Two:

1993:

There's a taste in his mouth that he really doesn't feel like identifying at the moment, and there's the weight of a strange woman pressed against. Any other time, and it would be a pleasant thing, but all he can think about is last night, his best friend's birthday party, one too many beers, a sloppy kiss and then Jared running off down the beach. The party started dying out and that's when the freak storm hit. Still, Jared would have had enough sense to come in out of the rain.

Chad sighs as he shoves the girl away. She lets out an unladylike grunt, but he just shrugs, gets out of the bed, pulls on his pants, steps out of the room and goes downstairs. He heads out on the porch, spares a glance at Jared's bed, and then he walks out onto the boardwalk. He takes in a deep breath, sees the limbs of palm trees and driftwood in the sand, and at the edge of the tide he notices something that makes his heart stop.

The tide is sweeping over a long body, up to the waist, matted brown hair. Chad runs down the boardwalk, collapses to his knees next to the body and rolls it over. He nearly chokes at the pale face of his best friend, blood at the corner of his left temple. He notices Jared's not breathing. He feels around Jared's neck for a pulse, and then he opens Jared's mouth, pinches his nose and bends down to breathe for him. After five breaths he compresses Jared's chest, and wishes that he paid more attention to first aid back in high school.

He doesn't know how long he tries to bring his friend back, but eventually he just pulls Jared's limp body into his lap, rocking him back and forth while screaming for someone, anyone, to help.

----------

2008:

The house is noisy with Chris' X-box, and his shouts about kicking Dave's ass at Halo 2. Jensen can't stand it. At one time he would have been in there with the rest of the guys, playing, shouting, and drinking beer with them. That was before Daniel, now he's just tired of loud parties, and gatherings, and Chris and Mike in the same room bitching about game strategies can get pretty loud. He's lying out on his bed, his hands clasped behind his back, staring up at the ceiling. His mind keeps spinning around things.

He remembers a few months back, that last damn premier party. Daniel had been riding his ass to take him to a party for months, and they'd actually worked on a project together for once. Damn that action movie. Daniel had a bit part, he was one of the first to die, but they'd had some lines together. So Jensen agreed that they would go to the premier and after party together. Worse mistake of his life. He never saw it coming. Never saw Daniel talking to the press until it was too late and Daniel grabbed him up into a rough kiss for the cameras, and Jensen had forgotten, like he always did around Daniel. He'd forgotten until he shoved Daniel back and stormed out of the party.

He shakes his head to clear it, because remembering makes him want to hit something, break something, drink until he forgets. So he tries to think of something else, and all his mind can come up with are sandy beaches, bright hazel eyes and dimples. Jensen sighs and shakes his head, wondering about the mystery that is Jared Padalecki. He knows there's something weird about the guy and his history with Sandy, Chad and this island, but it's starting to matter less and less.

He's startled from his thoughts at the soft knock on the screen door. He lifts his head and smiles when he sees it's Jay. He waves at him and says, "Hey man! Come on in. I need a little sanity right now. Chris is busy kicking Dave's ass on X-box and Mike's watching the carnage, and Steve's chaperoning, because Chris always needs adult supervision."

Jared grins but shakes his head. "Why don't you come out here? The sun's setting, and you'll love the view. Maybe we could go for a swim or something."

A few minutes later they're walking barefoot down the beach, the sun setting in golden splendor across the blue-gray water. The call of seagulls blends with the soft roar of the ocean waves, and Jensen spares a glance at Jared from the corner of his eye. It's been two weeks since he met Jared, but it feels like it's been longer. Jared bumps his shoulder, and Jensen looks up at him.

"You completely zoned out. I was asking you about your friends. Where'd you go?"

Jensen shrugs and a flush rises up his neck. "Just thinkin' is all. Why? What do you want to know about the guys?"

"I don't know. Steve seems pretty cool, and Mike kinda reminds me of Chad. I've seen the pale guy out trying to tan."

