Title: Ruined Christmas Plans
Author: pempees
Characters: Dean Winchester & Liz Parker
Category: Supernatural/Roswell XO
Rating: PG
Warnings: Pairing is Dean/Liz, Purely Christmas fic. This has nothing to do with the other fic I'm writing.
Summary: When the snowstorm hits a small gas station, all the people inside has to stay there the Christmas Eve.
Disclaimer: I own nothing.


Liz Parker, the small town girl from Roswell, sat alone in the small gas station's cafeteria, that’s waitress looked like she needed to either practice acting or get a life. Liz entertained herself with imagining different ways how the waitress had become the person she was now. Liz knew as a former waitress and a current restaurant owner, that you didn't get a tip with a face like that.

The coffee in Liz's hand didn't warm her enough. She had been at least two hours in the middle of a snowfall, because her car had broke down. It was Christmas Eve and that fact tried to bring Liz down. She had tried to make it to her best friend's place in time: her best friend, Maria DeLuca, had invited her to spend the Christmas with her and her husband, Michael. Maria had just broken through in the music business and her covers of Christmas carols were playing in every store and café. That was the reason, why they had to break the old tradition that Maria and Michael came to Roswell during holidays.

Liz hoped that her car would be fixed soon – she could probably still make it in time. She glanced and looked outside: it was still snowing – a lot of snow. She quickly placed her eyes back to the coffee and hoped that the snow would stop too.

A little bell jingled in a perfect rhythm with the Christmas song that was playing. Liz didn't look up – she couldn't care less who came in, she just wanted out.

”Hey. One coffee and a slice of apple pie,” the new customer said in a nice voice, which made Liz raise her head. The speaker was a handsome guy, probably a few years older than Liz. The man glanced at Liz and their gazes locked. Liz felt a little tingle at the bottom of her stomach and then she knew that she had to get away. She forced her eyes to turn away from the man and stood up. She kept her eyes strictly on her destination and didn't let her eyes wonder back to the man.

”Hey, I was wondering how my car is doing?” Liz asked when she reached the counter. She knew that the man was sitting only a few chairs away, but Liz tried to focus to the thing on hand. It was difficult when Liz felt the burning stare on her.

”Do I look like a mechanic to you?” the waitress said looking at Liz.

”Well, I don't think that you are the mechanic, but since you have straight connection to the garage, I thought that you could go and ask,” Liz explained and tried to sound calm, even though the waitress annoyed her. But the waitress didn't make it easy for her. She just stared at Liz.

”Go and ask yourself,” she answered and that was when Liz really got mad.

”You are customer servant! You should serve me!” Liz said angrily, but the waitress couldn't care less.

”I'm working on Christmas Eve. You think I care about your car?” the waitress asked and disappeared to the back room, leaving Liz boiling in her anger.

”You can be sure that you won't have to work next Christmas – or ever again after I have talked to your superior!” Liz yelled after her and walked back to her table. She threw her clothes on, so she could go and meet the mechanic herself. When she rolled the scarf around her neck, she heard laughing behind her. She turned to look the man and the flames of anger could be seen through Liz's eyes.

”What are you laughing at, mister?” Liz asked and tried to sound cold, but she was too angry to success.

“You really showed that girl!” the man laughed. Liz looked at him once more before she rushed out through the door. When she pushed the door open, the wind caught her immediately. It pulled her scarf, ripped her hair and made it almost impossible to move forward. She realized that even if the car could be fixed she could never drive in that weather.

Liz reached the garage door and after a little fight she got in.

“Hey,” Liz yelled and a cute youngster appeared behind Liz's car. He seemed to be the same age as the waitress.

“I was wondering how my car is doing,” Liz asked and smiled at the boy.

“Oh yeah. There is a minor problem... “ The boy started to explain the problem, but Liz heard just a bunch of weird words that she had never heard before.

“... and I'm not sure how it should be fixed,” the boy stopped his explanation and Liz looked like a big question mark.

“Ummmm.... Okay....,” Liz sounded confused and she was a little embarrassed. She really had no idea what the boy had just told her.

“Could you tell me what you just told her?” a familiar voice said and Liz turned to him. Liz hadn't heard the door open or close, but he clearly had come outside since he was covered in snow. Liz opened her mouth to object, but the boy started to talk before Liz did.

