"Dean, Mrs. Robinson just called; her kitchen drain is stuck. You mind going over to help her? She's got tools if you need any."

He frowned at Allegra over his morning coffee.

"Euhm... sure. But fair warning, I'm no plumbing expert."

"Oh. I just figured... Well, you're always working on Baby, and... you're so strong and handy. But if you don't think you can do this, then I'll..."

"Wow, hang on, I never said I couldn't do it," Dean rebuffed quickly, making Allegra hide her smirk. "I'll go check it out, don't worry."

"Really? Oh, you're the best!" She walked over to him and wrapped her arms around his neck. "So, euhm, would you mind going right now? She's got her weekly bridge game, and it's at her place today."

Dean sighed and nodded. Allegra beamed and gave him a peck on the cheek. She let him finish the last of his coffee before handing him his jacket.

"Oh, I almost forgot; they're doing some roadwork, and it's a mess out there with the machines and the cement and all. You'll be better off walking through the grove."

"Fine. Do you want me to take Trixie? Let her run outside a bit?"

"You've grown to like her, huh?"

"She's not that bad. For a dog, I mean."

Allegra chuckled and whistled for her pet. The dog came running and immediately went for the door, scratching her paw against the frame.

"Hold on, Trix," said Dean. "I need something before I go."

"What?" wondered Allegra.

The kiss came unexpectedly but was ever so sweet and tender. She took in every bit of him, longing to feel those lips on other parts of her body. Oh, if only it was already a few hours later.

"That." Dean winked as he broke the kiss off. "I'll be back as soon as I can."

"I'll be here, waiting." 

Allegra stayed on the porch to wave goodbye until he passed the fence and then quickly closed the door behind her. Finally, step one, getting Dean out of the house, was complete. Now on to step two. She set to work and hoped Mrs. Robinson wouldn't spoil anything.

***

"Thank you again for coming out to help, dear. I just don't know what I would have done on such short notice. Those plumbers will steal you blind sometimes."

"It's my pleasure, Mrs. Robinson. I'm almost done here... I think."

"I'll make you some coffee then, with a slice of cake."

"Oh, you don't have to..."

"No, no, I insist. You're one of the good ones, Dean, and I've been meaning to thank you for taking such good care of Allegra. Lord knows the dating scene isn't what it used to be in my day. There are some downright rotten apples out there."

Dean smiled awkwardly at her comment. If this old bitty knew half the stuff of what he made Allegra suffer through, she wouldn't be offering him a slice of cake - she'd chase him around town with her purse or umbrella, swinging wildly to smack sense into him.

"Hey, Mrs. Robinson, can I ask you something? When you spoke to Allegra earlier, did she sound, I don't know, off, maybe? Like something was bothering her?"

"Not that I noticed, dear. Why do you ask?"

"We had a case a couple of days ago, and I think she's still a bit shaken up about it," said Dean, coming out from under the sink.

"Oh, are you talking about those missing children that were found in the pool's locker room?" Mrs. Robinson helped him get up from the floor. "Yes, I would think Allegra might take that more personally than she should. She used to look out for the little ones on the playground during the weekends, bless her. I once saw her deck a bully twice her size with a single right hook. He went down like a tree during lumberjack season. Her father scolded her, but I could tell he was proud of her, too, for protecting those kids."

Dean chuckled at the image in his mind. Of course his girlfriend was awesome when she was a kid. How could she not be?

"Maybe I'm just imagining things." He sighed. "I just feel like she's keeping me at a distance, but I don't know if it's because of something I said or did or if something else is going on."

"Well, did anything happen between you two that could have upset her?"

I woke her up with true love's kiss and didn't tell her about it, that's what happened! Goddamn coward.

