Home is Anywhere the Heart Is {Ryder}

[Simone Winchester]

Time: November, end of.
Location: Attic Apartment above Tam and Kells house that has been made over for Simi
Tags: Ryder, Openish to anyone who might be there with her.

Winter was in full bloom by the time the last box was put away and the final picture had been hung in her home away from home. For the last two weeks, Simone James been busy with moving her things from her old apartment to here and purchasing the few other things she would be needing with Tams around town.

Laughter and good natured ribbing had gone hand and hand with her attempt to join the main stream world and it had seemed to go ok even though she still caught herself looking over her shoulder at weird times. It had been the first time she'd been on her own since the kidnapping and near murder and she'd forced herself to do it on her own.

At some point, she'd known it was going to have to be done and it had been a test of wills between her and her family when she'd announced her decision to accept the teaching position at the Academy and move into the attic of Tam and Kell's house. Her father, naturally, had wanted to keep her locked inside a bubble wrapped room but it had been her mother, once again the voice of sanity, that had supported her decision.

Besides that, the tension at home from her fathers rearrival in all their lives had left no doubt that they'd needed their own space to come to some sort of truce. It had been damned awkward watching everyone tip toe around the subject of his "death" and his "life" and watching all that pent up desire seethe just beneath the surface. Simi, herself, believed that the best thing for them all would be if their just gave into the need that so obviously rode both them and got the sex out of the way so that it didn't cloud the main issues so much.

HOwever, they hadn't asked her so she'd chosen to remove herself from the equation instead. THANK WHATEVER GOD WAS WATCHING FOR TAM"S OFFER!

And now.. Here she was. In her own little home away from home and all settled in for the first time in months. From her spot just inside the huge balcony windows, Simi watched frosty snowflake fall from the sky in soft spirals only to land on the ever increasing mounds outside her door.

Smiling delightedly to herself, the young witch glanced towards where her phone sat on the small kitchen island and willed it to ring. When it stayed stubbornly silent, the little blond bit her bottom lip and then shrugged. Moving towards the little stove in her small corner kitchen, she put on a kettle of water to boil and got out the makings for hot cocoa.

As she did so, she allowed her thoughts to travel back to another freak snowstorm and a certain gorgeous hunter than had stolen her heart away in a matter of hours.The memory made a smile flit over her lips and her eyes again strayed to the phone. Since that night over a month ago, the very fact that he wasn't in the same room with her left her feeling as if a part of her was missing but she stubbornly refused to drive him batty with phone calls every ten minutes. She was rather pleased with herself because she'd managed to talk to him only once or twice a day for the last two weeks but... God, how she missed him.

It was literally like an extension of herself was missing but she knew it was good for both of them to have some time to breath and collect their thoughts. Everything had happened so quickly for them that she was still in somewhat of a daze at the fact that the boy she'd known growing up was the man she'd fallen head over heels with without so much as a by your leave. The only one who hadn't seemed to surprised had been her mother. Talk about AWKWARD!

Shaking her head at those thoughts, Simi was just about to pull down a mug when a sound from her balcony door entrance brought her attention up. As her gaze connected with the cobalt one on the other side, a wide grin spread over her face and she practically flew to the door. As the glass slid on its track, she threw herself into the waiting arms and was totally oblivious to the falling snow that peppered her face and hair as she beamed up at him.

"RYDER!!!" she joyfully shouted.

[Ryder James Winchester]

God, he missed her so much.
Each and every moment spent away from his angel seemed to surround Ryder like a thick fog; suffocating him; stealing the very light from the world around him. The passing minutes tightened an invisible vice around his heart so that the distance between them caused near physical pain; it was -that- genuine. But this distance was required. After the events with Greg earlier that month the young hunter had left Simi in the capable hands of her family, reluctantly leaving her so that the two of them could catch their breath after the hurricane of powerful emotions that had fallen around them. They both needed to figure out if it was a case of too much, too soon; they had fallen so hard for each other in such a short amount of time. This time away would prove to them both that their feelings weren’t just a fantasy brought about by the intense situation they’d been thrown in together, but genuine; their hearts connecting in a way that would not fade even when the stimulation of danger wore off.

