I rolled my eyes at my mom as she continued to look through the menu like an excited child. I guess she hadn't eaten a meal out of her own kitchen in a while. My parents had been visiting for three days now and I was starting to want my own space. We had gone to an Italian restaurant in hope for my parents to get to know Dean a bit more. My dad's idea. It seemed like he was really warming up to the idea of Dean, almost like he was forcing the idea of Dean onto me. I was becoming worried he could see right through the whole thing but I shook it off telling myself I was paranoid. "You ok?" Dean whispered into my ear making me jump back from my worry. He took my hands with his hand to stop me fiddling with my napkin in my lap. Worry in his eyes I gave a soft smile and nodded yes to signal I was ok. I dropped the napkin and continued to try and pay attention as everyone ordered their food. Not hearing a thing still under all my worry I just asked for the same as Dean. I was pleasantly surprised when a pasta dish was placed in front of me. A lot healthier and fancy compared to the stuff he normally ate. "Don't they look adorable dear" My mom smiled beaming at myself and Dean as we ate silently next to each other. I felt uncomfortable as she kept watching us. I was losing my appetite fast. "Cassie is the adorable one" I choked on my mouthful as Dean said the unthinkable. Continuing cough I kept my stare down feeling myself flush red as my parents and Dean began to chuckle at my misfortune. Once I managed to get my breath back I used my napkin to wipe my lips glaring at Dean when my parents went back to their food. "No need to act so shocked dear" Dean smirked at me. I growled lowly at him only just loud enough that he could hear. "Your pushing your luck Ambrose" I decided I had enough. Placing my knife and fork onto the plate I grabbed my glass of wine and clung onto it for dear life sipping it slowly. "So Dean, have you ever given children a thought" Now it was time for Dean to choke as my mom brought up something even I knew would make him uncomfortable. "I have never really given it much thought" He answered honestly after wiping his mouth with the napkin. His plate was now empty. I wanted my parents to hurry up and finish. It was one moment awkward silence then suddenly awkward questioning. The torture was unbearable. "I would hope Cassie could give me at least three grandchildren. I don't care what gender. Three is all I would want" I continued to hold my glass of wine close to my lips wishing they conversation would just stop. I couldn't help but feel guilty for Dean right now. If he wasn't scared away enough by my parents as it was he certainly was now. "I personally always thought if I was to have kids I would have four. Rather more or none at all" My jaw dropped as my eyes snapped to Dean. He was holding his glass of whine sitting contently looking back at my mom. Was he serious?
"That would be lovely. Just make sure Cassie looks after her figure after each child. Women in our family have tendencies to get a bit pudgy after pregnancy" "MOM!" I had to cut her off. She was taking it a bit too far now. "Well it's true" I sunk back into my seat sulking as Dean and my dad chuckled lightly. 'Please just hurry up and eat!' I thought to myself as My dad was now taking his sweet time. After what felt like a life time my dad finally finished eating and we was paying the bill and on our way back home. Myself and Dean followed my parents out the door silently. Before I could even get into the back seat Dean grabbed my hand forcing me to stop. "Why don't you come back to mine tonight?" I gulped at his suggestion as he moved a lose hair off my cheek and behind my ear. I'd missed close contact with Dean. I hoped I was over it but right now just from that one action tingles ran up and down my spine. "Go sweety, Me and your dad will be fine" My mom smiled snatching the house keys from my hand. I was about to object but then my dad pulled off leaving me stood with Dean awkwardly. "Come on" He grabbed my hand lacing his fingers with my own leading me straight down the high street. I stayed silent allowing him to lead me eventually down a road, then another and then another till soon we came to a street with really nice houses. Within seconds of being on this street I recognized a house from a picture Dean had showed me back at his mom's. The house was larger than I originally thought. The garden was pristine perfect, I knew eventually it wouldn't be this way. I didn't cut Dean out to be the gardening house proud type. He led me up the drive not once saying a word. Unlocking the door and leading me inside a scent of vanilla and raspberry's hit me. I raised an eyebrow as I took in the fact he had it furnished already. "What?" He smirked at me amused. "Not only does it smell nice in here but you have good taste in furniture" I was truly amazed. Everything was modern yet stylish. I slid my shoes off not really paying attention to Dean now as I looked around in awe. This house was not only bigger than my parents, it was nicer too. Heading into what looked like the front room I smiled, many pictures set around each surface and wall of his friends and family. I paused and stood still in front of a picture I had completely forgot about. It was from a night out, myself clinging onto Dean's arm as we're both grinning mischievously at the camera.