For the past 3 days, Allegra'd been going around to visit Rumplestiltskin's victims to make sure they were really all okay (except for the dead grandma, everyone recovered miraculously and could suddenly come up with a logical explanation for what happened to them). But when she was at home with Dean, she always found some other topic to avoid discussing her own mishap. Every time Dean thought he had an opening to come clean to her about the kiss, she would swoop in and steal the conversation. It's like she didn't want to know. Or... maybe she already knew.
Obviously, Allegra figured out she was Sleeping Beauty. And obviously, the original tale with the whole rape scene and the baby sucking the flax out hadn't played out (thank God!), so Allegra could assume that her spell was broken when Rumplestiltskin lost the game. But Dean was sure she saw that stupid Disney DVD on pause before he had the chance to put it away again. If she suspected that he actually used true love's kiss to break the spell after she said that was almost impossible to do because it had to be a powerful and unique love... He couldn't even imagine what she had to be thinking of right now.

"Maybe it's just that she has to get used to having you around again," offered Mrs. Robinson when Dean didn't answer her question. "You did leave her alone for a long time."

"I didn't mean to," said Dean. 

"I know, dear." Mrs. Robinson smiled warmly as she gave him a cup of coffee. "You got a tough job that takes a lot out of you. I know Allegra supports you in it, but maybe a desk job would be better if you two want to start a family. At least in those first years."

The cup froze mid-air. Dean stared at Mrs. Robinson, not quite sure how to react to that. 

"You okay, dear?" she asked when she noticed his startled expression. "You look like you've seen a ghost."

"Yeah... Yeah, it's just... we haven't really talked about that."

"Oh Lord, here I go assuming things again. I'm sorry, Dean, dear. I figured since you two have been dating for quite some time now that you were possibly thinking of settling down. And since Allegra's always liked children, and I don't see her with someone who doesn't, I believed you felt the same."

Dean pressed his lips together. He wasn't too sure how he felt about having kids. Not after what happened with Emma. Then again, he had briefly seen the son he could potentially have with Allegra. And he did want that. In fact, if he had calculated things correctly, the event that should lead to their family was supposed to happen soon. Very soon, even. But he wasn't betting on it anymore. Too many factors had already changed. he wasn't Michael, Sam wasn't Lucifer, Allegra wasn't in the Devil's clutches, and Castiel was stuck in Purgatory. Sure, he and Allegra were together again, and they were happy (he assumed she was too, anyway), but she would never take the risk to go any further based on what a Cupid claimed, nor without any real and tangible proof that there was, in fact, a loophole in the prophecy. And even if there was, according to Turiel, Michael was the one who made sure Allegra got pregnant. Who was to say she could even conceive without him or Lucifer behind the steering wheel?
Mrs. Robinson's wrinkly hand touched his gently. Dean looked up into her kind eyes.

"You tell her exactly how you feel, you hear me? She'll only open up to you if you're completely honest with her. If you love her, you have to give her your heart, Dean. Only then can the two of you be what you're meant to be and figure out where to go from here."

Why did that sound so much like what Bobby had tried to hammer into him and like what Turiel and Amore told him as well? Could Mrs. Robinson be...? Nah, no way. Still... Dean watched her closely as she walked over to the kitchen table and took an envelope. 

"I wanted to give this to Allegra personally, but since I can't come over today, can I ask you to give it to her? It's for both of you anyway." She handed it over to him. "You two enjoy it. Make a weekend out of it, okay?'

"Euhm, okay." Dean furrowed his brow in confusion. "Thank you."

"Now, go on home. Allegra will have everything ready by now."

More confusion.

"Ready for what?"

Mrs. Robinsion didn't reply and just smiled at him as she called Trixie over. The dog came running to join Dean on the hike back home. He said goodbye, but before he was well out the door, Mrs. Robinson called after him.

"You have a good birthday today, dear!"

Dean froze. He had been so caught up in coming back from Purgatory, solving the Rumplestiltskin case, and making sure Allegra was okay that he had completely forgotten what day it was today - January 24, his birthday.