“Yeah, sure...” and the explanation started again and Liz understood as little as she did the first time. The man answered the boy and asked questions and soon they went to Liz's car. She didn't want to feel left out, so she followed the two guys and tried to look like she understood something. When the men started to explore the machines under the hood, Liz felt just stupid. She was wearing high heels, a long read jacket, a black scarf and black leather gloves and she was standing in the garage with two guys, who were born in that environment. Even their clothes fit there. The mechanic's oil stained clothes and the man's old leather jacket screamed that they had spent hours under the hood.

Liz stood there – thinking of when she became so much a woman. She tried to understand something – anything – from those men’s conversation, but it was a waste of time.

“Calvin! Calvin!!!” the waitress ran into the garage screaming and she sounded panicked. The mechanic came away from the hood and looked at the waitress.

“What's wrong, Marie?” Calvin asked and looked worried. The waitress, Marie, had taken off the bored looked on her face and Liz didn't see anything left from that cocky girl.

“Radio said that the worst snow storm is hitting here. They said that there's no possibility to move anywhere by car and it is extremely dangerous to go outside. Everyone should avoid going out,” Marie sounded crushed. Calvin came to her and stroked Marie's arm.

“It's okay,” Calvin said and even the man looked at them now, but the information had no effect on him. Then Liz realized what the words meant to her.

“So... We're going to be here at Christmas?” Liz said out loud, but no one answered her. No one needed to – it was clear that they were going to be there.

“Hey, Dean. I think it's no use to fix that now. We're not going to get anywhere,” Calvin said and the man nodded. Calvin left with Marie back to the café. Dean shut the hood and walked to Liz, who looked like her world had just gotten a proper shake.

“It's okay. I will be with you on Christmas,” Dean said and grinned. Liz looked at him and looked nauseated.

“Thanks, but no, thanks,” Liz said and walked to the door where Calvin and Marie had just went.

* * *

Hours went by and Liz couldn't get a hold of Maria. There were no signals in cellphones, because of all the snow. Liz felt bad – she knew that Maria was worried sick. Liz should have been there by now, and Liz understood that Maria was freaking out.

Liz was sitting all alone on the floor leaning on a soda automat and the radio played Christmas songs in the background. She stared at the Christmas lights in the window. The windows were covered in snow and the little naked spots showed that it was dark outside. Liz sighed and burried her face to her hands. Marie, Calvin and Dean had made their own little group as far away from Liz as they could.

Chills ran up Liz's spine when she felt strong arms wrapping around her. They pulled her closer to the man's chest, and automatically Liz pulled away. She looked at the man, who had come to her and saw Dean staring at her.

“What do you want?” Liz asked in a rude voice. She didn't need pity – she was better without it.

“You should drop that attitude. No one wants to be here during Christmas. If you don't want to be alone, I'm your only shot – Marie doesn't want to have anything to do with you, and because she doesn't, Calvin doesn't either. They like me, so I can go there and leave you alone,” Dean said and then he was silent for a moment – long enough for his word to sink into Liz's head, “So if you want to spend Christmas all alone, just say and I will leave. Before that I want to point out that we will probably be here for days.”

Thoughts rushed into Liz's head, and she wasn't sure how to answer. She realized that Dean was right, but she didn't understand how she ended up in a situation like that. Back home, she was popular: a smart girl with manners, but now, here, everybody considered her as a snob.

When Liz looked at Dean, she saw in his eyes that he had come to her, because he didn't want her to be alone.

“I'm sorry,” Liz finally said, and Dean smiled.

“It's okay. I'm glad that you chose that one – Marie is in a really horrible cranky mood and poor Calvin is not the leader of that family,” Dean said and for some reason, Liz never found out what, she smiled.

Dean handed out a take-away cup to Liz, which was filled with hot chocolate. Liz took it gratefully and leaned back on the soda automat. They were silent for a moment, and then Dean broke it.

“This seems to be really horrible for you. Where were you going?” Dean asked. Liz sighed and looked at her drink.

