Chapter Text
EPILOGUE
Jared
Three Years Later
“Jay! Hey Jay!”
Jared hears his boyfriend calling him from downstairs, and he instantly smiles knowing Jensen is home. He bounds down the stairs and finds Jensen on the doorstep, half inside, half outside, a smug smile on his face.
“What are you doing there, silly?”
Jensen gives him a mischievous smile. “I have a surprise!”
Jared smiles back. “What is it??”
Jensen’s eyes sparkle as he opens the door and shows Jared a dog, being held on a leash. It’s a big dog with golden fur, and it’s looking at Jared with his tongue dangling, an excited look on his face.
“Meet Harley!” The excitement in Jensen’s voice is palpable, a megawatt smile on his face. “Happy Birthday, Jay!”
Jared’s insides melt as it sinks in that Jensen got him a dog for his birthday. “Oh my god, Jen!” Jared closes the distance between them and kneels down, calling the dog. Harley comes running, and soon Jared has his arms full of a huge dog, who showers him with sloppy doggy kisses.
“Hey Harley! Are you a good boy? Yes you are! Yes you are!” Jared sounds ridiculous but he doesn’t care, he has known the dog for ten seconds and he already loves him. Jared spends a few moments playing with him, then finally remembers Jensen is there as well, so he looks up to find his boyfriend looking down at him with an amused smile.
“I see you like him.”
Jared gets up and jumps on Jensen, wrapping his arms around him. “I love him! And I love you!”
Jensen hugs Jared back tight. “I know, I love you too. And I adopted him because I was sure he would be perfect for you.”
Jared’s love for Jensen grows even more knowing he adopted Harley. “He is perfect indeed. And so are you.”
Jensen gives Jared a silly smile. “Good! Let’s take him outside then, so he can recon his new digs!”
Jared takes the leash and they walk around the boxes in the living room and kitchen, leading Harley to the backyard. Jared releases Harley from the leash and allows him to walk freely so he can get to know his new home. Jared watches his new dog as Jensen wraps an arm around his waist and kisses his temple.
“How’s the unpacking going? Sorry I said I had to work, but I couldn’t tell you why I had to leave you on a Saturday.”
Jared chuckles. “You’re forgiven. And I was just working on our bedroom. Almost done there. We should do the kitchen and living room next.”
“Alright, let’s just get Harley’s food and bowls and other stuff I got for him from the car and get him all set, then we can get to work.”
“Deal!”
Jared still can’t believe they have their own house. They finally moved in a couple of days ago and it all feels a bit surreal. Actually most of what happened over the past couple of years has been a bit surreal. Who would say Jared would get cursed and that would change the whole course of his life? Jared went through some hard times, situations he will likely never forget, but it all led him to Jensen, and everything was worth it. Jensen is the best thing that ever happened to Jared, hands down. And according to Jensen, the feeling is mutual.
At first Jared had his doubts, Justin had been Jensen’s first love, they grew up and discovered everything together, and he didn’t even dream that Jensen would ever love him nearly as much as he had loved Justin. But Jensen assured him many times, and showed him as well, that Jared is the true love of his life. Jensen jokes that Justin led Jared to him, and he has told Jared that at their hardest moment, when Jared was dying in Jensen’s arms after being stabbed, Jensen begged for Justin’s help wherever he was. And Jensen believes Justin did help him. Now Jared fully believes in Jensen’s love for him, and he knows Justin is just a memory, buried in the past. But Jared is also glad Jensen isn’t afraid to remember Justin, to talk about him, like he had been before. He was finally able to accept his death and move forward, start a life with Jared. And Jensen always says he will be forever grateful to Jared, for making him find his own heart again.
