#hunter!ofc

“How goes your honeymoon?”  Sam asked as he, Julie, and Cole visited Dean and Lisa.  

“Peachy, but I’m not sure how much longer we can hide out in this room,”  Dean answered honestly.  Lisa’s pregnancy was starting to show for those that knew to look, and Julie went to fawn over her.

“You have to stay in here, man,”  Sam impressed on Dean.  “You have to give us more time to figure out how to trap Michael and Crowley.

“Have you got anything figured out yet, hotshot?”  Dean growled at Sam.  “Don’t get me wrong, I could see myself retiring with Lisa, this downtime has been pretty amazing, but I want to go outside eventually,”  Dean said in a hushed voice.  “And once the news of the baby gets out we won’t be able to hide.”  Julie and Cole tensed a little a Dean’s comment but it appeared to go unnoticed.

“It’s not like you can’t go outside,”  Sam said unsympathetically.

“That’s easy for you to say.  How often are you-”  Dean cut off abruptly when Lisa and Julie came over to them.

“I’m hoping it shouldn’t be much longer, I have a plan on how to get the king off our back,”  Julie said firmly.

“Care to share?”  Dean asked, offering his hands out hopefully.

“Not yet,”  Julie said and Dean rolled his eyes.  Dean’s eyes flicked from Cole to Julie as the bodyguard changed his stance, and the hunter seemed to consider something before letting it go and pursuing a different thought.

“What about our friends the vampires?  Do we think they are gonna stay waiting much longer?”  Dean asked.

“We should probably talk with them again,”  Sam offered.

“No!”  Cole interjected then slipped back into his place in the shadows with a stern look from Julie.  Dean considered the man for a moment again.

“Cole’s right, it’s not the time to talk with the Alpha Vampire yet.  I have a feeling that he will be willing to wait to hear from us but his price might go up the longer we wait.”  Julie side-eyed Cole, who seemed satisfied with her response.  “I’m meeting with Bobby tomorrow morning.  We have a way to force King Michael into action,”  Julie explained.  “I can’t say any more than that.  I know there are spies.”

The group chit-chatted, discussing plans for the baby.  Sam and Julie would be the baby’s Godparents, but Dean had reservations about having the Christening in the Northern Kingdom.  Julie shared the sentiment, anything that had to do with Cardinal Crowley made her uneasy.

“We should get back,”  Cole said a while later and put a hand out to help Julie stand.

“I need to speak with you,”  Dean said taking her hand from Cole’s.  The guard gave him a sharp look.  “In private,”  Dean offered looking from Cole to Sam to Julie.

“It’s fine,”  Julie agreed before giving Cole a warning look.  “I’ll meet you back at the apartment.”  Cole looked like he wanted to argue, but Sam took charge and convince him to leave.  Dean kissed Lisa on the cheek.

“I’ll be right out on the balcony,”  Dean told her, and Lisa went to the room and picked up some socks she had been darning.

“You’re worried about this business with Michael aren’t you,”  Julie spoke quietly and calmly as she leaned easily on the banister.

“Yes,”  Dean admitted.  He wasn’t usually the most open person when it came to his feelings, and this put Julie on edge.  If he was open about this what else was he hiding.

“What’s going on?”  Julie asked.

“What’s going on with you?”  Dean turned on her.  There was no anger, but a fire nonetheless.  “Cole stepped out of line back there, but you not only let it go, but you also agreed with him?  Don’t think I haven’t noticed the way he’s been looking at you, watching your every move.”

“He’s my guard, Dean,”  Julie defended stupidly.

“That’s not how he is looking at you and you know it!”  He had raised his voice now, and Julie shielded her body from him as she stepped back in fear.  Dean looked at her, the way her arms crossed her chest to protect herself from his ire.  A tear slipped down her rosy cheek.  “I understand now,”  Dean said quietly, as he turned away from her.

“It’s not what you think,”  Julie said trying savagely to figure out what she was going to say to Dean.

“You’re pregnant,”  He said as quietly as he could.  Julie stared at him in shock.  She hadn’t prepared for him to figure out her secret.  Usually, Sam was the quicker one, but she figured that maybe Sam was too close to the situation.  “And it’s Sam’s.”

“Yes,”  Julie said resigning herself.

“You’ve signed my brother’s death order.”  Dean snarled.

The dark-haired maid Ruby turned away from the apartment door when she had heard all she needed to and headed back to her master.

“Ah, the Winchester knights!”  King Michael said grandly as Sam and Dean walked into his private meeting hall.  “I’m sorry I forbid you from attending your lady’s ceremony, but I needed to see you without distraction.”

“How can we help you, King Michael?”  Sam asked trying to remain polite.

“That Lady of yours is something quite special,”  The king mused.  “First she claims that you are courting,”  He said walking up to Dean.  “Then she wants you married off to her lady in waiting.  How unusual and quite the low blow to you.”  He was standing behind Dean now and let himself touch Dean’s hair.