"That's my favorite picture" He spoke lacing his arms around my waist from behind resting his chin on my shoulder. "I forgot that even got taken". Now I felt guilty. Not once did I stop to think how much he cared about me. To have one picture of us both as a center piece of all the pictures on the wall must have meant something. "This house is amazing Dean, I never expected you to take so much time doing it up like this" He gave a small laugh as he moved away, my back suddenly feeling cold now his chest was no longer against it. "You think I would have left it empty or bought odd furniture?" I didn't reply. I didn't want to come across as judgmental. "I brought you back here because I really wanted to talk to you" My chest sunk hearing him say that. I hated our alone talks when it concerned us. I guessed that was what he wanted to talk about. I stepped away from the picture taking a seat on the sofa. Dean handed me a glass of wine I never saw him pore. He had himself a whiskey sitting next to me. I felt myself tense under his eyes. I didn't feel right being alone with him. It hurt, he had hurt me. But I wanted to be close to him so bad. That made me conflicted and hurt even more inside. "I don't want you to get offended when I ask this but I need to know" I nodded for him to carry on keeping my eyes down at the glass. "This whole thing with your parents, are you going along with this to avoid being forced to marry a stranger or are we really making a go at this" I never really thought this through properly. I felt my mouth become dry. Clearing my throat I couldn't sit still. I felt on edge and uncomfortable. I wanted so bad for us to be together but he wasn't going to change. I hoped he would but deep down I knew it would take more than buying a house to change his ways and obsessive attitude. "Cassie will you please answer me. I can't take it when you shut down" I jumped as he placed a hand on my thigh. Not because I didn't want it there but the instant spark I felt was unexpected. A single tear slipped down my cheek on the side Dean was sat. I heard him sigh out when he saw this. I titghtly held my eyes shut begging myself to not cry in front of him then my emotions got to much and it came out like word vomit. Without thinking I blurted everything out. Things that I didn't even know I had been feeling.
"I care about you so much it hurts. I hate you, fear you, envy you but all in the same day I adore you so much. I can't understand how I could have let that happen. I'm scared of letting you in and trusting you because I don't want you to let me down by getting yourself hurt or locked up..." I tried to continue on my rant as tears just fell without control but Dean cut me off. "Cassie I am asking your to take one chance on me, please just let me in" And then it happened. "I love you Dean!" It was painful to say it but at the same time I felt a huge weight lift of my shoulders. I began to sob holding the back of my free hand up to my lips trying to stop myself. I was helpless to my emotions. Why the hell do I love him? Why should I even care? He had been an ass to me a number of times but that attitude turned me on also. This was like me, I had changed and I didn't like it. Moments passed where Dean was silent, I couldn't take it anymore. "Well say something Dammit!" I snapped looking up at him when I saw a warm happy smile on his face. "I love you too, so much" His voice soft, gentle yet hoarse at the same time. "Those fears and emotions your feeling, that's love. Trust me I know. I saw the way my mom and dad we're at each others throats for years exactly like we can be. But at the end of every day no matter how angry they got each other they always admitted they worshiped the ground each other walked on. That is love Cassie. You shouldn't be afraid to let me in. I will change I promise. It just may take some time with a possible hiccup along the way. Please don't walk away from me. Not now, not after you finally feel the same way" I wiped the tears from my face trying to compose myself. I had to get a grip. Dean moved closer to me placing his hand on my neck gently rubbing his thumb in circles. It instantly relaxed me. "Some days I get so frustrated with you I just want to scream and shout, but it's only because I care and i'm sorry if it comes across like I'm some nut case" He chuckled. I couldn't help but let out a short choked laugh. "I don't want to lose you Cassie" He placed a gentle soft kiss on my lips then pulled back grazing his lips to my jaw. "I love you so much" a kiss gentle moved from my jaw to my neck. "I would give anything to be with you" his lips moved lower on to my collar bone, an involuntary shudder spread across my body. He smiled against my skin enjoying what he could do to me without even trying. "Your everything I need" I gasped as his bit down gently on that same spot. His lips moved back up to mine. Our eyes locked onto each others as he held an intense fiery gaze.