Jared has told Jensen right after he got back to Dallas about what happened with Kendra and how he got her magic by accident. Jensen was shocked at first to hear all of that, wondering what Jared would do with it. Jared didn’t know himself, and the truth is, he has never used that magic much, he doesn’t need to. One of the only times Jared allows it to leave his body and touch others around him, is when he’s playing. Jensen began to claim he was feeling hypnotized - even more that is - as Jared played, and he realized he was letting his guard down, allowing his magic to fill the air and touch others.
Speaking of, Jared can’t help remembering everything they went through to get here. After moving in with Jensen, his boyfriend hired him to work for his agency. Jared ended up falling in love with that area of work and decided to get a degree in advertising. Jensen wanted to make Jared partner but he declined, he told Jensen he wants to work his own way up, doesn’t want any privileges for being the boss’ boyfriend. Plus, Jared has to divide his time between the job at the agency and their shelter.
Thinking about the shelter always puts a smile on Jared’s face. It was something he really wanted to do, and when his parents heard about it they decided to help financially too, as a ‘thank you’ for having their son back and a way to pay it forward. With that help, Jared and Jensen were able to find a place to start their own shelter, to help homeless people just as Jared once was. Jared had voiced this idea to Jensen once, fearing he would think it was bullshit, but Jensen actually loved it, saying it would be perfect. It took some time and they had to work hard to get donations and sponsors, but it finally opened and Jared couldn’t be more proud. They have a few people that work there, but Jared and Jensen themselves like to be involved as much as they can. They were able to get a used piano for the shelter and Jared usually goes there to play for the people currently staying there. A while ago he started teaching some regulars, mostly children and teens, and it makes Jared so happy. Having a place to help people who have nothing, making a difference for them, is so incredible. Jared also uses his magic to help people who are more wary and reserved, and even traumatized. They trust Jared more than anyone else, allow him to help when nobody else can even come closer, Jared has this effect on people. He allows his power out to soothe them, to make them feel safe. It’s the best way Jared found to use the gift he received.
And finally, they were able to get their own place, their dream house. Jared and Jensen had been talking about buying a house lately, a place for them to really start a life together. They went house hunting and after a couple of months were able to find this one, not too far from their building - Chad claimed they had to stay close - and not very huge either, a two storey place with a nice backyard in a quiet street, just what they needed. Their friends all helped with the moving, and when Jared and Jensen were alone, they christened every room in the house, didn’t even wait for the beds to be reassembled. Jared blushes a bit at that memory.
Both of them spend the afternoon trying to get everything in place in the kitchen and living room, as well as playing with Harley, and then go out for dinner to celebrate Jared’s birthday. Jensen wanted to cook for them but with all the mess of unpacking, they decided it was better to just go out. Jared has a surprise for Jensen, but he is saving that for later when they’re alone. He stares at his boyfriend across the table and can’t believe how lucky he is to have someone so perfect. When they started dating, Jared admitted to feeling ashamed for what he had to do for those men while he was surviving on the streets. Sometimes the feeling was too strong, and Jared felt unworthy of Jensen, he felt filthy. But again Jensen was patient and quick to assure Jared he wasn’t filthy, and definitely not unworthy of Jensen. He did what he did because he had no other option, it was a matter of survival. Jensen has apologized plenty of times for calling Jared a whore when he first found out about it, said he didn’t mean it, it was just a spur of the moment anger from the old Jensen.
Jensen has also told Jared that was the night he realized he was in love with Jared, even if he couldn’t put a name to that feeling yet, when he thought Jared was gone for good and Jensen would never see him again. The idea of losing Jared was unbearable to him. And then when Jared showed him the keychain, it only served to cement that feeling. Jensen just knew. Jared eventually believed Jensen, and was finally able to not feel ashamed of his actions anymore, understanding that he did what he had to do when he had no other choices. Thankfully that is all in the past now.
They drive back home, holding hands the whole time, Jared feeling happy and anxious about what the rest of the evening will bring. They finally arrive and spare some time giving Harley attention, and then Jared walks to their piano - Jensen made sure Jared knew it was theirs now, not only Jensen’s - and sits down on the bench, silently inviting Jensen to come sit next to him. Harley settles down close to them, curiously watching his daddies.
