran my hand through his hair, feeling pretty good about myself and my life at that point. "I know. How dare they?"

This was…a new beginning. For all four of us. A life on the run and romances blooming. We hardly led normal lives, but that was fine, because we would take the ones we had, anyday.

FIN