“Your majesty, sometimes-”  Sam started to try and change the subject.

“Don’t you dare interrupt me!”  Michael roared at the younger knight.  He calmed and seemed to realize that he was touching Dean.  “I’m thinking of taking Lady Julie for my bride.  She is beautiful, and my chancellors have been uneasy that I have been unwed for so long.”  Sam and Dean tensed at his words.

“She’s not a member of your kingdom,”  Sam said through gritted teeth.

“Oh so you don’t want me to marry her,”  Michael laughed unpleasantly.  “Perhaps you should consider my offer, Dean.  Just say yes, I’ll let the Lady Julie marry whoever she wants.”

“No,”  Dean said firmly.  Michael scowled.

“Perhaps we should go,”  Sam said uneasily.  He seemed to only now realize how dangerous it was for them to be here alone with Michael.  All of their plans could be tossed out the window if they said the wrong thing.

“Think about my offer,”  Michael said.  “You have until the end of your honeymoon.  Enjoy your wedding,”  He sneered.

Those months passed far too quickly. Dean and Lisa were married by the end of the next week by Cardinal Crowley.  News had reached King Michael’s kingdom that Sir John Winchester had died while on the hunt.  And they still had no better plans to protect Dean from the king.

It was late in the evening when Cole came and offered to help Julie out of her corset.  Lisa was still gone for her honeymoon, and Julie didn’t trust anyone else.  

“My lady?  Julie?!”  Cole exclaimed as he ran across the room and caught her before she hit the ground.  He carried her to her bed loosening her corset and checking her breathing.  When he was certain she was alive, he went to the door of the apartment and ordered a squire to fetch Sir Robert.

“What happened?”  Bobby asked when he came into the apartment and Cole led him to Julie’s room.

“She fainted out of nowhere after standing up.  You don’t think she’s hexed do you?”  Cole asked.

“I’m not sure, bring me so warm water and a cloth with a twig of sage.”  Bobby sat in the chair of her room and felt her breath and heartbeat.  “Lady Julie?”  He called quietly as he cracked a vial of smelling salts under her nose.  She pulled away quickly reeling from the abruptness of the smell.

“Bobby?”  Julie asked as she took in her surroundings.

“What have you gotten yourself into, girl?”  Bobby asked rubbing his face tiredly.  “You fainted and about killed your guard with fright.”

“Oh God,”  Julie stared wide-eyed at the floor.

“Is there something I should know?”  Bobby asked going and locking the door before Cole had a chance to come back.

“I might be pregnant,”  Julie whispered looking up at Bobby.

“I’m gonna kill that boy.  I didn’t think you’d be such a fool as to use that key when I had it sent to you,”  Bobby scoffed.

“I already had it off by the time I got the note from you,”  Julie blushed hard.  “So at least you can spare yourself any blame.”

“You can’t tell anyone.  Not yet, not Dean, not Lisa, not Cole, not even Sam,”  Bobby said seriously.  “If they know it’ll change what they are going to do about this business with Michael.  We aren’t ready for a change at this level.  So keep quiet and keep yourself in check.”  Julie nodded agreeing with the older man.

“I have one problem with your plan,”  Julie said.  “I have to tell Cole.  He needs to protect me.  He knows all of my secrets.”

“All of them?”  Bobby asked begrudgingly.  “If you think that is best, then that’s fine, but he can’t tell anyone else.”  And with that Bobby left her apartment.

“You’re with child?”  Cole asked trying to hide his hurt as he sat in her room.  “I suppose I should have seen it coming, with how often you see Sam.”

“You can’t tell anyone, not even Sam,”  Julie emphasized.

“I would never betray you like that,”  Cole agreed, reaching out to take her hand.  “Do you love him?”

“Yes,”  Julie said with a soft smile.

“He’s a good man, and loves you,”  Cole said before kneeling in front of Julie.  I’ll keep you and your child safe, Milady.”

“Thank you,”  Julie said standing and holding Cole’s head against her belly like a dotting mother. “I’ll take care of you to the full extent of my power.”  It was a simple agreement but the weight of their words laid heavy on both of them.

“When do you think you’ll have the baby?”  Cole asked standing as Julie sat back down.

“Not for a while I’m sure.  I’ve only missed one cycle,”  Julie said as she tried to remember with all the stress of coming to the northern kingdom.

“Two,”  Cole corrected.  “You’ve missed at least two.”  She looked at him speculatively as he seemed to keep better track of such things than her.

“Go bribe that squire so he doesn’t tell everyone that Sir Singer was here.”  Julie teased as she graced him with a small smile before laying down.

“What do you mean you’ve seen my eyes before?”  Julie asked as she stood between Sam and Dean.  She alone lowered her gun as she listened to what the Alpha Vampire had to say.

“Hm, you were much more defensive last time we met,”  He hummed.  Dean took a step in front of her, shielding her with his body.  “You always did come with your body servants though.”

“Body servants?”  Julie asked losing her understanding of the situation completely.