And so, with hesitant, shaking hands he had waved goodbye and set out on a hunt; something he had hoped would distract him from the ache that expanse would cause as well as the worry that some other danger would befall her. The young Winchester was determined to convince himself that this wouldn’t be like before. She was a strong willed witch and she would survive. His mending heart would not be broken again by loss; it would only grow stronger knowing that this time, he had been a hero.

He hadn’t traveled very far before finding a case that would keep him busy enough not run back to her before they’d had time to breathe.
After finding out that many of the children in a nearby town had mysteriously disappeared, Ryder had spend day and night investigating the town’s people, local legend and newspaper clippings at the library until he had found out about a certain curious old bridge at the outskirts of the city. Tracking down the bridge in the desolate part of town, he had come across a monster he wouldn’t have believed if he hadn’t seen it himself. The kidnapper had been a troll. An honest to God, just like from the fairytales, kind of troll. Imagine that. It was easy enough to dispatch the boil covered, dim-witted monster before it could harm any more young ones, but regrettably for the others there was no coming back. Trolls just so happened to have an appetite for little kids…

Ryder clutched the wheel of his big blue jeep wrangler and focused on the dotted yellow line ahead of him despite the thickening snowfall. It wouldn’t be long now.
He’d spoken to his angel only hours before and gotten directions to the little attic apartment she’d moved into since he’d gone on the hunt. It had surprised him to find out that her family had approved the move, but he couldn’t have been happier for the little witch. She needed some kind of normalcy and the teaching gig at Hunter’s Academy sounded right up her alley.
That thought brought a whisper of a grin to the young man’s face. He could just imagine the kind hearted woman surrounded by the children of their hunter kin. Simi would be a great teacher. She would be amazing…

The closer Ryder got to the house, the faster his heart pounded. It was a wonder…the absolute addiction he had to the woman. She was like some kind of drug and he was a junkie, speeding toward his fix.
By the time he pulled his vehicle into the drive he could hardly breathe, and after eagerly hopping out of the jeep without cutting the engine, he’d had to climb back in and turn off before sprinting back up to the door.

There she was, just on the other side. Sparks flew as their eyes met and the angel came through the door and into his arms, and it was as if the world sighed in relief.
“Angel!” Ryder laughed and wrapped his arms around her, twirling her in a slow circle as the snow came down around them. She was a vision. She was a miracle, and the young hunter felt like once again the circle of his soul was complete.

When he set her down on the shimmering white ground Ryder couldn’t help but to grasp her face gently in his hands, bending his mouth down over hers in an ardent kiss.
His body grew warm even in the wintery weather, and though he didn’t think his heart could pound any more fiercely, its tempo increased. When he had to break the mouthy embrace in order to breath, Ryder pulled away gently, smiling against her lips.
“I missed you…” He whispered, and lifted his face, chewing sheepishly on his bottom lip. “Did you miss me?”

[Simone Winchester]

Had she missed him? What on earth kind of question was THAT? Silly, sexy hunter. Did Mickey Mouse have big ears? Was was Dumbo a magical flying elephant? Did Puff the Magic Dragon live by the sea? She'd of had to be dead not to miss his handsome mug. Not only was her answer a resounding "YES" but it was a "HELL YES!" to boot. She'd missed him so bad she'd thought she'd go crazy from the emotion.

Not to mention she'd probably driven her cousin into an early retreat that very evening cause she couldn't stop checking her phone to see if he'd called again or decided not to come at all and sent her a text. The wait had been a killer and she couldnt have said if the wait was made more intense by the fact that she was eager to see him or the fact that she was anxious to see if he'd missed her as much as she'd missed him.

And now... All that waiting was at an end. And with it, all the uncertainty and nerves because everything he felt radiated from his stance and was there in his touch. The blazing happiness and sparkling joy that seemed to envelope her even as their lips met put her at ease like nothing else could have and her own bliss bubbled forth in a twinkling laugh that carried on the cold night wind.

She could hardly believe he was here now and she was half afraid that she'd fallen asleep on the couch and she'd wake up to find him simply a well loved dream! Even with him warm and solid in her arms, she couldn't believe she was lucky enough to be holding him and her eyes fairly shot sparks as she beamed up at him. A playful hand reached up to smack him in the chest and her eyes danced with happiness.

