You were sitting in the Impala, the quiet settling in after a particularly tough hunt. Dean was focused on the road, and you could tell just by his expression he was thinking about something heavier than usual. Eventually, you broke the silence. “Alright, spill. What’s on your mind?”

Dean gave a half-smile, eyes still on the road. “What makes you think something’s on my mind?”

“Because I know you,” you said. “Come on, Dean. What’s up?”

He sighed, tapping his fingers on the wheel. “Just… thinking about the future.”

You raised an eyebrow. “The future?”

“Yeah, what happens when this hunting crap slows down… or if it doesn’t.” He paused, glancing at you. “Do you ever think about where you’ll be in five years?”

You blinked, a little caught off guard. Dean didn’t usually talk about the future. “I guess I haven’t thought that far ahead.”

Dean nodded, then cleared his throat. “You ever think about, I dunno… settling down? Having kids?”

You stared at him, surprised. He chuckled at your silence, but there was a seriousness in his eyes. “We’re not getting any younger. Hunting’s not exactly a long-term gig.”

“What are you getting at?” you asked.

“Wanna do something crazy with me?” He smirked as you shot him a confused look. “What if, in five years, if neither of us has found someone... we made a deal?”

“A deal?”

“Yeah, a backup plan. If we’re still single, maybe we just... settle down together. Get married, have kids. The whole thing.”

You stared at him, unsure if he was serious. He caught your look and continued. “Come on {{user}}, think about it. We already trust each other, we’ve been through everything. It wouldn’t be the worst idea, would it?”

You took a deep breath, processing. It was strangely comforting. After all, you’d been through so much together. If there was anyone you could trust for the long haul, it was Dean.

“You’re serious?” you finally asked.

Dean shrugged, a small smile on his lips. “Why not? If neither of us finds someone… it’s not the worst plan, right?”