"Yeah, I'm thinking Dave's gonna have to get a painted on tan, poor guy," Jensen says with a chuckle and then he notices who Jared hasn't mentioned and he gets curious. "What about Chris? Why are you always so edgy around him?"

"He had a thing with Sandy. It was a while ago, he had a gig at UCLA, and it's just weird seeing him here. How do you know him anyway?" Jared asks.

"Well," Jensen begins and scratches the back of his head. "I got a gig on this soap opera, and when I came out to LA I had a roommate, but they pulled out on me and I lost the apartment. I ended up at this bar where Chris and Steve were playing. By the end of the night, Chris was wasted, and he started some shit in the bar. A fight broke out and I knocked him out and then helped Steve drag him outside. Steve offered me the couch when I told him I didn't have a place to stay. The next morning Chris woke up bitchin' and I told him I'd give him another black eye and suddenly we were friends. I ended up moving in with them for a while."

"Good to know he's not a complete asshole," Jared says with a wry grin.

Jensen snorts at that. "Oh, he is, believe me. There's just something about him that you can't help liking though. He just grows on you after awhile, and he's pretty protective of his friends."

"Sounds kind of like Chad. He's a complete douche, but you can't help liking him. He's not so bad you know. I'm sorry he got in your face. He's had it pretty bad for a while, blames himself for a lot of things. It's why I'm afraid to go see him, well that and the last time I saw him I kissed him and took off down the beach. Kinda hard explaining that after so long, you know?"

"I guess it would be," Jensen says and he takes a seat in the sand, his feet at the edge of the rising tide, Jared sits down next to him.

"What made you buy the house, Jen?"

"I don't know. When Sandy told me about the house something just clicked in my head. I'm glad I did. It's so amazing out here, just calm and peaceful, and the locals are pretty cool. They don't give a damn how famous I am. They just treat me like I'm a regular guy. I haven't had that in a while."

"Are you really that famous? What's it like?" Jared asks.

Jensen shrugs, and smiles a little as Jared scoots a little closer to him. "The work part of it, acting, it's pretty cool, especially if you find the right project that challenges you enough to keep you interested and you've got a good director. I love the work, especially roles that make you think and get inside of a character's head, and a little action is always a plus. It's the invasion of privacy that I don't like. I'm just a guy, not some God. What right do people have to know about my personal life? I'm not all that interesting outside of work, I like hanging out with my friends, going out for a run without cameras getting shoved in my face, you know?"

"Sounds pretty bad."

"It can be. A few months ago I hit rock bottom. I was trying to keep my sexuality a secret, but I started seeing the wrong guy. He made a big scene at a premier party and the next thing I know all the tabloids are running with my coming out story. My parents haven't spoken to me since. My kid sister had to call me to tell me that my Dad said I was no longer welcomed home."

"I'd like to think my parents would have been different in that situation, but I guess I'll never know," Jared says wistfully.

Jensen turns to look Jared in the eye and reaches out to touch his cheek. "How could they just give up on you? I don't think I could just forget about you."

"It's not that they gave up on me. I just can't go home. I couldn't do that to them. Not after so long. It's also why I haven't gone out of my way to see Chad and Sandy."

Jensen shakes his head. "With as much as you like to talk, how can you stand being out here by yourself all the time?"

"I'm never alone during the summer. Besides I've got you here now. And it's my birthday today," Jared says and bites his bottom lip.

Jensen leans forward, his thumb absently sweeping along Jared's cheek, and with a smile he says, "Happy birthday," then he leans forward until their lips meet. His hands slip into Jared's hair, and Jared makes a noise in the back of his throat as his mouth opens up to Jensen's interested tongue. Jensen pulls back after a moment, a smile on his face at Jared's dazed expression.

"Wow," Jared says as he runs his tongue across his mouth.

Jensen chuckles. "Is that it? Come on. You can do better than that."