“Maybe you have seen less of the puzzle this time around, it's usually a little different, but not very much.  Either that or your not as smart,”  He sneered a little, and Julie tensed.  Sam grabbed her shoulder with one hand.

“Yeah, well we aren’t here to see the puzzle,”  Dean interrupted.  Julie looked between the brothers before something behind Sam caught her attention.

“Oh, I know full well why you are here, Winchester.  Do you?  Did Crowley tell you why he wanted me?”  The Vampire laughed as he spoke grandly.

“Crowley?”  Julie asked, turning to face the Alpha abruptly.  “Why do I know that name,”  She whispered looking at the floor calculating what she was missing.

“I shall not go with you this time, Lady.  You have much to learn still,”  The alpha said flicking his hand at the trio.

“Not to alarm anyone,”  Julie whispered at the gesture.  “But we might be surrounded.

“Why didn’t you say anything?”  Dean asked looking over his shoulder to scowl at her.

“Any ideas on how to get out of here?”  Sam countered Dean's question.

“Up there,”  Julie said pointing to the ceiling.  It was a glass pane.

“Great plan,”  Dean commented snidely.  “How are we gonna get there?”

“Like this?  Watch my back,”  Julie said before lifting her gun.

“Look out!”  Sam shouted at his brother as a vampire came out of the shadows in front of him.  The crack of Julie’s gun firing started the fight.  Dean shot the vampire, and it staggered back mostly unphased.

“Julie!”  Sam shouted as he pulled her out from under the falling glass of the window.  A heavy piece of glass hit Dean on the back of his head and he crumpled to the ground along with several vampires.

“Grab your brother,”  Julie said pulling herself from Sam’s grip.  She added an attachment to the barrel of her gun and pulled the magazine out, as Sam threw Dean over his shoulder.  She fired off a second shot that was significantly quieter and a cable extended from the barrel attached to a grappling hook.

“That’s not gonna hold us all,”  Sam said looking at her and then at the vampires that were starting to get back up.

“We don’t have a choice.  Here you hold it, and I’ll hold you,”  Julie said handing the gun to him and grabbing Sam around the waist.  “Push the mag release.”

With a click, the cable started to retract and lifted the group.  But it struggled obviously under the weight of the three of them.

“It’s not gonna work,”  Sam said, the frustration evident in his voice as he held on to Dean.  Julie’s weight around his middle dropped from him suddenly, and he looked down to see her roll to her feet on the ground.

“Get Dean out of here!”  She shouted up at him.  Sam knew he couldn’t land safely with Dean at this point.  The only way forward would be to get Dean to the Impala and go back for her.

“That was incredibly foolish, Lady,”  The Vampire said chuckled from his throne.  “Did you think that you would sacrifice yourself for your love?”

“You’re the reason that I lose,”  Julie stood tall in front of her foe.  “Not love.”

“Is that what you have taken away from all of these years?”  The Alpha grinned menacingly at her before standing to his full height.

“Being in love doesn’t make you vulnerable to anyone other than the person loving you,”  Julie echoed a sentiment that she believed with all her heart but didn’t know where she had heard it from.  She straightened her back as the vampire stepped down to tower in front of her.

“You are young and naive.  And that is why you will always fail,”  He snarled.

“Maybe, but you won’t win this fight,”  Julie said before covering her ears and dropping to the ground to cover as much of herself as possible.  The quiet beeping had gone unnoticed by everyone, but the blast from the explosive that she had planted when the first got her, received everyone’s attention.

The rubble of the building covered everyone except Julie.  She thanked her geometry teacher, as she had calculated where to stand to make sure the hole from the windowpane had been over where she was kneeling.  She stood up and wiped some dust and glass out of her hair before running from the ruins to the idling engine of the Impala.

“Are you okay?”  Sam asked as she got there.  He brushed a small piece of glass away from a cut on her cheek.

“I’m fine, Sam.  How is your brother?”  She asked looking past the big man to where Dean was still unconscious.

“He woke up for a minute, I think he is gonna be okay, but we need to get out of here,”  Sam said and they sat in the car and drove back to the motel.

“Julie?”  Sam asked as he opened the door to her motel room from his side.  He heard the water in the shower running and went to knock on the bathroom door.  “Are you okay?”

“Actually,”  She whimpered.  “Could you come in here and help me?”  Sam saw Julie was in the shower and her clothes had a few stains of blood.  “I can’t reach,”  She said exposing her back to him.

“Hold still,”  Sam ordered before walking over to her and helping with the glass that she couldn’t reach.  Her skin was smooth, and he allowed himself to caress her.  “Why do I know you?”

“I know this sounds funny, but I think we are connected,”  She said looking at him over her shoulder.  “I think there is a spell or some cosmic explanation for why we know each other.”

“Destiny?”  Sam asked standing up to be near her face.  “I’m not sure I believe in that.”  Sam leaned in and Julie met his lips as they indulged in the kiss that they both wanted but didn’t understand.