“I was going to have Christmas with my best friend and her husband. I had intentions to leave a couple of days ago, but then I was needed at work and I couldn't leave until today. And here my cell doesn't even have signal so Maria has no idea where I am,” Liz explained and the sadness took over again. She felt bad for herself and for Maria. Carefully Dean put his arm around Liz and Liz didn't fight it. She felt good in Dean's arms.

I'm dreaming of White Christmas came from the radio and Liz smiled a little. It was one of Maria's Christmas covers, which had really gotten much attention. “You got your white Christmas,” Liz thought and listened to the song.

“So, who you are leaving behind by staying here?” Liz asked and felt better now that she wasn't alone. Maria's voice had helped her too: she would understand once Liz was able to talk to her.

“I was supposed to pick up my brother from the airport tomorrow, so actually no one. I would just have driven all night and all day tomorrow,” Dean said and Liz looked shocked.

“You were going to spend Christmas alone in a car?” Liz asked and Dean nodded, “Well, then this is the best thing that ever happened to you.” Both of them laughed.

“I have actually never really been into Christmas. It has never brought anything good for me,” Dean said and his hand gently started to stroke Liz arm.

“Hasn't brought anything good? Christmas is time of miracles. It's the time for friends and family!” Liz tried to defend Christmas, but Dean just laughed.

“Miracles? I doubt that. Friends and family? I got no friends and the only family I got is Sammy, and this year he isn't even around,” Dean said, and Liz felt sorry for him.

“I'm sorry. I can be your family this year,” Liz said smiling and leaned better onto Dean. She had been alone for so many years that she didn't even remember how good it felt to be with someone. Liz took a deep breath of Dean's scent and closed her eyes.

“I have the most beautiful family ever,” Dean said and smiled against Liz's hair. Liz put the cup away from her hand and placed the empty hand on Dean's leg. It was too long since someone had touched her like Dean touched now, and it made Liz's heart mad.

She wanted to raise her head and kiss Dean, not only because she hadn't been with a man since Max left, but because Dean came to her. Dean moved his other hand on Liz's cheek and raised her head. Liz knew what that meant. It meant a kiss, and only the thought of that made Liz go jelly. Dean looked straight into Liz's eyes and stroked her cheek.

“You want to get some sleep? It's late,” Dean asked, and Liz just looked at him. What did he talk about? Sleep? What was that?

And little by little Liz realized that there was no kiss coming. So she forced herself to take control of her body again and smile at Dean.

“Yeah, I'm kind of tired,” Liz said and Dean let go of her face. Why he didn't kiss? Why?? But Dean just took his jacket off and went to lie on the floor.

“Come,” he said and Liz went to next to him. Dean put his jacket on them and took Liz close to him. Liz couldn't help thinking what Dean was up to. He was too kind not to want anything. But Liz felt too good to worry about Dean's thoughts.

* * *

During the night the storm got worse – Liz was awake many times and every time she woke up to the wind, she was glad that Dean was there with her. Even though he slept, Liz felt safe. The whole night Dean held Liz in his arms. The times when Liz was awake, she wasn't mad because she couldn't sleep – she was happy that she was there with Dean.

* * *

The next morning Liz woke up to gently strokes on her head and a yell.

“The storm is already over!! We can go! Calvin, do you hear me?? We can go!” Marie's voice reached Liz's ears and she opened her eyes. The sun was shining through the snow covered the windows. A cold blow gave Liz goosebumps: it was just Marie who was keeping the door open and looking outside the clean air.

“Morning, sunshine,” Dean said, and Liz turned her head to him. They smiled at each other.

“Morning,” Liz replied and kept staring into Dean's eyes.

“Calvin, come on!! Let's go already,” Marie's voice sounded chipper.

“Marie, I got to fix Liz's car first,” Calvin said and Liz had to turn her head to them. Calvin and Marie were staring at each other – Marie was angry, Calvin just sad. Liz sat up and Dean followed her.

“Calvin, go with Marie. I can fix Liz's car if you trust me enough,” Dean said. Liz looked at him and she started to like him more and more with every word he spoke.

“It's a deal. Calvin, come on!!” Marie yelled and was already half out of the door. Calvin glanced to Dean.

“Thanks, man. Just close the door when you leave,” and then he was gone too.

Suddenly Liz was nervous. Dean was right behind her, his breath moved her hair and his chest was touching Liz's back. Then his hand was on Liz's arm, and Liz was sure that she would die. But then Dean got up.