"OF COURSE I MISSED YOU, WINCHESTER!! Hasn't the fact that I've been calling you every five seconds keyed you into that fact?? Silly man... and here I thought you were the smart one!" she teased impishly. "I was half afraid you'd run for the border and wouldn't be seen or heard from again......"


Ok, so maybe that last part was only half teasing but things had happened really fast for them and she'd been half afraid that the time and distance might change his mind. They'd both been through the ringer those first few days and she knew that he had been just beginning to heal from his own tragedies when he'd become entangled in hers.

That had been another reason she'd forced herself to take a step back and allow him some distance. Some inner feminine pride wanted to knew that he was coming to her because it was truly HER he wanted...not just because she was the one he'd managed to save. Stupid, maybe... True though for whatever reason.

But standing here under lightly falling snow and gazing into his intense cobalt eyes... Simi no longer had any doubts. All of those had been washed away with one kiss and she felt as if the night were once again magical. She supposed she would always associate snow with this man and the joy he brought into her heart. Maybe it was the way it washed the land clean and the world took on a fresh innocent persona but she felt as if anything were possible as they stood on the balcony and kissed in the falling snow.

OK, so maybe it was a sappy thought worthy of a chick flick moment but a girl could live in the moment right? RIGHTTTTT.

Reaching up to twine her arms around his neck, the little witch let her body rest casually against his even as she nibbled at his lips in a quest for more kisses. Sure, they were standing outside in lightly falling snow but Simi couldn't bring herself to care. She felt as if she were bathed in sunlight when she was basking in his sexy smile and who cared about a bit of cold when you had toe curling kisses? Who cared if the door behind her was still open to the cold and her fireplace was going to come in handy to make up for the escaping heat? Who cared about anything like that when the heat they were making on their own could have brought the roof down on their heads?

About that moment, Fate decided to play one of its devious tricks. So wrapped up in each other the pair was that neither one caught the little crackle that signaled disaster. With a crack, a small drift of snow broke free from its perch above the door and came tumbling done on top of the pair below. With a squeek of alarm, Simi stared through snowflaked lashes to the now soaked hunter and couldn't help the giggle that started up through her chest. Soon, it was a full blown laugh that continued as she shook herself vigorously and fluffed the snow from her own hair.

"Well... that was certainly a rude awakening for my manners... " she chirped impishly before taking his hand and pulling him into the inner warmth of her new home. Sliding the door shut behind him, she quickly locked it and rest the wards she'd placed for protection before turning back and gazing at him with a somewhat shy smile. "Welcome home, Ryder....Er... well... um... You know.. I bet your cold! Would you like some hot cocoa?"

With that swift cover up of her almost slip, the little blond worried on her bottom lip and the jumped as the kettle began to go off. Thankful for the interruption, she practically ran to and and pulled it off the burner. Thank heavens for small favors. It gave her enough time to settle her sudden embarrassment before glancing back over at him.

"Oh... there's a towel in the bathroom through that door if you'd like to dry off... I'm sorry.... I seem to be a bit scatter brained...." she continued with a self conscious laugh. "Look at me leaving you all cold and wet..... I'm really not being much of a hostess, huh?"

[Ryder James Winchester]

If Ryder had any doubts about the genuineness of Simi’s feelings for him, they died away at her reciprocation of his kiss.
That kiss…
The young Winchester hadn’t even realized he’d been starving, but drinking Simi in slaked a craving that stimulated his whole being; from the body that was pressed tightly against hers, to the soul that had been crying out for her for weeks. Melting into her, Ryder closed his eyes and images of their ‘night’ together flooded his mind. Those thoughts had been keeping him going since leaving her side; keeping him warm at night and making sleep possible, as he’d hoped for dreams of her when his eyes slid closed.

The witch’s glimmering laughter drew a playful grin across the hunters face and when she reached to teasingly smack his chest, he caught her hand in his own, bringing it to his lips so he could whisper kisses across her velvety palm. Yeah, they’d spent more time on the phone than off of it, at least that’s the way it seemed; but hearing her confess her longing for him sent his heart soaring towards the heavens. It was a melody he could dance to with her right here, right now, in the gently falling winter flurry.
“Nah…the border is brimming with aliens, and I only hunt supernaturals.” He teased back at her, letting an arm drop to snake around her waist.