“Then what do you think it is?”  Julie said pulling away first and breathing heavily.  Sam refused to answer as he dove back in to kiss her more.

“Dean, I need to find her,” Sam said as they sat in their motel room.  He slammed his laptop shut and pushed his hair out of his face.

“Yes, well you keep saying that,”  Dean said as he went over to the refrigerator.  “You know her name, but do you know anything else about her?”

“No,”  Sam grumbled clenching his jaw.

“No.  Well, since we don’t know where she is, or even who she is, we can’t find her!”  Dean shouted.  There was a knock at their motel door.  The brothers exchanged confused looks.  “Keep looking for that vamp,”  Dean whispered before he went to the door.

“Special Agent Johnson?”  The blonde woman, Julie, was standing outside the motel door with a notepad in one hand and a recorder in the other.

“Julie?”  Sam’s voice came from the back of the motel room.

“And the other Special Agent Johnson,”  Julie said addressing Sam holding the recorder toward him.  “Any relation?”

“What?”  Dean asked shocked.

“Nevermind,”  Julie said shaking her head.  “I have some questions about the case the FBI is working on.  Do you guys have some time for me to ask you some questions?”

“Uh, we are not in a position at this time to provide any kind of a statement,”  Dean said, starting to close the door.

“Right, um can I see your badges to get the number for my report?”  She said putting the recorder on.  Sam noticed then when her hand turned.  The light wasn’t on to signify the recorder was working.

“You’re not really a reporter are you?”  Sam asked, scoffing, and looking over at Dean.  The older Winchester grabbed Julie by the arm and pulled her into the room.

“Let go of me, what are you doing?”  Julie asked outraged.  Dean shut the door and flipped the lock.

“Woah!”  Dean cried out as he turned and saw the gun that Julie had trained on Sam.  “What is going on right now?”

“You guys aren’t really feds.  I’m not really a reporter.  But we are all here following these killings.  Now that’s a hell of a coincidence, and I’d like to know who the hell you are?”  Julie said moving to put Dean next to Sam.

“I’m Sam, this is my brother, Dean,”  Sam motioned to his brother, then put his hands back up to calm Julie. “You’re a hunter aren’t you?”

“I don’t know what you are talking about,”  Julie started to cover for herself.

“We are too,”  Sam said motioning to Dean again.  “We’re hunting a vampire.”

“Sam, wait,”  Dean said warningly.

“No, it’s true,”  Julie said lowering her gun.  “Do I know you?”

“No,”  Dean said.

“I’m not sure,”  Sam said at the same time.  Dean glanced at his brother, nervously.

“I know where the Vampire is,”  Julie said putting the safety on her firearm.

“What do you mean the vampire?”  Dean asked.  “There’s more than one.”

“No, The Vampire,”  She said emphasizing it.  “He’s the first one.  I think.”

“The Alpha?”  Sam asked.

“Wait, how do you know where he is?”  Dean asked remembering the last encounter he’d experienced with the Alpha Vampire.

“I’ve been following his minions.  I’m pretty sure I found him yesterday.  I just didn’t have a way to get in to see him for real,”  Julie said.

“Well let’s go,”  Sam said before they packed up and left for the vampire’s nest.

“You’re sure this is where he is holed up?”  Dean asked as the group looked at the old warehouse.

“I think so,”  Julie said, shrugging.  Dean looked over at her and gave a fake smile.

“I’m certain I know her,”  Sam whispered to Dean as they were walking through the hall.

“Don’t get all heart eyes on me right now, we are working,”  Dean whispered at Sam.

“Dean,”  The alpha Vampire’s voice echoed through the warehouse.  “Why are you here?”

“Looking for you actually,”  Dean said as the three of them turned the corner and faced his throne.

“You know, I have been alive for a long time,”  The vampire said as he saw them.  “The eyes are the windows to the soul, and I have seen your eyes before, Lady,”  He pointed at Julie.

“Milady,”  Lisa’s voice broke through Julie’s sleep and she sat up.  “King Michael has summoned you for an official ceremony.”  Lisa looked concerned as she hand brushed the creases out of the fine dress that Julie did not own.  “The Cardinal had this delivered to you.  I think he might have known what was going on.  He bothers me.”

“Me too,”  Julie said, letting the lady’s maid do her job and wash and primp her for court.  “I shall talk with the king about your wedding to Dean and try to have the arranged for as soon as possible,”  Julie smiled kindly at Lisa and let her pin her hair up and let the curls fall regally.

“Lady Julie, Sir Singer is here to see you,”  Cole said from the other side of her closed door.

“Come in, Cole.  I am decent,”  Her bodyguard entered the room.  

“He would not say what he wanted without your presence,”  Cole said suspiciously.

“Between your paranoia and that old man’s grumpiness, the two of you would rot the legs off tables before coming to an agreement,”  Lisa mused under her breathe.

“Have him come in.  Lisa is still doing my makeup,”  Julie said with a schooled expression.