***

As soon as Dean walked through the kitchen door, he smelled the amazing sweet scent of freshly baked pie. He searched around but couldn't find it. Then, his eye fell on the abnormal amount of cleaned pots and pans on the counter. What the heck had Allegra been making?

"Alley? You down here?"

Dean frowned when she didn't answer him. He went through to the dining room (Trixie trotted through the hallway to lie on her rug in the living room), thinking he might find her absorbed in a new case or something. But what he found instead just took Dean's breath away completely.

The table was set for two, a dish with mini hamburgers and what looked like a pie between the plates. Confetti lay scattered everywhere on the tablecloth. There were garlands hanging from the walls, and balloons on strings were tied to the other chairs. All the whiteboards had been cleared except one. 'Happy Birthday, Dean' was written in beautiful calligraphy, and a picture hung right underneath it.
Dean got a little closer and felt himself get choked up when he recognized it. That photo had been taken just hours after he was born. He was in his mother's arms, and his father had his hand on his little head. They both had the most blissful smile on their faces.
Tears stung Dean's eyes. He quickly wiped them away with the back of his hand. That picture was one of the few his father had kept from their once-happy family. After his death, Dean had considered keeping it in the Impala with him, but it was too precious to take with him on the road, so he left it with Bobby for safekeeping. When the Leviathan's torched the place, he thought it had been lost. But Bobby must've given it to...

"Surprise."

Dean turned at the sound of Allegra's voice. The sight of her made his heart stop. Her red hair flowed around her shoulders, a single bejeweled hairpin pushing a few locks away from her face. Her brown gold-shimmering eyes came out more now that they had a thin line of blue eyeshadow. She wore a dark blue dress, which accentuated the curves of her body just right. The matching pumps gave her that little bit of extra that she needed to reach his height.
With the grace of a dancer, Allegra walked in from the living room and put her hands around his neck. She drew him to her so that her rose-red lips touched his. It was a short kiss but filled with so much love that Dean felt like melting away in her arms.

"Happy birthday," said Allegra.

"Alley... This is... H-How did you know?" stammered Dean.

"That it was your birthday? Bobby told me some stuff about you when I was living with him. He showed me that picture of your parents when I asked him what your mom was like. I knew he kept it in a safe in the garage for you. That survived the fire, so I got it last night when you were in the shower."

Dean gave a stifled sob.

"I can't believe you did all of this for me. No one has ever..."

"I know. That's why I did it."

Allegra pressed her mouth on his again. The kiss was longer than the previous one but still too short for Dean's liking. When they parted, she took his jacket off and told him to sit down while she got him a beer.

"Go on, dig in." She chuckled when she sat with him. "I made the hamburgers following Bobby's recipe, but I don't think you've ever tried quiche before, right?"

"Had I known it was French for pie, I would have!" Dean beamed, taking a big piece of it.

"It's a relatively normal version, just cheese and bacon and a few herbs. Didn't wanna go too overboard on it."

He started eating, every fluffy morsel making his mouth explode. That quiche pie was one of the best things he had ever eaten, and the burgers were exactly like Bobby used to make them. Allegra even got the BBQ sauce right, which surprised Dean the most since Bobby had sworn to take the secret to that sauce to his grave. He probably made Allegra vow at gunpoint not to tell anyone, but he at least trusted her enough to give her the recipe in the first place. And for Bobby Singer, that was a huge deal. 
When they were done, Allegra cleared the dishes and returned with a new set. Dean was absolutely stuffed, but he didn't want to tell he since she put so much work into all of this. He was so glad he kept his mouth shut when he saw what she was bringing out for dessert.

"No way. Is that really...?"

"Cherry with a chocolate crust." Allegra put the pie on the table and smiled. "As promised."

Dean pulled Allegra onto his lap to kiss her. She blushed adorably.

"You're amazing, you know that? I'm gonna have to up my game for..."

He fell silent as he suddenly realized something. 

"Damn."

"What?"

"Alley, I... I don't know when your birthday is!"