"I can't live without you" And that was it. My lips went on automatic as they crashed on Dean's. Our tongues moved in sync with passion, his hands roaming my body and then pulling me down under him so he was on top of me. The kissing got a lot more rough until Dean suddenly fell onto the floor with a thud next to the sofa where I lay. "Ow!!" He moaned out, I couldn't help but giggle at how he fell. Rolling onto my side and looking down at him I bit onto my lip trying to suppress the laugh. "It's not funny. We was finally getting it on again and it got ruined cos the stupid sofa is too small" I lost control of my laughter again watching him as he held his eyes shut with a pained look on his face. His eyes then opened directly meeting mine. "I like it when you genuinely laugh" I didn't reply. We held our gazes on each other not saying word in a comfortable silence. "Marry me" Wait? Did I hear that right or am I imagining things? "What?" I gasped out unsure if I should say anything at all. "Marry me" He repeated again more sure of himself as he sat up his eyes coming more to level with mine. I bit my lip feeling the confusion take over again. I didn't have time to think as he asked yet again. "Cassie, will you marry me?" I sat up also trying to process what was happening. Then it clicked. My dad put him up to this. Dean wasn't the type to ask something like this. I remember him saying to one of his buddies before that marriage was just a piece of paper. I was certain if I was to be with him for the rest of my life it would never come to marriage. "My dad asked you to do this didn't he?" Dean's face stayed the same but his eyes told me different. "God dammit Dean! Why ask me that if you don't really want it?!" I stood up knowing now coming back here was a mistake. I started to head for the door to grab my shoes when I felt Dean lift me over his shoulders stopping me from making my get away. "Put me down!" I demanded thumping into his back. I then saw stairs as Dean was heading up them one by one. "Dean put me down or I'll scream!" He didn't stop as he walked fast into a room kicking the door shut behind him.
Suddenly I dropped backwards landing on my ass in a bed with a bounce. "Dean I said no!" I snapped standing to my feet but he playfully pushed me back on the bed. "Remember what happened last time?" I warned making myself cringe at the memory of the last time he kept pushing me down. This time I had a soft landing which I was thankful for. Dean moved over me forcing me to lay back down on the bed to avoid our lips connecting. His face held so much passion but I wasn't buying it. Nothing he could do would convince me to say yes after I now knew my dad told him to, not Dean truly wanting to do this. "I love you Cassie and I am not letting you walk out that door for us to be back to not talking again. That shit hurts. Yes your dad asked me to make a women out of you but I actually want to be with your for the rest of our lives. If that means us having a day to show everyone that then so be it" I froze watching him as he watched for my reaction. I wasn't giving him anything. I refused to. "I got a job" Dean said out of nowhere. He caught me off guard. "I thought you already..." He kissed me cutting me off then pulled back when he was certain I had shut up. "I found a job working with children who are going down the wrong path" I blinked at him still silent, shocked. "I got the job because of my own life experiences, I want to help stop young people make the same wrong decisions I did" I gently pushed him off me by my chest so I could sit up. I couldn't believe what he was telling me. "Isn't that proof enough I am wanting to change for the better?" I nodded yes agreeing with him. He had me there, he was insanely right. "So let me try this again" I watched as he got on one knee in front of me pulling a box from his jacket pocket. "Cassie, you are the most beautiful, smart and annoyingly stubborn women on the earth. I love you so much. Will you marry me?"