“Sir Robert,”  Cole announced as Bobby entered her apartment.

“Lady Julie, I have come with information and to offer to escort you to court.  I know for a fact that the King is preparing to increase your title.  I also have it on good authority that it comes with the permission of King Oskar.  I am certain that the King is not intending to marry you,”  Bobby dropped the information like it was a heavy sack.  Lisa’s shoulders loosened visibly at the revelation that the king was not going to try to marry her lady.  Bobby stopped talking and took Julie’s new look.  “Where did you get that dress?”

“Cardinal Crowley had it sent over this morning, with the request the Lady Julie wear it to her official ceremony today,”  Lisa’s voice seemed to drip with venom and hatred as she recalled her encounter this morning.

“That means that the Cardinal knew about your father’s death,”  Bobby said.  His tone of voice confirmed to Julie that it was as dangerous as it sounded.

“I will gladly accept your arm, Bobby.  Do you know where the Winchester’s are?”  Julie asked.  She had enough schooling to not ask for Sam by name.

“They had something they were discussing.  But their presence will be expected at court,”  Bobby said.

“Milady,”  Cole handed Julie a small blade.  “Your father wanted me to give this to you after he died.  He didn’t say why,”  Cole said.  

“Thank you, Cole,”  Julie responded taking the sheathed blade and waiting for Lisa to finish fussing over her hair.

“Sir Robert, I am ready,”  Julie announced as Lisa held a coat and stood behind her.  Cole took a position at the door ready to open it for them as Bobby extended his arm for her.

“Lady Julie Thompson and escort, Sir Robert Singer,”  The herald called as she entered the room.  Julie’s procession walked into the throne room, where the King and his lords stood in formal garb.  The court Secretary stood next to Michael with a parchment that he unfurled and began to read from when she stopped and knelt in front of the king.

“His Majesty King Oskar grants to the Lady Julie Thompson, by proxy of Domain Sovereign King Michael, the title of Countess.  This deed confers the land and purse owed to this position to Lady Julie, in her own right, and her children.”  

Michael came and stood in front of Julie, helping her to her feet before putting a small crown of position on her head.  He walked around her and took the cape from Lisa before draping it over Julie’s shoulders and went back to his thrown.  The Secretary handed her the deed, before taking his position again.

“I shall grant you a single boon, on the behalf of your king,”  Michael said grandly.

“Thank you, King Michael.  I have come to ask that your majesty agrees to the marriage of Sir Dean Winchester and my this lady of high birth, Lisa Brayden.”  Julie said as Lisa stepped up next to her to curtsy.

“I shall grant this favor for you, Countess,”  Michael eyed her thoughtfully, as Julie curtsied and her procession left the great hall.

“Lady Julie,” Garth rushed up to her once they were away from most prying eyes and bowed awkwardly.  “Cardinal Crowley sent men to your apartment when you were gone.  I don’t know what he took but nothing he does ever has a good ending.”

“Thank you, Garth,” Julie said before she saw Cole depart the group with a sour look on his face.

“What could he have been looking for?”  Bobby asked Julie seriously.

“I’m not sure. Perhaps he was looking at proof of something.  Our arrangement with the people we met might have put him in a delicate position.  He might try and return the favor,” Julie said referring to the vampires they had felt with.

“If you can think of anything that might make you vulnerable to an attack you just tell me immediately.  Your request for Dean and Lisa’s marriage has you currently unattached.”  Bobby said, patting her hand.

“Speaking of, where are the Winchester brothers?”  Julie asked looking around briefly.

“I’m sure it was important,”  Lisa assured her from behind.

“So wait, King Oskar transferred the title of Countess to you?”  Dean asked as he paced in Julie's sitting room.

“Yes,”  She answered, confirming exactly what she had already told him.  “Now that I am a lady of my own title, it would make sense that my lady’s maid should be married.”

“What are you suggesting, girl?”  Bobby asked, sounding more cranky than usual.

“I think Dean should marry Lisa, it will get the two of us out of our awkward situation and keep Michael from having any sway over Dean,”  Julie said standing up and walking around to Lisa.

“You - what?”  Dean asked, trying to process the statement.

“We can talk about that more, in private,”  Julie said, dismissing his question.

“We have another problem.  It sounds like King Oskar is giving you to Michael as a peace offering.”  Cole said.

“Wait, you said that the letter was signed by the King’s secretary?”  Sam asked.  His eyes scrunched together as if he was deep in thought.

“Yes, why?”  Julie turned to look at him as he spoke.

“Nickolas has long been after the throne, despite his lack of station.  Our father talked about it a few times.  What if Nickolas is in league with King Michael?”  Sam asked.

“Or has his own agenda,”  Dean offered.

“Do you think he is the reason that the vampires are so strongly centered around Oskar’s kingdom,”  Julie mused.

“That would fit into our speculation that Oskar was too clueless to be part of the scheme,”  Sam mused.

“Oh Oskar’s not the threat in that royal couple,”  Bobby chuckled.

