The sound of pots and pans didn't wake Sophia up, but the smell of cinnamon and sugar wafting from the kitchen sure did. Her eyes flickered open and her stomach immediately grumbled. Dean's arm still rested heavily across her, and she moved at a snail's pace trying to get out from under it, not wanting to wake him.

"That smells amazing," Sophia said when she entered the kitchen.

Sandy looked up from the frying pan and gave a grin that looked exactly like Dean's. "I'm glad to hear that," she said. "Cause this is breakfast."

"Can I help?"

"If you'd like." Sandy handed her a clump of bananas and gestured to a cutting board already sitting out on the counter. "Go ahead and slice those up for me, we need a lot of them."

Sophia took the place next to Sandy and got to work. "Oh, and Merry Christmas."

"Merry Christmas," Sandy replied. "I hope you've been enjoying the holiday here."

"It's been wonderful," Sophia confessed. "I really can't thank you enough."

Sandy chuckled. "You know, when Dean called me last May and told me about you, I figured there was something special going on. I mean, it's not like he calls me before every single first date, gushing about who he was about to go with."

Sophia paused in surprise. "I didn't know he told you about me that early."

"Well, technically, he told me about you before then," Sandy amended. "But that was just a story about a crazy lady who jumped off the pier to save some random kid."

Sophia half laughed, half groaned. "I assumed you had heard that story, but didn't want to ask," she said.

"Of course, imagine my surprise when I found out that he was taking you out on a date," Sandy continued. "But, and I don't say this to embarrass him, it's become very clear to me that you make him happy. Very happy. So really, it's me who can't thank you enough."

Sophia felt herself blush. She ducked her head and pushed the sliced bananas toward Sandy, unsure of what to say.

"And you?" Sandy asked. "Does he make you happy?"

The question caught Sophia off guard. It's not something she ever would have pictured Dean's mom asking her, and she wondered what her angle was.

"You look like a deer in headlights, it's not a trick question," Sandy said, smiling gently. "But it's important to me that he's in a healthy relationship, not just one that makes him happy. So how you feel matters, too."

Sophia swallowed hard at the care in her voice. "Yeah," she replied. "He's, he's amazing, sometimes I can't seem to put into words just how happy I am."

Sandy gave her a knowing smile. "Good. I'm becoming quite fond of you, so I'm happy it sounds like you'll be sticking around for a while."

Sophia's blush only deepened. "Sandy," she said hesitantly, "um, I'm not sure how much Dean's told you about my past."

A slight look of understanding crossed over Sandy's face. "Not much," she said. "But there was a point when he talked to me a lot about how he could be a good partner when the other person had been through some things in a past relationship he couldn't relate to. When I asked, he said it wasn't his story to tell."

"Right." Just another reason for Sophia to be in love with him. "Um, in college I was with someone who caused me a lot of pain, in a lot of different ways."

Sandy stared at her with a carefully guarded expression.

"So when I say that it's hard for me to put into words how happy I am," Sophia continued, "it's because Dean's been everything that a partner should be, and more, and for a long time I never thought I would find that. I never really thought I would be with someone who made me feel so safe and loved, and yet," Sophia shrugged, "here I am."

Sandy held out her arms. "Come here, sweetheart."

As Sophia embraced her, Sandy pulled her tight against her, her hand stroking her hair in a comforting rhythm. Not for the first time, Sophia had to fight tears back over how motherly the gesture felt.

"This other person," Sandy said after they moved apart, "you aren't going to run into any problems with him?" The concern shone from her eyes, her mouth twisted.

Sophia shook her head. "No. No, I'm safe from him."

"Good." She patted Sophia's hand. "I'm sure you have your own support system, but if that time of your life is ever something you need to talk about, I'm here for you."

"I appreciate that."

"Merry Christmas!"

Sophia let out a small shriek as Dean's arms wrapped around her from behind and swung her around. She turned around to press a brief kiss against his lips. "Merry Christmas."

Dean hugged his mom, and then she shooed them both into the living room. "Both of you can stop pretending to not be excited about presents," she told them. "Breakfast is ready, we'll eat by the tree."

It wasn't long before Sandy followed them, arms ladened with plates of French toast covered in cinnamon sugar bananas. Sophia's mouth started watering just looking at it.

"Alright, this probably won't come as much of a surprise." Dean got up and handed his mom her gift.

Sophia held back a laugh. "Subtle, much?" she murmured.

Apparently, Sandy had been talking about this intricate, custom birdhouse practically since last Christmas. Dean said that she would never buy it for herself, too expensive for something that was just a hobby, but he knew how much she loved nature, and this allowed her to have a bit of that in her backyard.

"Thank you, sweetheart," Sandy said, looking at the set and then up at her son. "You really shouldn't have."

"Yes, I should."

"Here, Sandy," Sophia interjected, hoping to avoid having to sit through a good-natured argument. "This is for you." She handed Dean's mom a small package. Sophia had been anxious about what to get her, but once Dean discovered her idea, he was convinced that it was perfect.

Sandy accepted it gracefully and carefully unwrapped the gift from its red and silver paper. She lifted up the dark, wooden bowl, examining it and the Christmas tree ornament sitting in it carefully.

"My dad was very into woodworking," Sophia explained. "I have a ton of his stuff in storage."

