https://youtu.be/A_U6iSAn_fY

He took his bag out of the cab, "Thanks, man." He said handing the guy what he owed. He walked up to the doorstep it felt weird being here under negative circumstances he'd always come over to have fun. Not to contemplate ending his relationship. He knocked on the door and waited, "Maybe I should have called first." He mumbled to himself, wondering if Seth was even home.

He rang the doorbell a few times, "Coming..." He heard a woman's voice yell, oh I definitely should have called, he thought as he smirked proud of his friend for finally getting some action. The door swung open and his smirk dropped, she shifted her weight from one leg to the other; unsure what to say or do.

"Uh...it's for you Seth!" She hollered over her shoulder, Penelope looked back just in time to see Dean's eyes trailing back up her body. Noticing she's in her pajamas, they stood in awkward silence as they waited for Seth.

He came laughing, "Of course it's for me, it's my house knucklehead." He said playfully, he rounded the corner and his smile fell too. "Dean." He was just as surprised as everyone else, "Uh, what's up?" Seth tried to sound more upbeat about seeing his friend.

Dean's electric eyes shifted between the two of them, trying to find his words. "I should go change." Poppy said not waiting for anyone to reply, she quickly rushed upstairs. Dean narrowed his eyes at Seth,

"What's she doing here?" He asked as he pushed his way into the house, he looked up the stairs to make sure she was out of hearing range. Then turned back to Seth,

"Come on in," He uttered under his breath as he turned around shutting the door behind him,

"So?" Dean asked again, his foot tapping impatiently.

"You don't get to do that." Seth said folding his arms across his bare chest, Dean's eyebrows lifted up his way of asking what he meant, without actually asking. "Get to be jealous." He clarified, "I already told you, she is like a little sister. And even if we did do something, she's grown. I'm grown. She's single. I'm single. It would be none of your business."

He wanted to object but knew he was right, "Fair enough." He grunted out trying to remind himself that he needed to stop being so possessive of her. He sat down on the couch and sighed, "So, I had an interesting night."

Seth plopped down beside him, "What happened?"

He looked back to the stairs, wanting to be sure she wasn't coming back, when he didn't see her he looked to him. "Renee pretty much said I need to marry her or end things. I'm paraphrasing of course but you get the idea." He put his head in his hands, this seemed like an impossible decision.

"What are you gonna do?" Seth asked placing his hand on his friends back reassuringly, he just shook his head. "Do you love her?"

He lifted his head and looked at him, "You know I do." He said matter of factly, "But...I don't know." He stopped himself, what was the problem? Did marriage scare him? Or was it just the thought of marrying Renee that scared him? "Do you mind if I stay here? I've got a week to figure things out and I really don't know where else to go."

"I mean of course," Rollins said hesitantly, "It's just Penny's gonna be here for the week to...is that gonna be a problem?" Ambrose shook his head no, even though deep down he wasn't sure. He looked back up the stairs before turning to Seth,

"Why is she here anyways?" He asked, his friend suddenly looked very uncomfortable; he shifted in his seat and gave an awkward half smile.

"It's not really my place to say... if you really wanna know you should ask her."

~

Penelope sat on the edge of the bed, begging for Dean to be gone when she went downstairs; she came here to get away from him and think with a clear mind. But of course he found her, it was like she couldn't get away from him. With a deep breath she stood up and headed for the stairs, her heart fell when she saw him still talking to Seth. 

Dean was hunched forward his elbows resting on his knees, Seth had his hand rested on his back and had a look of concern. Her heart told her to ask if everything was okay, to try to comfort him and make it all better but her brain knew better. She needed to stop getting closer to him, "Ready to go?" She practically skipped down the stairs trying to look upbeat,

Both guys eyes quickly went to her, Dean sitting up right trying to pretend everything was okay. "Where you going?" He asked looking toward Poppy, her eyes dropped down to her feet not wanting to get sucked into that trance like effect he has on her. 

"To the gym," Seth said trying to keep things as casual as possible, "Someone is in serious need of training." He laughed, she gasped amusement dancing in those green eyes.