“What?”  Julie and the brothers all echoed.

“It’s the queen who is the threat there,”  Bobby said like it was obvious.

“Queen Rowena?”  Julie asked thinking about all the times the Queen had been polite and kind to her.  “But she’s foreign, I thought that wouldn’t put her in the know?”

“Oh, she’s old blood.  Don’t let her sweet smile mislead you,”  Bobby said.

“Could she be in on it then?”  Dean asked.

“Maybe,”  Julie said, unsure of whether the queen would do that to her.

“Well, we have Dean squared away safe and sound,”  Cole said, drawing attention back to himself.  “What about you, Countess?”  He asked, offering the new title so Julie could be more comfortable when she was addressed with it.  “You won’t be safe until Michael has no way to touch you.”

“I have an idea for that too,”  Julie said.  Her eyes flitted over to Sam, but the action was unnoticed by all but Dean.  Julie couldn’t tell if he was holding back a smile or a snarl, but she knew that he was aware of her thoughts.  “Bobby make our transition back to court tomorrow as easy as possible if you can.”

“Yes, milady,”  He bowed before leaving her chambers.

“Bobby didn’t need to know what else I have been thinking about but this next part concerns everyone here,”  Julie moved to sit in her chair again.  “Dean, you and Lisa can talk in my room if you please.”

“What’s going on with them?”  Cole asked as they shut a door behind them.

“Lisa is pregnant,”  Julie said.  It was information that the bodyguard needed to know to keep them safe, and knowledge that would not be hidden from Sam for long.  “They need to be wed quickly if your brother agrees to it.”

“Agreed,”  Sam said before turning to her.  “Julie, what is your plan to safeguard yourself from the king?”

“If we get married, Sam, our union will protect me and Dean,”  Julie said almost shyly.  A look of pain crossed Sam’s face briefly.

“I’d like that.  I will consult with Dean about it,”  Sam said, taking her hand.  Dean and Lisa came out of the room at that time, the look of shock on Dean’s face told them all that it was not what he was expecting.

“I think you two should go back to your apartment.  You have a lot to discuss and we will regroup tomorrow before court, so we can make announcements if need be.”  The brothers left the room, and Lisa retired for the night.  Cole stayed with Julie to help her out of her corset.

“If Dean and Lisa marry, there will be questions about your relationship with him,”  Cole said as he loosened the knot on the corset.

“It will work out the way it is supposed to, Cole,”  Julie said.  There was a knock at the door and Cole checked it, returning quickly.

“This is for you,”  He said, handing her a letter.  “Who is it from?”  He asked.

“My father,”  Julie said, recognizing the way her father wrote her name.

“Read it, maybe it talks about why Winchester Sir killed him.  What he was doing with the vampires and the likes,”  Cole urged.

“Finish my laces, I’ll read in private if you don’t mind,”  She whispered, barely holding back tears.

“Yes, milady,”  He answered, loosening her so she could finish this work.

Julie changed into her nightclothes then settled in her bed to read the note.  She cried as she read about all the horrible things her father had done and plotted for other people.  She couldn’t believe her eyes as she read the written confession.  He had been working behind King Oskar’s back with Nickolas to take over the kingdom, which Nick believed to be his by some long lost blood relation.

“Julie?”  Hours had passed since she had laid in her bed, and Sam’s quiet voice inside her room almost made her screams.

“Sam?  What are you doing here?”  Julie asked, pulling the blanket up to her chin.  She thought in retrospect that it was a stupid and unnecessary move.

“I,”  He chuckled, and Julie could see him rubbing his head in the cute way he did when he was embarrassed.  “I missed you.  Do you mind if I sleep with you for a time?”

“I’d like that,”  She smiled and made space for him on her bed.  “How is your brother?”  Julie asked as Sam started to strip to his sleep shirt.

“You should have seen the dumb grin on his face when we were in private.  I don’t think he wants to admit that he is happy.  But I do know that he has been very fond of Lisa for some time now.  I would venture to say this would be a good union for them,”  Sam said smiling.

“Yes, I heard briefly of how fond they were of each other.  Not in much detail,”  Julie moved the papers from her father.

“Yes, well be thankful for that.  What are you doing?”  Sam asked as she placed the letter from her father on the bedside table.  Julie hesitated for a moment.

“My father sent this to me.  I think he knew he was going to die,”  She offered him the pages that he father had scribbled.

“It’s not signed, how do you know it was him?”  Sam asked.  His body had gone rigid reading the letter.

“I would recognize the handwriting anywhere,”  She replied simply.

“You had no idea that your father was involved in any of these things?”  Sam asked.

“If it wasn’t for the fact that I am an only child, I don’t think my father would have kept me in the know of any of his affairs,”  Julie shrugged before taking the pages back.  “What do you think I should do with them?”

“Burn them,”  Sam replied seriously.  “If anyone finds them, they could implicate you in your father’s crimes.”  Julie took the pages and held them over the nightstand candle before they caught ablaze.

