#knight!sam

As he stepped out, he almost bumped into you, glaring down at you like you were something underneath his shoe. "Spying on us, Miss Stark."

You glared up at him, "Certainly not, Pierce, I was about to knock on the door. And have you forgotten who you are speaking to?" You scowled at the man.

"My apologise, Your Highness." He bowed to you half-heartedly before sulking off.

You stuck your tongue out behind the wretched man's back before you turned back to face the door, only to find Steven stood leaning against his desk with a grin. You began to blush as he beckoned you in.

"Not very lady-like, Princess." He teased.

"Don't you mean, Miss Stark," You scoffed and closed the door behind yourself, "God, that man,"

Steven sighed heavily as he nodded and pushed himself up from where he was leaning. "He is infuriating... My apologies for the way he addressed you, Y/N. I will have a word with him." He said as he moved around to sit in his chair.

You shook your head, drifting towards his desk. "No need, Steven. I know what he is like... Unfortunately, he is like most men I have the pleasure of knowing." You scowled.

Steven's brow creased as he looked at you, "I hope I am not included?" His tone was light.

You shook your head with a warm smile. "Of course not, Your Majesty."

Steven watched you as you wandered around his office, running your fingertips over the surfaces. There was something troubling you, he could tell just by the way your brow was knitted together, and the soft pout you had on your lips. You were overthinking, why else weren't you asleep.

"What's troubling you, Y/N?" Steven asked.

You looked over your shoulder to him, taking in a deep breath as you took him in. He wasn't wearing his formal court attire, just a plain white tunic that was open, letting some of his chest hair peak out and breeches and boots. He was stressed, you could tell he'd been dragging his hands through his hair.

"I was thinking of you,"

Steven's face twisted with confusion, "Me?" You nodded turning your head back towards his bookcase. "I don't understand, Princess, why would I trouble you. Have I done something wrong?" He frowned.

"No," You spun around quickly, taking steps closer to his desk. "Of course not." You smiled warmly at him. "You could never do anything wrong to me, Steven."

"I hope so," Steven gave you a pleased smile as he rested his head on his hand, "So if I'm not the cause of your trouble, what is?"

"I-" You let out a frustrated sigh as you fiddled with your own hands, "You mentioned before we were attacked in the woods, something about your council forcing you to marry?"

Steven silently nodded.

"Well, I was just thinking about it... I hope you marry someone who adores you... And truly, cares for you... not just as the King of Brook but, as a person..." You blushed deeply looking down to your slippered feet. You'd forgotten you were in your nightdress. Pepper would have a heart attack if she could see you now. "You're wonderful, Steven..."

Steven groaned as he leaned forwards onto his desk and hid his face in his hands. "... Clearly not everyone agrees with you," He sighed, "Why else would Margeret have done what she had?"

Why indeed? You never understood why the Queen of Brook, Steven's wife, did what she did.

Six months after your 16th birthday, Steven and Margret were married and crowned King and Queen of Brook. They were the picture-perfect couple, or so you would have thought. Steven always been a good king. He worked hard to look after his kingdom. 'Queen' Margret didn't like Steven not paying her enough attention over the eight months they were married, not that she was lacking it and she never had anything to do with the court as a Queen should.

No, Queen Margret was far too busy with her lover. Her lover that was from a neighbouring kingdom, one that was not on good terms with Brook. Steven was a broken man for a long time after learning Margret was with her lover since before they were married.

'You look weak, Your Majesty,' Sir Alexander had hissed, 'You need to make a point with her... you know what needs to be done'. And so Steven had his wife and her lover trialled, they were charged with treason and both sentenced to death by beheading.

"I know I shouldn't speak ill of the dead..." You frowned as you thought about that woman and what she had put Steven through, "But she was a bitch!"

Steven looked up at your outburst, unable to help the crooked smile as he watched your frown deepen. He sighed deeply as he ran his hand over the back of his neck.  "... Sir Alexander seems to think her family is a good one, and I should marry her cousin-"

"Sharon!" You cut the King off, stepping as close to his desk as you could without bumping into it. "Steven you can not marry that woman, not after what she did."