Damn, it felt good to hold her again. When the fair-haired seraph wound her arms around his neck and shifted her curves into his to nibble at his lips, the young Winchester couldn’t help but let out a growl of anticipation. She was going to drive him crazy. The arm coiled around her hips tightened, bring her in closer, and he opened his lips a little in silent reply to her mouthy request.
She tasted just like he remembered. Rich…decadent…sweet on the back of his tongue. The hunter couldn’t help the sigh that escaped him as he brought a hand up to lightly whisper up her curves, finding that perfect dip in her back that allowed him to pull her in even more as their lips and tongues danced as if for the first time.

And then, as if Mother Nature were telling them to GET A ROOM, the snow broke loose from its home in a tree above and it came cascading down over them.
At first the young hunter couldn’t hide his disappointment; his grey eyes grew stormy as he brushed the white off of his shoulders. But like the ray of sunshine that she was, Simi’s laughter put the light back in his gaze, and he shook his head and chuckled, reaching up to knock some snow off her upper arm.

He grinned after Simone as she pulled him into the warmth of her new apartment, slipping out of the worn leather jacket while she locked and set her protection charms. And then came that sheepish little smile and the Freudian slip that sent his pulse into overdrive again. Simi tried to cover it with a prattling backtrack and rushed to attend to the calling kettle, so with a slow, deliberate stride he was there when she turned around again, right up against her, so that she was lightly pressed into the counter as he leaned into her.

“I’m fine Simi. Just breathe…” He told her with a boyish sideways smile as he stretched his hand up to tuck a stray strand of gold behind her ear. Her anxiousness was endearing, and he found it made her even sexier than when she was playing the strong willed witch.
Ryder couldn’t help but feel capricious as well, for her little slip about this being their home was stirring up all kinds of sensations in him. Hope, excitement, nervousness, bliss...these were only some of the feelings whirling around in him and he tried not to focus on them lest he get his hopes up too much. Maybe she hadn’t meant it, and it had only been a blunder of her tongue. But maybe…

“Come on; show me around our new place.” Ryder said with an expectant smile as he slid his hand down into hers and tugged her from her counter rest. “The hot chocolate can wait…”

[Simone Winchester]

Way to ramble like an idiot!

Simi thought to herself even as she turned to find Ryder right up next to her. With widening eyes, she felt herself pressed back lightly on to the counter edge and her hunter gazing down at her with such an intense look that she had to swallow hard. Holy Icicles, Batman! Had the heat in the room just gone up a few degrees or was that just the heat from his stare? Man alive, she was seriously going to need to shed a few layers if he kept looking at her like that.

Thankfully, his words broke the bedazzled spell she was under and she was able to focus on the moment. Hot chocolate? What hot cocoa? OH.. RIGHTTTTTT.. that hot cocoa that she'd heated water for! Was it to much to hope he hadn't caught the direction her thoughts had taken her? Ugh.. Probably considering the fact that she was melting into him like a Popsicle on a hot summer day.

Yup, definitely time to move on to bigger and better things.

About that moment his words clicked in her brain and her eyes shot to his in an unspoken question before her fingers curled reflexively about his. Our Place... such innocent little words but words that held such profound meaning. Evidently, he had caught her little slip and giving his approval. Emotion crept into her eyes as she nodded and then tugged him around to the open loft.

In some ways, she supposed she should feel weird about it but... She didn't. Never before had she wanted to share her own space with someone but with Ryder... It just felt right. Of course, he wouldn't be here all the time but the reality was that she wanted to be the one he came home too and the one who curled up with his pillow when he had to be away. She wanted to wake up to the smell of him on her skin and go to bed with his good night kiss on her lips. If that wasn't love.. then she didn't know what was.

"Well, as you can see... this is pretty much it... Its kind of simple but its ours." she whispered, pulling him out of the little kitchen area to motion to the open living room area with its little fireplace and relaxing area. "The couch and TV area is there... The little dinning area is the kitchen Island and the bathroom is through there.." she said, point to a door in one corner.