Jared grins slyly, darts forward, his lips colliding with Jensen's, and there's no awkward bumping of noses, it's just perfect. He then gets to his feet, pulls off his shirt, shorts and boxers, and races for the ocean, leaving a stunned Jensen watching him from the sand. Jensen gives himself a little shake before he's tearing off his clothes and running to the water after Jared.

He's shivering when he finally reaches Jared. "Man, it's freezing out here."

"You'll warm up in a minute, and it's about to start."

Jensen gives him a strange look and then Jared darts forward, his lips against Jensen's, and Jensen groans as he discovers Jared is just as aroused as he is. When Jared pulls back from the kiss, something drops on Jensen from the sky, and a moment later he realizes that it's raining. He gives out a little laugh and then feels a hand slipping down his chest and abdomen as Jared leans toward him and says, "Tell me this is okay. Tell me this is right, and you feel like you're home. Tell me that and mean it Jensen, and I'm yours."

----------

1993:

He's sitting on the edge of the motel bed, his elbows on his knees and his hands in his hair. He hasn't moved since getting dressed. He doesn't even look up when the door of the room opens. He spares a glance to her when the mattress dips at her weight. She puts an arm across his shoulders, and he curls up into her. She runs her fingers through his short blonde hair as he trembles against her.

"Why weren't you there?" she asks softly.

He takes in a shaky breath. "I couldn't face them, Sandy. Not when it's my fault. He's gone and it's because of me. He never would have run off if I hadn't been such a dick."

"What do you mean, Chad? What happened that night? He was fine and then the next thing I know he left the party and you came back in all pissed and hitting on the first girl you came across."

Chad pulls back, wiping his eyes roughly with the sleeve of his black button up shirt. "We both had a lot to drink, well I did. I don't really know how much Jared had, but he wanted to talk to me. We walked out on the beach, out past the bonfire where it was just me and him. I could tell something was wrong so I called him on it. I thought he had a thing for you, and next thing I know he's kissing me. I didn't know what the hell was going on. I shoved him away and I asked him what the fuck, because I wasn't expecting that. Hell, we were roommates for a year and I had no idea he felt like that, that he was like that. He just went running off and I figured he would come back. I didn't expect to see him wash up on shore the next morning. I tried to bring him back Sandy. I tried so hard."

Sandy pulls him back against her, rocking him back and forth. "It's not your fault, Chad. It just happened. It's okay."

He looks up at her with tear stained eyes. "How is it okay? How can this ever be okay? My best friend is dead and it's my fault. I should have gone after him. I should have tried harder. I took first aid in high school! I should have remembered what to do!"

Sandy blinks back her own tears and just continues to hold Chad, stroking his hair and making a promise to herself. A promise to take care of him no matter what.

----------

2008:

The rain is coming down hard as they race up the boardwalk to the house. They don't bother with the shower, just go inside, grab a beach towel draped over a chair and take turns using it, shedding wet clothes on the way to the bed. Jensen can't keep his hands to himself, and Jared keeps dipping in for kisses. Jensen's knees hit the back of the bed, his hand curled up in Jared's hair, bringing the taller man down with him as he falls back into the mattress.

Jared lands on top of him with a laugh and Jensen let's out a groan, and then Jared's mouth is working down Jensen's jaw, his teeth grazing Jensen's collarbone and working further down, along the dip of his chest, his abdomen, his tongue slipping into Jensen's navel as his hands work with the button and fly of Jensen's khaki shorts. Jensen sits up and pulls Jared back in for a kiss, and when they part panting, Jensen says, "Easy man, we got all night, and it's your birthday. How about you let me handle things?"

Jared's lips turn into a crooked smile as he licks his lips, his eyes dark and lust blown. "I think I can work with that."