“I better go to your car – I bet you want to go to your friend as soon as possible,” Dean said to Liz and smiled. Then he walked to the garage leaving a really surprised Liz behind. Liz stayed on the floor a little while, still under Dean's jacket, and wondered what he was trying to do to her.

After a while, Liz started to feel lonely, so she got up and walked to the counter. She put new coffee coming and started to place some food on the tray. Liz made sure that she had some extra pie on the tray: after last night Liz believed that Dean was pie-boy. After the coffee was ready, she poured it in two cups and left the café to go to the garage. When she got there, Dean was working on her car.

“Dean, I brought food,” Liz said and Dean looked at her.

“You are an angel,” Dean said and walked to Liz. Liz placed the tray on a table and soon she discovered that she was right: the first thing Dean ate was all the pie.

* * *

Liz stayed with Dean after the eating. Only time she left the garage was when she gave Maria a quick call. Maria had been worried as Liz had suspected, but when she had heard about Dean she was just glad that the storm had hit them. That was when Liz ended the conversation.

Liz and Dean had barely talked during the time: mostly Liz just watched and Dean fixed. Liz was glad that she had a good reason to follow Dean's every move, because – damn – Dean was something Liz could watch all day long.

“I think this is the best I can do to your babe now. When you get to somewhere with a better garage, take her to checked right away,” Dean announced when he finally came to Liz.

“Okay. Thanks, Dean.”

“You're welcome. Could you check that everything is okay in café? I’ll check here and then we are ready to go,” Dean suggested and Liz was surprised. She had known that they would have to leave soon, but now?

“Of course,” she just said smiling and went to the café. She wanted to do something to make Dean stay, but he had to go to his brother and Liz had a place to go too. Still she wanted something, even if just a promise that they will see each other again. Liz locked the front door and walked to the light switch. She looked around. Yesterday she wouldn't have believed that she would be sad when she had to leave, but that she was. Click and the lights went off. With a sigh Liz went back to Dean.

Dean had driven her car out from the garage and was now waiting for Liz outside. Liz walked to him and Dean closed the garage door.

“So... This is it,” Liz said when Dean had returned.

“This is what?” Dean asked, and Liz made herself laugh.

“The end of a barely started friendship,” Liz explained and kept a smile on her face.

“Yeah.. I think it is. Well, good bye Liz and thanks for everything,” Dean said and walked pass Liz. Liz stood there, frozen. That's it? That's it?? Dean didn't want anything?

“Dean, wait!” Liz yelled and turned to Dean. She ran to Dean and without even thinking it, she jumped in his arms and kissed him. Dean wasn't going to kiss her, so she had to do it instead.

Dean answered to the kiss and pressed his lips against Liz's. He wrapped his hand around Liz's waist and pulled her closer. Liz just enjoyed the feeling and let Dean just hold her. She went deeper into the kiss and moved her hand up to Dean's hair.

Liz would have wanted to continue the kiss forever, but instead of that she pulled away from it before Dean could.

“Good bye, Dean and thanks for everything,” Liz said and walked to her car. She stepped in and when she started the engine she saw Dean going in to his car. Liz sighed and felt sad.

She drove out from the yard trying her hardest not to think about Dean. It seemed to be impossible, because the memory of their kiss just wouldn't leave Liz alone. She hoped that Dean had done it, or that he at least had said something. Maybe Dean was just like that. Maybe he was there when someone was feeling down or lonely.

Liz hadn't even finished that thought when the black Impala drove pass her and stopped the car blocking Liz's way. Liz had to step on the break and turn the wheel so she wouldn't hit that. When her car had finally stopped she just sat there trying to catch her breath – that was a close one. And that was because of Dean and his craziness.

When Dean got out of the Impala, he didn't look crazy – he looked determined. He walked to Liz's car and opened the door. Liz looked at him.

“What is wrong with you....” Liz started, but the words caught up in her throat when Dean pulled her out of the car. Without saying a word he pressed her against the car and started to kiss her. Liz didn't resist – she fully forgot that Dean had almost killed them both. She just let go and gave herself to Dean's hands.

“Merry Christmas, Liz,” Dean whispered to Liz between the kisses.