Jensen joins Jared and runs a finger over the inside of his forearm, and Jared looks at his tattoo with a smile on his face. About a year ago Jared and Jensen got matching tattoos, Jared wanted it on the same spot he had the enchanted rose, and Jensen decided to follow suit. They got a treble clef as a symbol of how music united them, how it started their deep connection, and also because the bottom of the clef forms the letter J. Jared’s J is for Jensen, Jensen’s J is for Jared.
Jared plays the same melody he had played the first time for Jensen, when he felt hypnotized by the piano, and he just knew he had to play. That moment was what started to change things between Jensen and him, the first crack on Jensen’s thick wall, so it holds a lot of meaning to both of them. And of course, for this special moment Jared had wanted to play it. He watches Jensen’s face a few times as he plays, and his boyfriend has his eyes closed a small smile on his face, as if he’s far away. If Jared could guess, he would say Jensen is thinking about that same moment as well.
As the music comes to an end, Jensen slowly opens his eyes and looks at Jared with adoration. “That was amazing, baby.”
Jared scoots back a bit and angles his body towards Jensen, staring intensely at him. “Jen… I chose this song today for a reason. It’s a special day and we are at a special moment in our lives, finally in our new house. So I wanted to take this opportunity to ask a question.”
Jared reaches into his front pocket and comes out with a velvet box. He opens it and shows Jensen a ring. Jensen’s eyes grow impossibly wide and he brings a hand to his gasping mouth. Jensen looks at Jared and his eyes water, at the same time as he chuckles. “Oh my god, I can’t believe it!”
“Jen, I…” Jared starts, but Jensen interrupts him.
“Jared Padalecki, I can’t believe you ruined my speech!”
Now Jared feels confused, and he frowns. “What?”
Jensen clears his throat and licks his bottom lip, returning Jared’s intense gaze. “I was gonna tell you that it may not have been love at first sight, but I learned how to love you. It was so natural, Jay. When I realized it, it was already growing inside me. You taught me not to be deceived by appearances, because true beauty is found within. I realized you were beautiful not only in the inside, but the outside too. It didn’t matter if your face or your body weren’t perfect, for me you were. And seeing your true face was only the cherry on top, because to me you were already beautiful. You gave me my life back, you made me human again, you melted the ice around my heart. I found my home in you, and I can’t believe how happy I’ve been for these past three years by your side. I can’t wait to start this new chapter in our lives together. And I can’t believe you stole my idea.”
Jensen reaches inside his own pocket, coming up with another velvet box. When he opens it and Jared sees the ring, his eyes grow as wide as saucers. It can’t be.
“You… Oh my god, you…”
Jensen kneels down in front of Jared, holding up his box. “Jay… my sweet Jay, will you marry me?”
Tears stream down Jared’s face as he realizes both had the same idea of proposing to each other at the same time. He can’t even believe how perfect this is, couldn’t be more amazing if they tried. Jared kneels down as well, in front of Jensen, and shows him his own box.
“Only if you say yes to me as well.”
Jared and Jensen stare deeply at each other, and not a single word is said. With their eyes, they give one another the only possible answer. Jared takes the ring out of his box and slowly places it on Jensen’s finger, kissing it, and Jensen does the same. Then they wrap their arms around each other, holding tight, each face buried in the other’s neck, inhaling deeply. It really feels like a fairy tale, this moment leading to their happily ever after... with just a touch of magic.
THE END
Tale as old as time
True as it can be
Barely even friends
Then somebody bends
Unexpectedly
Just a little change
Small, to say the least
Both a little scared
Neither one prepared
Beauty and the Beast
Tale as old as time
Tune as old as song
Bittersweet and strange
Finding you can change
Learning you were wrong
Certain as the sun
Rising in the east
Tale as old as time
Song as old as rhyme
Beauty and the Beast.