“Well, that was dark and serious,”  Julie smiled before turning to rest her head on Sam’s arm.  “Make me smile, Mr. Winchester.”

“I was hoping you would say that,”  Sam smirked before slipping beneath the duvet and kissing the insides of her thighs.

“Lady Julie,”  Lisa rustled Julie from her fitful sleep.  “Sir Sam is awake and I need to get you ready.”

“Thank you, Lisa,”  Julie said sitting up and letting the maid undress her.  Lisa fretted with Julie’s make-up longer than any other part but eventually seemed to give up.

“Whatever happened has left a bruise,”  Lisa said with a sour expression.  “I wish you’d tell me, or at least Cole where you went last night,”  Lisa whispered.   Julie gave her a dark look, then stood to head out to meet with Sam and Cole.

“I am ready,”  Julie announced to her escorts.  Sam turned to say something to her but stopped mid-sentence as he noticed her lip.  Cole moved up to her and held her chin to inspect her face.

“What happened?”  Cole asked enraged.

“You’re hurting me,”  Julie said, placing her hand over his to try and remove his touch.  Cole’s face softened and he removed his touch from her.  “You forget yourself, Mr. Trenton.”

“My apologies, Lady Julie,”  Cole murmured righting himself and walking out toward the stables where Garth was waiting.

“What have you done?”  Sam asked quietly as they walked.

“What I had to do,”  Julie looked side-long at Sam.  “For everyone safety.”

“Are you injured in any other way?”  Sam asked as they entered the stable and loaded their belongings onto their horses.

“No, I’m fine, Sam,”  Julie said.  “We must hurry.  It will take some time to get to the vampires and we shouldn’t get there during the day.”  Cole and Sam nodded their agreement.

“Lady Julie,”  Garth spoke up quickly, handing her a piece of paper.  “From Sir Singer.”

“Thank you, Garth.  I would like you to inform Sir Dean that we have left on urgent business and will not return for several days,”  Julie said to Garth, who frowned.  “So that he will know when to tell the King we shall return,”  Julie quirked an eyebrow down at the lanky man.

“Oh right, of course, Milady.”  Garth flourished grandly before moving out of the trio’s way.  

They rode well into the afternoon not talking as the animals jostled them roughly before stopping for a break.

“There is a cabin through there,”  Cole pointed into the woods.  “Sir Singer said that a friend of his owns the land and would be fine with us staying there.  We should store our things there and get ready for your exchange.”

“Yes, thank you, Cole,”  Julie said as gently as she could.  She needed to make amends for the way she had disrespected her guard, and until then she was walking on eggshells with him.  They walked the horses to the small cabin and tethered them to a hitching line.  The door creaked as they opened it from lack of use and a fine layer of dust covered most of the surfaces inside.

“I’ll go see if I can find some water and light,”  Cole said placing their things down before heading off.

“Julie,”  Sam said once they were alone in the cabin.  She was stringing her bow and wiping down a place to put her bedroll.  “I’m sorry to ask, but is there something going on with you and Cole?”  Sam looked very uncomfortable and Julie smiled at him fondly.

“No, Sam.  Mr. Trenton has long looked after me, and did on one occasion ask my father for my hand,”  She dropped her gaze momentarily.  “My father told him, no, but I have never had an eye for Cole.”

“What happened to you last night?”  Sam asked, closing the space between them and cradling her cheek in the cup of his hand.

“I went to King Michael and told him the Crowley was using him,”  Julie said, closing her eyes and letting a tear slip down her cheek.

“You what?”  Sam pulled away from her and starred.

“I had to give us time.  Time to meet with the vampires and try to get anything on our side,”  Julie took a step back from Sam and looked at him with pleading eyes.  She wanted him to understand so badly her heart hurt.

“Why would you go to him alone?  I- I would’ve gone with you,”  Sam said quietly.

“I couldn’t bring you.  The only one who could go with me was Dean, and I didn’t want Michael to have a chance to corner him.  Please understand,”  She sobbed.  “I had to go to him to give us a chance.  Us,”  She reiterated the word to try and get her meaning across.

“Julie,”  Sam sighed before closing the space between them and kissing her.  She whimpered and pulled away as pain arced through her lips.  “I’m sorry,”  Sam cried as he let her go and she raised her hand to her mouth.

“No, I think that was Michael’s plan.  So that I would think of him if anyone kissed me,”  She practically snarled.  “I won’t let him win.”  She said straightening her back and putting her hand down.  Sam took it in his hand and pressed her against his chest.

“We won’t let him win,”  He said with purpose.

“I’ve found the nest,”  Cole said as he came back into the cabin.  “It’s a short enough walk from here.”

“Lead the way,”  Julie said taking her bow in hand and following the bodyguard.

“Are you sure you want to go armed?”  Sam asked, nodding at her bow.  “It won’t do you much good against them.”

“It is more a showpiece than anything else,”  Julie said not stopping as she followed Cole.  The group approached an old chateau, and Cole knocked on the outside of the door.