"You're gonna have to, cause I'm gonna taste every inch of you, and let's face it Sasquatch, there's a lot of you to taste," Jensen whispers and then he runs his tongue along Jared's throat, nipping him just below Jared's jaw as he works his hand between them, making quick work of unbuttoning Jared's jean cut-offs.

A whine escapes Jared's throat as Jensen's hand curls around him and Jensen nips at his left nipple with his teeth before soothing over the bite with his tongue. Jared sucks in a sharp breath as Jensen nips and licks his way down his chest as Jensen's hand slowly works Jared's cock inside of his shorts.

"God, Jen," he manages huskily as he drags Jensen up his body until their lips collide once more, and when he pulls back says, "Just do what you have to do to be inside me right now. Have to feel you man. Need to…"

Jensen kisses him, drinking in the last of Jared's desperate words as he reaches for the bedside table. He jerks open the drawer and rummages around until he gives a victorious moan as his hands find his stash of condoms and some tanning oil. Not that he's anticipated this moment, but he used to be a boy scout, and he's been hoping. Jensen draws back and looks down at Jared, hazel eyes wide and lust blown, and he asks, "Ever been this far before Jay?"

He punctuates his question with a downward shift that has their arousals bumping together through their shorts. Jared's neck strains and he bites back on a groan as he breathlessly answers, "Yeah, but it's been a while, Jen. Been so damn long."

"I think it's time we fixed that then," Jensen whispers huskily as he squeezes some of the tanning oil into his hand.

He watches fascinated as some of the oil drips onto Jared's stomach, and Jared's abs tighten against the cold sensation. He rubs his slick hands together as Jared squirms out of his shorts, his erection curving up toward his belly, and Jensen thinks the sight alone has knocked the wind out of him. He bends down, nuzzles at Jared's belly with his nose and smirks when Jared groans against strained laughter and finally growls out, "Quit dickin' around man!"

Jensen chuckles as his tongue curls around the head of Jared's cock and he takes Jared's balls in hand, rolling and massaging them gently and Jared's whole body goes taunt, a bowstring ready to snap at the slightest sensation and Jensen's come to the conclusion that he likes Jared laid out naked in their bed ready to snap at the least provocation of his mouth or touch. It's a heady experience and his own cock twitches in his shorts in agreement.

He works his way down Jared's cock as he uses his index finger to tease at Jared's opening. When his finger breaches Jared, Jared's hips jolt forward and Jensen is nearly choked. He pulls back, Jared's dick on his chin as he raises a brow at a very overwhelmed Jared, as if to say, "Shall I continue without you trying to kill me, princess?"

Jared let's out a huff, his hands fisting tighter in the sheets and Jensen chuckles as he flicks the head of Jared's cock, and watches that long, lean body tremble beneath his administrations. Jensen adds a second finger and Jared cants his hips, a whine escaping his throat as he arches up to accommodate the intrusion. When Jensen curves his fingers Jared's hips snap forward once more, but Jensen releases Jared's cock from his mouth and nips at Jared's left hip dent.

By the time Jensen adds the third finger, Jared is strung so tight beneath him it's a wonder the kid can even hold out for as long as he has, and Jensen's dick is practically demanding attention. Jensen slips up along Jared's body as he wriggles out of his own shorts, and their cocks brush as Jensen mouths at Jared's jaw before his lips find their way to Jared's eager mouth.

He pulls back from the kiss, working to slip the condom on, Jared squirming beneath him. He pulls back, applying more tanning oil before he lines his cock up with Jared's stretched opening. He moves forward, pushing in, watching as Jared tenses instinctively and then visibly forces himself to relax. Jensen takes it slow and easy, a groan escaping him as he slips further inside of Jared, to the hilt.

Jared's feet dig into the mattress of the bed, his eyes meet Jensen's, his hand slips to the back of Jensen's neck as he drags the man down for a kiss, pulls back, nips Jensen's ear and growls, "Move already, damn it!"

