[h2]Esme Stirling[/h2]

Esme tried to collect herself as she waited for Dean to say something, but her thoughts had drifted too far into her lost family members. Yes, a good amount of time had passed, but it still hurt terribly. She fought the tears that threatened to fall from her eyes. She hated showing weakness and this side of herself. Dean’s hushed voice brought her back to the present, but she hesitated at his words. 

She could see that she touched on something that both made them emotional, but wondered if something else was there. She didn’t have the chance to finish her thought, because he suddenly pulled her into a hug, causing a gasp to escape her lips and drop her phone. After the initial surprise wore off, Esme almost collapsed into his embrace. 

She wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tight, then rested her head against his chest as he placed his hand on the back of her head. Then his words broke her. She lost her hold on the tears she was holding back. It was as if his gentleness, soft words, and her sleep deprivation had broken open the floodgates of her bottled emotions. 

His words echoed in her mind, and she could still feel the kiss on her head, which brought a smile to her lips and made her relax. “I couldn't ask for more.” she whispered in response. Esme hadn’t noticed that they had moved beyond the wall and were now within eyesight of the other women. She was looking in the opposite direction, seeing nothing but a wall and Dean’s arm. 

“Do you still have it?” she asked after a moment of silence. She was genuinely curious to know if he still had what she had given him before they parted ways. If not, it was alright, it wouldn’t upset her. What really mattered to her out of everything was that he still remembered her and had accepted her into their group.