“What do you want?”  A man scowled through the door.  Cole looked over his shoulder at Julie.

“I come bearing Lady Julie, at the urgent request of your leader,”  Cole said formerly.  There was a scuffling of feet on the other side of the door and Julie and her escorts stood silently for a moment before the door opened grandly.

“Lady Julie you are most welcome, please leave your escorts outside and come in,”  A voice called from within.  Sam put his hand on Julie’s shoulder possessively.

“I’ve made my share of deals with the Devil,”  Julie called into the house.  “I shall come in, accompanied, and armed.”

“Whatever makes you most at ease in my home, Lady Julie,”  The man called.  Cole walked in first with Julie between him and Sam.

“Lady Julie,”  Cole announced as she took the position in front of the dark-skinned man sitting on a high chair.

“Yes, I know who you are,”  He spoke.

“And who are you, sir,”  Julie said standing tall.

“I am the first Vampire, the Alpha,”  He said smoothly.

“And your name?”  Sam asked noting the distinct lack of mention.

“I have long since forgotten,”  Julie kept her face still, but inside she trembled as she realized how far out of their depths they were if he was speaking the truth.  “Thank you for coming, I’m sure it was dangerous for you to leave.”

“I hope that we can come to an understanding,”  Julie said amicably.  “You are aware of King Michael’s plot against the Pope?”

“Of course, we are his weapon,”  He smiled cruelly.  “Mind you, we have no strife with Pope Charles.”

“Then why aid the king?”  Sam asked confused.  The alpha vampire looked at him, measuring him for the first time.

“Lady Julie, your escort believes he has the right to speak during our negotiations.  Please silence him,”  The Vampire had no intention of speaking with Sam.

“You will remember your place and not speak again, Sam,”  Julie said harshly without looking at him.  Her tone was the same as when she had corrected Cole for touching him, but she had remembered that John Winchester had a reputation among the monsters, and didn’t want to give Sam away.  That might have ended all negotiations.

“You deal with your men efficiently,”  The Alpha chuckled.  “I respect that.  Obedience is the key to survival, which is why I have aligned myself with King Michael.  I wish to keep the peace with the current leadership.”

“If Michael was no longer to go after the Pope, or he was not in command you would desist?”  Julie asked understanding his meaning.

“Of course.  But these are of course a fool’s hope.  Lady Julie, we both know that King Michael intends to have his war by any means.”  He looked at her, obviously noting her lip.  “I am glad I was not misled when I was informed of your beauty,”  Julie curtsied knowing it to be the way of men to note her looks.  “However,”  she looked at him surprised.  “I was not informed of your determination and cunning.  I can smell it on you if you will forgive my lewdness.”

“Don’t,”  Julie said throwing her arm out in Cole’s direction as his hand touched his sword and he took a step forward.  The bodyguard stopped mid-step at her command.

“Aha, you have them at your beck and call.  I apologize.  What I meant is that I can see that you will go just as far as Michael, if not further, to get what you want,”  He stood and smiled at her as he approached.  “Are you in love, Lady Julie?”  He asked as he circled her like a vulture.  Sam and Cole held incredibly still, not wishing to betray the cloak of authority she was wearing.

“Yes,”  She said not looking at Sam.

“Honest!  How refreshing, Lady Julie I must say I admire you greatly.  I feel like we can come to an agreement.  I shall tell Michael that I will have to delay our attack on the Vatican.  Does this please you?”  He asked taking his seat.

“Yes,”  Julie answered simply, then pressed her luck.  “Will you also keep your children,”  She pointed around at the other vampires, “from attacking me and my entourage.  I would seem Michael has had the pick of your litter.”  Julie added the last in the hopes of riling him up.

“I see you know just how to talk to a man, Lady Julie,”  He spoke slowly.  “I shall make sure that you and your servants are untouched by my vampires until you are forced to leave these lands by the King.”

Julie curtsied and Cole and Sam bowed before the group left quickly back to the cabin.

“Are you okay?”  Sam asked when they had all gotten inside.

“Yes,”  She said taking a calm centering breath.  “I apologize for the way that I have treated you both.  But I appreciated that you have played my game,”  She looked at Cole and he gave her a gentle smile.

“So we have the vampires on the hold and Michael at odds with Crowley.  What is next?”  Sam asked looking around the cabin.

“Sleep,”  Cole answered.  “None of us slept well the night before, and we had a hard ride here.”  Julie laughed softly to herself at the guard's words.  Then she went over to the fire to eat some of the rations they had brought with them.

“Where are you going, Cole?”  She asked as he walked to the door.

“To see if I can find some fresh game in these godforsaken woods,”  He said.  Something was bothering him still she could tell, but asking him again would only frustrate him more.  So she only nodded.

“Sam,”  She said turning to find the tall knight right next to her.

“Yes,”  He replied his eyes darting to her lips.

“Not to be forward, but can you help me with my laces?”  She asked with a genuine smile.