Sharon was just as evil as Margaret, in your opinion. It was obvious she was jealous of her cousin, having had a crush on Steven since they were children. Sharon preyed on Steven's broken heart, wormed her way into his everyday life, trying to replace the woman who had once been his wife.

Just before your 18th birthday, Steven invited you to visit Brook for one of your first trips without Anthony. Steven had promised you could visit when the weather was warmer. He knew how much you loved the ocean there, and he kept his promise.

One night whilst you were having dinner along with Bucky and Sam, and of course Sharon, the men were making jokes, some at their King's expense. They were friends, their titles did not matter when they were joking. That wasn't the case it seemed for Sharon. She'd always hated having you around the castle and Steven because you were a princess and she was Lady Sharon. You weren't aware of her dislike to you, you had done nothing wrong as far as you knew.

"Sir James, you should not say such things in front of the Princess." Sharon hushed the knight that sat opposite you.

You grinned at Bucky, "No need to worry, Lady Sharon, you'd be surprised of the things I have heard whilst these three jest with one another."

"Perhaps it would be wise for you to stop being in their company, Princess. After all, you are supposed to be a young lady and not some thick-headed man." Sharon spoke down towards her plate.

You let out a small giggle, "I knew it, Your Majesty," You turned to look at Steven with a playful grin, "I always said you were thick." You teased, making the men once again start their laughter and jokes.

"How dare you speak to the King like so," Sharon cried out as she swung her arm through the air and hit the back of her hand against your cheek. "You wretched little child."

"Sharon, no!" Steven snarled as he along with Sam and Bucky pushed their chairs back and stood up. You held your face as tears burned your eyes, threatening to fall. "What have you done."

"Lady Sharon, we have no choice but to arrest-"

"No!" You cut Bucky off and grabbed a hold of Steven's arm as he knelt beside you, wanting to check you were okay. Your eyes were wide and teary as you looked into his. "Please, don't. It-it was a mis- misunderstanding, Steven,"

He shook his head as he reached up and slid his hand over your burning cheek. "Y/N, I-"

"Please. You can't-" You sniffled as the tears finally fell. You cleared your throat and quickly stood up, "If, you'd excuse me," You gathered your skirts and began to run towards the doors, slipping through them before they were barely open.

With a heavy sigh, Steven pushed himself up from where he had been knelt beside you and glared down at Sharon. "Why would you do something so ridiculous as that, Sharon?"

"She was insulting you, Your Majest-"

"SHE IS A FRIEND!" Steven snarled.

"SHE IS A CHILD, STEVEN!" Sharon cried as she tried to move closer to him but Steven stepped back and held his hand up in front him. "Steven-"

"I want you gone by first light. You are no longer welcome here, Lady Sharon." Steven turned his back to her, clasping his hands behind his back as he did.

"But-"

"GO!" Steven ordered her.

Bucky and Sam lead Lady Sharon out of the great hall and to her chambers where she was ordered to stay until first light.

However, that wasn't what happened. When Steven had decided to retire to his chambers sometime after the incident, he found Sharon naked in his bed, begging him to forgive her for her actions. Steven ordered her to leave Brook at once.

Steven stood from his chair with a frustrated sigh, "I know, Y/N," He walked around to where you stood and leaned against his desk. "I have made sure Sir Alexander knows I have no intentions of marrying Lady Sharon." He gave you a reassuring smile as he reached up and laid his hand over the cheek that Lady Sharon had hit. His eyes moved to the other one that the bandit had hit, it had bruised quite badly but thankfully the bruise had nearly faded. "I am sorry for what happened that night." He whispered, smiling as you tilted your face into his palm as your eyes closed.

You reached up and placed your hand over his. "It is in the past, Steven, and it's not you who needs to apologise." You smiled up at him.

Steven let his hand fall from your face and quickly pushed himself from where he leaned, clearing his throat. "You best get some sleep now, Princess."

You nodded, "I shall bid you goodnight then, Your Majesty," You turned away from him but before you left, you turned back and leaned up, pressing your lips against his cheek. "I shall miss you." You smiled, "Good night, Steven," You whispered before quickly turning your back to him and leaving Steven's office before he could respond.

He stood there long after you had left. His cheeks were flushed as he thought about your warm soft lips against his stubble. He would most certainly miss you too. He always did.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

“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.