Then, tugging his hand again, she pulled him to the only other door opening off the mainroom and flipped on the light.

"And this... this is the bedroom..... Our bedroom if you like.... Your welcome to park your boots under my bed whenever you like and as you can see..... I've got plenty of room....."

Leaning on the door, she waited for his response and smiled a bit hesitantly.

"And I intentionally tried to keep it ungirlie.... Didn't think that pink would do your complexion any wonders..." she finished with a teasing grin.

[Ryder James Winchester]

There they went again; those wild horses galloping around in his chest and making it hard to focus on anything except her slightly parted lips and the feel of his body pressed against Simi’s. The sudden yearning in her navy blue eyes seared a hole in Ryder’s soul and the hunter had to take a deep breath in and let it out slowly in order to still his quaking hands before the witch felt it and thought him some kind of pansy-ass.
What was it about the slender woman that turned him into a sheepish little boy with his first crush? The weight of his adoration hung on the air around them like a comforting coverlet and Ryder had to turn his face away when he felt the warmth in his cheeks turn them a light shade of red.

Damn, she was something special. She deserved so much better than him…

But he resigned to the thought that he had her for now at least, and the young Winchester was thankful when Simone pulled him further into the little loft and pointed out the places she… -they- would be relaxing, eating, and living. He was wonderstruck; dizzy with the idea that Simi was willing to share this little piece of her life with him.
After Christine’s death he never imagined that he would ever want such a thing; that he could ever find enough pieces of his broken heart to fit back together so that he could find peace or understanding…even forgiveness. Now he couldn’t imagine any kind of existence without the witch. She’d become his strength and his heart and given his life back to him. To say that she was his saving grace just didn’t seem to mean enough; that’s how deeply he felt for her already.

The pounding in Ryder’s upper body quickened when they stopped at the only room left, and he swallowed a massive knot in his throat when Simi said the words our bedroom. Unbidden, his body tensed and he pressed his back against the opposite side of the doorframe, willing himself to look anywhere but the charming, hesitant smile on her angelic face.
Ryder nodded absently and forced an unruffled grin when he finally could look at her, but those unfathomable azure eyes would be his undoing, and he saw in them the reflection of the sweet, but passionate night they had shared together.

Think baseball, Winchester. Ryder scolded himself silently, not wanting to spoil their reunion because of an inability to keep his libido in check. Sure, they were both healthy adults with adult appetites for physical stimulation, but it was more than that, and the hunter wanted to make sure the seraph knew that.
Mental images of the little white ball and men in uniform seemed to do the trick, and he rubbed the top of his head absently a moment before chuckling quietly and offering Simi a lighthearted grin that made him appear years younger than he really was.
“That’s a relief because red is really more my color…” He joked and lifted a hand to play absently with the hem of her jeans. Wincing at his cheesy response to her humor, Ryder shook his head and shoved his hands into the pockets of his denim. His grey-blue eyes twitched to the bed and then back again, but he compelled himself to stay focused on her beautiful face instead.

“I think you’ll find my boots under that bed more than they’re not.” He confessed and lifted his brows diffidently, leaning casually against the jamb as pink colored his face again. Ryder hoped that she would take it like he had originally meant it; as in he hoped to be around more than away from her, instead of the way he suddenly pictured them; shoes thrown under the bed along with all their other clothes. The middle Winchester cleared his throat and chortled nervously, raising one hand to rub carelessly at the back of his neck.

“Um…so…tell me about this new job of yours.” That’s it, Ry, change the subject.
“ I didn’t even know you wanted to be a teacher. Of course, there’s still a lot about each other we gotta’ learn.”

[Simone Winchester]

“I think you’ll find my boots under that bed more than they’re not.”

Damn, with just those simple words, Simi felt as if shed been given the moon and the stars all wrapped up in one sexy, adorable package. His chiseled features seemed to take on a bit of color as he leaned against the door frame and the little witch found an impish grin steal over her own expression as she tilted her head to watch him. A series of emotions ghosted across his face so fast that she couldn't read them but had a feeling that they were wildly interesting if his sudden embarrassment was any indication.