"This is wonderful, Sophia," Sandy said, sounding touched. She got up and placed the ornament on the tree. "Thank you for sharing this with me."

Sophia cast her gaze down, not wanting to show how much Sandy's gratitude meant to her.

"Alright, our turn," Dean said, stepping in as he sensed Sophia's discomfort. The two of them exchanged packages. A few months ago, Sophia would have been a bundle of nerves over what to get Dean, sick to her stomach over the fear of him not liking it. But now, she just happily accepted her gift, trusting herself that she knew him well enough to pick something he liked, and knowing that he loved her enough to love whatever she got him.

Sophia opened the small box and snorted when she saw the snow globe. "Santa Monica pier, really?" she said sarcastically, picking up the plastic souvenir and shaking it.

Dean, who hadn't gotten through the paper yet, just gave her a shifty grin.

Shaking her head, Sophia looked back down at the box. Two thin, silicone rings sat inside, one a deep blue with ocean waves etched into it, the other a dark red with flames. She looked up at Dean with a delighted smile, only to find him holding the cards in his hand, looking down with his own soft grin.

"Care to share?" Sandy asked, a touch of laughter in her voice.

Dean held the gift cards out to his mom. "It's from all the best places we went on our first date," he explained. He turned back toward Sophia. "Thank you."

Sophia held out Dean's gift toward Sandy, and then gave him an amused expression, her eyebrow slightly arched and lips pursed. He just gave her a slightly guilty look, and then shrugged. Technically, last night he hadn't said she wouldn't be getting rings, only that he wouldn't be surprising her with an engagement. She had just happened to accidentally half-guess her gift.

"I know you can't wear much jewelry at your job," Dean said.

"I love them," Sophia said softly. She carefully eased them onto her fingers. They fit perfectly.

"Alright, you two," Sandy said. She watched them with soft eyes. "Here you go." She handed them each an envelope.

Sophia's smile grew wider as she pulled out the Disneyland ticket. "Sandy," she said, looking up, "this is a lot."

"Don't get too impressed," Dean said, "she still gets discounts." But he gave his mom a grateful look.

"Both of you have too stressful jobs," Sandy said flatly. "Go have some fun."

Sophia pressed the envelope between her hands and laid them on her lap. "Thank you."

"Alright, alright, that's that." Sandy picked up the plates and handed them out. "Food's getting cold."

They spent the rest of the morning and afternoon eating, playing board games, and just talking. Even though Dean had already told her a lot, Sandy wanted to know anything and everything about Sophia and her and Dean's relationship. The attention made Sophia feel awkward at first, as if at some point she would eventually bore Sandy and lose her approval. But as time went on, she was excited to tell Sandy more and more and get her reactions.

Sandy was the perfect audience, laughing and gasping at just the right moments of whatever story Sophia was telling. No judgment, no negativity, just the simple joy of getting to spend time together. At the point when Sophia and Dean had to head back to L.A., Sophia felt a twinge of regret that they had no plans to come back up for a visit.

Sandy hugged Sophia, first. "I'm so glad you came," Dean's mom said as she embraced her. "You're welcome here anytime."

"That means a lot, Sandy. Really." Sophia hoped her eyes could relay her gratitude in ways that her words couldn't. "I hope to see you again soon."

Sandy gave her a smile. "I'm sure we can arrange that."

Sophia gave a final nod and headed back to the car, wanting to give Dean and his mom some private space. She sat in the passenger's seat, watching the two of them talk, then hug, and then Dean kiss his mom on the cheek. Her eyes followed him back to the car.

"So, I think that went well." They were back on the highway when Dean finally spoke.

Sophia's face split into a grin and she laughed. And she couldn't stop laughing, the type of joyous sound that only came when everything felt absolutely perfect in the world. "Yeah, I think so, too."

Dean kept his gaze on the road, but Sophia knew that his eyes would have that soft look in them that he got whenever he grew happy over something between the two of them. "You want to know what she said to me after you left?" he asked.

Of course, she did. "Only if you want to tell me."

"I want to tell you everything." Dean's eyes flickered in her direction. "She asked me how long it took me to fall in love with you."

Sophia's eyes widened. "Oh?" she asked. "And what did you say?" She didn't bother to hide the curiosity in her voice.

"The fourth time we met." Dean didn't hesitate, although he sounded nervous. "At the bar, watching you take charge when that man got stabbed. Maybe I wasn't sure if it would last, but I knew I loved you, then."

They moved about half a foot before Sophia replied. But given how bad L.A. traffic was, that was a solid thirty seconds.

"You fell in love with me during a medical emergency?" she teased him.

"Given our professions, it's probably more likely that the average person," Dean replied drily. "But don't worry, my mom then proceeded to roll her eyes and inform me that I took way too long, given that she's known you for a day and already loves you."

Sophia almost started crying at that. She swallowed hard. "That's...a lot," she admitted. "But I'll admit, I think I love her, too."

"Good." Dean reached over and took her hand. "Because I meant what I said last night, Sophia. I want to be your family."

"Well, you did give me a ring," she needled him. "Two, in fact." She looked down and admired her new jewelry, the blue waves on her right ring finger, the flames on her left index.

"Yeah, I almost panicked when you said that," Dean said, laughing. "But I'm glad you like them."

Sophia rested her head back against the headrest and sighed. This was one of the few traffic jams she wished would never end. That way, she could stay in this moment forever.