"Oh... Well, to be fair, I never told you."

"That's no excuse! You did all of this and so much more for a jerk and idiot like me, and I can't even be bothered to find out when my girlfriend's birthday is!"

"Dean, it's fine, don't worry about it. It's not important."

Allegra pushed herself off his lap and started cutting the pie. Dean raised a brow at her sudden distant reaction and eyed her curiously. Why wouldn't she tell him when her birthday was? 

"Alley, what's wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. Oh, shoot, I forgot the whipped cream."

Dean grabbed her hands before she could dash off into the kitchen. He squeeze when she kept herself averted from him. 

"Hey, talk to me."

She sighed. 

"I... I don't have a birthday," she said, her voice breaking a little. "I wasn't born, remember?"

"What? Of course you have a birthday. You're here, aren't you? And you must have had birthday parties with Gabriel, right?"

"Well, yeah, but..."

"What day was that?"

"Dean, those parties were lies. Everything in my childhood was."

"Allegra, what day?"

She bit her lip and finally looked up at him. Her grim expression was heart-rending.

"It's... January 24."

***

Allegra quickly lowered her gaze again at Dean's shocked gasp. She couldn't bear to look at him or even allow his thoughts to reach her. When Bobby told her about his birthday, she'd been so surprised at first. What were the odds of the two of them having the same birthday, after all? Now she knew better, of course. The two most important dates from her childhood were linked to the Winchesters - her own birthday, which she shared with Dean, and Gabriel's, which was May 2, Sam's birthday. It was bad enough that she was a pawn in Gabriel and God's sick and twisted game, but to have the brothers dragged into this mess as well... As if the personal connection would make it easier for Allegra to choose between the two vessels

"Your... Your birthday's today?" asked Dean finally. "With mine?"

Allegra pressed her lips together. She didn't want to say it again. How she wished she could just erase the last 5 minutes.

"I'll be right back." Dean let go of her.

"Wha...? Dean, where are you going?!"

But Dean was already running through the living room and up the stairs. Allegra sank down on her chair and buried her face in her hands, groaning. Why? Just why? Everything had been going so well. She managed to surprise Dean and to make him happy, and now... It was all ruined. 
Allegra heard Dean come back down and prepared herself for whatever was about to happen next. Before she could get up from her seat, Dean was already standing next to her. He dropped to one knee and handed her a jewelry box. Her heart stopped. 

"Dean... W-What are you doing?"

"Open it."

"N-no, y-you can't..."

"Alley. Just open it."

Allegra's fingers trembled as she opened the lid. Her breath caught, and she nearly dropped the box but Dean steadied her hands. Inside lay a necklace. But not just any; it was the one from Titanic, the Heart of the Ocean. Only, it was slightly different. The heart was held by a pair of jeweled wings - angel wings. 

"Dean... Wh-Where did you...?" Allegra stammered, touching the heart with the tip of her finger. "When did...?"

"Too long ago," said Dean. "I should have given it to you before. Maybe if I had, we wouldn't have broken apart. But it was never the right time, and then... I'm so sorry it took me this long, Alley. I'm sorry for everything I put you through; the jealousy, the fighting, the night of Bobby's funeral when I... And... the cheating... I never meant to hurt you, Alley, I swear. I only ever wanted to be with you, but I handled things all wrong. But I won't this time! I promise I'll do whatever it takes to prove that to you because I never want to lose you again. You mean everything to me, and I'm... I'm in love with you."

Allegra's head jerked up. She gaped at Dean, thinking that surely she had misunderstood. But his smile confirmed that he really said the words. Those words... Finally. 

A tear rolled down Allegra's cheek. Dean cupped her face, brushing it away with his thumb. He leaned in and kissed her, long and passionate. She dropped down on her knees in front of him and wrapped her arms around his neck, still holding the jewelry box. 

"I love you, Allegra," whispered Dean. "I love you with all my heart."

There was only one thing Allegra could say to that.

"I know."