What was going on behind that handsome mug of his?

Before she could ask, however, he switched the topic and she decided to let it go for the moment.

"Your right... We do have a lot to learn about each other but we've got all the time in the world. Really, we've got more than most people... Its not as if we are strangers by any sense of the means. I'm still pretty much the girl you grew up with... Just a little more....Mature... You don't have to worry about me putting dye in your hair shampoo or itching powder in your underwear drawer anymore..." she teased good-naturedly, winking and moving close enough to brush her lips softly to his before pulling back. "Although, come to think of it... It might have actually been better if you didn't know what a brat I was when I was little. I find it absolutely amazing that you didn't stuff Chey and I in some barrel with the crap we did to torment you!"

Reaching out, she took his hand once more before leading him back to a soft couch in front of a small fireplace and offering him a seat. Once he was settled, the little blond made them both a cup of hot cocoa before coming back to curl up beside him. As she went through the motions, she thought on her answer and then spoke truthfully.

"As far as the Academy.... Well, I've always loved kids.. It was always my dream to teach little ones and I've got a Masters in Early Childhood education along with a minor in history.... I had thought to teach school when I graduated but just hadn't decided on where when I recieved an offer from the Academy...."

Pausing long enough to gather her thoughs, she stirred the chocolate before continuing.

"With everything that happened... I think my family would have been happy to roll me in bubble wrap and lock me away in a tower but I can't spend my life jumping at shadows and relying on others. I need to stand on my own two feet and have my own life.... At least at the Academy, I can do that and still offer them some assurances of my safety."

Turning her sapphire gaze ruefully to his, she let a soft grin spread over her lips.

"I kind of thought maybe that would make you breath a bit easier too.... To be honest, I'm really not much of a hunter and even though I can do the job when needed.... I've been told that i'm to much of a softy to really be in the field all the time.... The Academy seemed the natural bridge between having a normal life but still staying within our world."

Bringing her legs up to curl them underneath her, she leaned against the back of the couch and eyed the young hunter over the brim of her mug. With the warmth of the fire in front of them, the snow falling softly outside and her handsome companion beside her, the little witch felt safe and happier than she'd been in a long time. Definitely the happiest she'd been in the last few weeks.

"How about you though? Did you get your case all wrapped up? You didn't really say for sure but I'm assuming that you did since you made it here before the storm hit..... You Ok? Your not hurt are you?" she said, suddenly frowning with concern. "I didn't even ask before...."

[Ryder James Winchester]

Oh, but the blonde witch had changed.
Ryder couldn’t believe the little trouble maker in golden ringlet pigtails and bare feet had become the woman that could bring him to his knees.
So much time had passed since those carefree summer days and there was so much he wanted to know about her. He wanted to know everything…
Did she like music? Dancing in the rain? Would she mind mudding all day and then just laying on the hood of the Jeep watching for falling stars?
Ryder knew he would have plenty of time to figure out all the little things that made the lovely seraph smile and boy…did he love that smile.

Simi’s cobalt eyes sang as she tugged him toward a comfy sofa in front of perfect sized fireplace and then cuddled up next to him so he could snake an arm around her lithe frame. This was utter perfection. The young hunter couldn’t have been happier for the little witch. Bliss fairly shone from her bright grin; her whole aura glowed with pride.
Ryder was so glad she had found a way to be happy and safe while helping do her part with the struggle for humanity. The war was tough on everybody, but the children of hunters bore the brunt of it. Learning how to protect themselves as well as those that would be fighting along side of them made everyday in the battle just a little bit easier to handle. And Simone was the perfect person to guide those kids. She was the epitome of everything good and light.

When the young woman returned with their beverage and then focused on Ryder’s well-being, the young hunter couldn’t help but grin sheepishly.
“I’m still kicking.” He assured her with a side-ways smirk as he rubbed absently at the back of his neck. “You know it is. It’s always tough when you can’t save everyone, but at least I got the fucker.”

And he left it at that. There was no use in horrifying her with all the gory details. To confess how many kids had lost their lives before he’d slain the monster would only spoil this faultless moment. Right now he preferred to keep the fairytale.