"Rude much?" She giggled slapping his arm, "So you ready?" She asked Seth again, her eyes only shifting to Dean for a split second before going back to him.

"Um," He started, looking between his two friends, Penelope silently begging him not to invite Dean to tag along and Dean's eyes begging him not to leave him alone. "Do you wanna come?" He finally asked,

"Sure." He said casually with a shrug, "I'll go change." He left without anything further, she couldn't help but notice he didn't need any directions around the house as he jogged straight up the stairs and into the guest bedroom she was staying in.

"Why did you do that?" She snapped in a whisper the moment she heard the bedroom door close behind him, 

"What?" Seth asked with an innocent smile, she narrowed her eyes. "Oh, you didn't want me to invite him?" He asked surprised, "I'm sorry, next time say something in advance. Too late now..." He mused with a light chuckle,

"You know I'm trying to avoid him." She spit out,

"Ooh, that might be a problem..." He trailed off, her eyes widened she didn't need to ask he knew that panicked look, "He's staying for the week." He answered her unasked question.

"What?" She blurted out loudly, her hands clasped her mouth quickly trying to keep quiet. When she didn't hear anything from her room she slowly moved them. "Why?"

He cringed at her words, knowing he couldn't tell her. It would only make things more complicated. "Your eyebrows are doing that mean, angry thing they do when you're upset." He pointed out her furrowed brow,

"Good!" She groaned, "Now answer the question; why is Dean here? Doesn't he have an engagement to celebrate?" His brooding eyes kept shifting to the staircase hoping he would come save him from this interrogation,

"I can't say." She took a step forward and he quickly stepped back, "I'll tell you what I told him when he asked why you were here: it's not really my place to say, if you really wanna know you should ask him." Penelope wasn't satisfied but before she could ask him anything further Dean was making his way back down the stairs, ready to go.

 ~

Dean stood off to the side of the ring peering at the two of them, Seth had Penelope from behind, his arms locked tightly around her bare waist as he tried to work on her countering abilities. That uninvited feeling making it's way back into Ambrose's chest, that almost primal instinct to protect her. Her long caramel ponytail flew in her face as she slid through his hold and spun around him, her arms now around Seth's waist. 

Seth grinned, "Perfect!" He beamed as she let go of him. Poppy smiled radiantly, so proud of herself each time he complimented her. Dean's stomach turned with envy, he wanted to be the only one to make her that happy, it was an irrational and possessive feeling he's never dealt with before. He wasn't the jealous type but for some reason with her it was different. Those radiant green eyes turned to him, he sucked in a sharp breath. "Alright, next one. I think you got that one down." Seth voice called for her and she turned around, his heart dropping with disappointment. 

He wasn't sure what he had expected, it was just a glance it meant nothing to her. Just like it was supposed to mean nothing to him. He wanted to stop watching them, it was only making things more confusing. Seth's hands touching all the parts of her body, he'd never be able to, it was agonizing to think about. He shook his head unable to take it anymore, heading outside to get some air.

Penelope spun around and paused when she no longer saw Ambrose, she quickly scanned the room a sense of panic filling her. He wasn't there, did she do something wrong? Finally she caught a glimpse of his shaggy chestnut hair outside in front of the entrance, she sighed relieved he was okay. She turned back to Seth just in time to see a clothesline coming her way. "The hell? You're supposed to counter it." Seth said just as she crashed down to the mat,

"I forgot..." She choked out trying to catch her breath, she turned back to check on Dean. 

Seth followed her gaze, "I thought you said you didn't want to be with him?" She looked to him quickly, unable to fight back her cheeks darkening. "You like him don't you?"

Penelope shook her head quickly, "He's with Renee." Seth offered her a hand and she took it as he helped her up. She saw him look back to Dean but she refused to look again.

"That's not what I asked." She stretched out her back getting ready to try this again, "You like him!" He taunted, he was definitely like the big brother she always wanted. She laughed smacking his shoulder,

"Shut up!" He just grinned at her and then looked back to Dean, "Let it go Seth." She warned, he shook his head no,

"I ship it."

***

We are halfway through! 

What do you guys think? I personally really like this chapter.

Don't forget to vote.