“But you know…I think that if after every hunt I can come back here and let you attend to all my boo-boos, I might just get a few on purpose.”
Ryder teased her and reached for her mug, placing it on the table in front of the little couch before taking her hand in his. “In fact…” The middle Winchester gently tugged her to him, placing her hand right over his beating heart. “I might have a boo-boo right here that needs kissing better…”

And he pouted, tapping his lower lip as his eyes sparkled with boyish mischief.
It was so easy to be with her like this. They didn’t have any secrets or excuses; just each other. Outside the white fall became thicker, making the moment seem almost surreal.
A small stereo on the opposite wall was turned low, but you could still hear Taylor Swift’s easy voice over the crackle of the fire. She sang about how a boy had fallen in love with a careless man’s careful daughter. She was the best thing that had ever been his.
Ryder leaned in slowly, smiling against her lips before closing his eyes and kissing her gently, as if for the first time.

When he pulled back, a shy smile was written across his face and he reached a hand into the front pocket of his jeans.
“Simi…I got you something.” He pulled out a small silver wrapped box with a pink velvet bow. “I was gonna’ wait, but…”

Inside the box was a delicate silver chain, and hanging from it was a slim silver guardian angel that had reminded Ryder so much of his seraph.

[Simone Winchester]

Life was a funny thing. Just when you thought all your hopes, dreams and chances of happiness lay shattered on the floor, it did a three sixty and gave you new ones. While it may not be the exact life you had planned out, most of the time it was bigger and better than anything you'd ever dreamed of having.

Such was the case for her, Simi realized as she sat on that couch with Ryder and smiled up at his gentle face. The slender blond was still bemused at how she'd gotten so lucky as to have caught his eye but she wasn't going to tempt fate.

Who would have thought that the boy she'd secretly admired as a child would grow up into the battle scarred warrior whos every touch tempted her to fall from grace without so much as a protest? Many times, she'd had to pinch herself to make sure it was real and that it wasn't some sort of dream. He just seemed to good to be true and she constantly found herself waiting for the other shoe to drop.

Which was actually why the last few weeks had been necessary. The time apart had given her plenty of reflection and self examination time. In her heart, she'd known the truth of the love she felt for the middle Winchester but for both their sakes... They'd needed to make sure it hadn't been just a figment of the dramatic events. After all, it had been sudden and totally unexpected for either of them and they'd both had baggage to deal with.

It hadn't taken her twenty four hours to come to the same conclusion she'd had before Ryder had even left.

Her heart and soul was completely and utterly devoted to the man and she'd never felt these emotions for anyone else. His happiness was upper most in her heart and mind and she wanted to be the one to make him laugh.. To make him smile. At the end of a long hunt like he'd just been on, she wanted to be the one to whip those thoughts and memories from his mind for a time. Every instinct in her wanted to hold on to him and shelter him from the storm that was life. In short, she loved him with everything in her existence. The eduring kind of love that her parents had shared and she'd always hoped she'd find but had thought it out of her reach.

The sort of love that she'd decided only existed for the lucky few.

Oh, she was sure that she'd loved Gregg but compared to what she felt with Ryder.. It had been a mere twinkle of stars compared to sun that the hunter had hung in her sky.

Looking back, the little witch knew that the world she'd tried to build with her former love had been doomed from the start because she'd tried to be someone and something she wasn't. In many ways, poor Gregg hadn't had a clue as to who she really was and no doubt wouldn't have given her the time of day if he had. His last coherent words to her the night of their official break up hadn't been a figment of the demon possession and it had been a reality check. Maybe it was just as well because the events after wards would have made it impossible for them to be together anyways and Simi could no longer look at the young man without reliving the nightmares that haunted the dark.

Nightmares that only Ryder could keep at bay.



It was only when he was by her side or around that the darkness truly abated and her world became completely bright and cheery once more. And not only because he was such a good looking devil. His very soul was gentle, brave and entirely to entrancing for her peace of mind. while his mind was intelligent and decidedly wicked when he teased her like he was now about kissing his "boo-boos".

That comment alone made her laugh and her eyes sparkled as she moved in closer to do just that. With her hand laid over his heart, she could feel the steady, reassuring thump and it filled her with supreme happiness. Pressing a kiss to his lips, she allowed him to hold her close and let contentment steal over her as the music played and the snow fell gently outside.

It was heaven on earth.

Then, Ryder managed the unexpected. Setting her away from him, he dug into his pockets until he was holding a little box out to her with an almost tentitive look. Blinking at him a bit, Simi smiled hesitantly and then took the box with trembling hands. Carefully opening the pink satin bow, she slowly opened the top to reveal a beautiful silver angel resting on a delicate chain. A soft exclaimation escaped her as she stared down at it and tears gathered in her eyes. It was the most beautiful thing she'd ever seen.

"Oh Ry....." she whispered, turning to throw her arms around his neck and hug him tight. "Its gorgeous.... I love it. Thank you so very much. I will treasure it forever."

Pulling back, the little witch pressed a kiss to his lips and then took the necklace from its nest to hold out to him.

"Would you... Um.... Help me put it on?" she asked softly, blue eyes soft with love and happiness.

Turning away a bit, she raised her long hair out of the way so that her neck was bare and invited him to fasten the beautiful piece of jewelery around the slim column.

[Ryder James Winchester]

Ryder didn’t fail to notice the sparkle in Simi’s miraculous azure eyes. For a moment his heart stopped beating and he couldn’t breathe around the massive knot in his throat.
Could she…?
No…it wasn’t possible that the charming blonde witch could feel as much for him as he did her already. It was hard to believe that -he- had fallen so hard, so fast, but he couldn’t deny the way Simone made him feel.
He was superman… he could do anything. He was invincible when she was anywhere near him. The gaping hole inside his soul was surrounded by scar tissue from the wounds it had endured in the past, but those scars were so sensitive he felt more now that he ever had before. He didn’t even know that was possible. After the loss he had undergone the young hunter had lost the ability to look to the future. All Ryder had been able to see was each moment creeping toward him at a snails pace and he just had to brace himself for the pain that was going to come with it. Where as the sun was supposed to come out tomorrow, the middle Winchester imagine the coming day would only bring rain. Acid rain. Damn how he had wished he could just close his eyes and never wake up. He had been in that much of a chasm.

But Simi had revived him. She had brought back the sunshine and the warmth that had thawed his frozen heart and now all he could do was think about the next moment…with her. Though the man was young, Ryder couldn’t stop thinking about what the coming days with her would bring.
Would this always feel as good? Could they last for an eternity? Would she even have him for that long? A slow, easy smile crept over Ryder’s boyish face as the mental imagine of a grey haired Simi sitting next to a grey haired hunter on a porch swing raced through his mind. He wasn’t sure where that had come from, but he knew he liked it.

And god, the things that she did to his body and his mind. It was indescribable.

When Simi’s cobalt gaze turned misty and she threw her arms around him Ryder let out the breath he hadn’t even known he’d been holding in. She liked it! The relief he felt was like an imperceptible weight had been removed from his rib cage.
She kissed him quickly and turned around so that he could hang the gift around her neck, and the young hunter couldn’t wipe the boyish smile off his visage.
Gently roping the slim silver necklace around her throat, he fastened the clasp and then lowered his lips to that smooth delicate place just below her earlobe. Unable to stop himself, Ryder then whispered a trail of kisses down her neck to the graceful curve of her collar bone, inhaling deeply of her enticingly saccharine natural perfume. Letting his eyes slide closed the middle Winchester felt his body loosen even more, and a gentle arm snaked around her middle.

Was this real? Would he wake up in the morning to find this all had been a wonderful dream?

He held the witch there against him, her back to his chest as he replayed the events that had led up to this moment and he couldn’t help the bliss that seemed to wash over him like the snow outside the window; gentle, beautiful, everything pure and virtuous and impossibly innocent.

Letting out the inhalation on a happy sigh, Ryder let his arm unwind and he stood, holding out a hand to the stunning vision.
“It looks good on you, baby.” He said shyly, reaching a tender hand out to turn the little angel right against the dip in her throat.

The music was still playing in the background and the crackle of the fireplace was a music worth dancing to, so Ryder took her palm in his and tugged her closer to the warmth; a sideways smile in invitation. “Dance with me…”