Jensen pulls back and slams back in, and it doesn't take long for them to find a rhythm in between kisses and nips. Jensen's hand wraps around Jared's cock, Jared's hand wrapping firmly around Jensen's, as Jensen's hand works Jared's cock in time with his thrusts. Jensen can feel the tightening in his gut, knows that he's very close to coming. He arches forward, his lips meeting Jared's, and Jared pulls back and then Jensen throws his head back as Jared's teeth sink into his collarbone.

Jensen's body shudders and trembles with his orgasm, and Jared bucks up into his hand. Jared pulls back, Jensen's name roaring from his lips. Jensen sags forward, landing sweaty and worn out on top of Jared. Jared presses a few gentle kisses along Jensen's neck as they languidly roll and stretch and shift, until they are a comfortable tangle of limbs, sweat, and recently had sex. Jensen's too tired to care, all he knows is that he's happy, and with someone he's starting to trust. Sleep comes easy for him tonight as Jared's arms tighten around him.

----------

1993:

Its strange, not feeling anything. Not being able to feel anything. Jared's always been a tactile person, and now he's just lingering, watching, unsure if what he's seeing is real, if he's even real. Nothing makes much sense. He remembers the party, the kiss with Chad that went so bad, running away, the storm that followed, the cold, but after that, there's not much, except her.

He's not sure how much time has passed since that night, since meeting her when the cold finally began to fade. All he knows is that he can't feel anything and he's… It's almost like he's hovering over his beach and staring up at his cottage by the sea, the place his uncle left him, only the house is empty, closed up, cold.

He tries to think of how this could be. He wonders how much time has passed, and then from the very edge of his vision he notices that warm, yellow glow, like the sun setting across the ocean, tinting the sand a bright, golden hue.

It doesn't take her long to appear before him, and it's almost like she rises up from the water, taking her form from the very ocean itself.

She glows in the soft yellow light, a smile tugging at her rosy mouth, her blue-gray eyes sparkling like the waves playing at her feet, and her golden hair flows down her back like water. She lets out a small sigh and says, "I made you a promise not so long ago, to take away the cold, and I have kept it, but there is something I would like to ask of you in return. But first, tell me, how do you like the island?"

He thinks for a moment, wondering what's going on, why he can't feel anything, like he's just a flicker in the breeze around him, like he doesn't have a body, and he's simply made out of air.

"I was starting to think of it as home. I mean, I already have this amazing house out here, and it's so calm, peaceful. The view is amazing, the people are good, decent folk, like back home in Texas. Why? What is this?"

Her smile seems almost sad to him now. "This island needs a guardian, someone to know when the storms are coming, to warn the people, to protect this place, and keep it simple, and safe, and peaceful. I'm made from water, and because of that I flow everywhere, belong everywhere and nowhere, but you. You I can give form to. If you become a guardian of this place, this island, Santa Rosa, then you can share its form."

"What are you saying? How can I…? What's wrong with me? Where are my friends? Why is my house closed up?"

"I have no answers for you that you don't already have. I can tell you that your original form is gone back to the earth. This can be yours though, this beach, this island, and no one could take it from you, and I promise in time, you will have a home again someday. All you have to do is say yes as I ask you to become the guardian of this place."

Jared doesn't hesitate. "Yes."

She seems to brighten, the yellow glow around her brightening to white as she kneels down, her fingertips brushing dry sand. He watches as a shape, a body like his rises up in the grains of sand, almost a perfect replica, then a wave slips up the beach, which isn't right because it's not high tide just yet. The wave slips over the body made of sand and he feels something, a tingling throughout his very essence, a shift in the breeze. He's being pulled down into the sand.

He comes up coughing and spluttering the waves receding gently to lap at his toes as he slowly pulls himself up to sit. He shakes his head, stray grains of sand flying around him as he coughs. He takes in a deep, choking breath, his chest expanding, and it's like the first breath he's ever taken. He feels newly born. He looks up at her, his eyes locking with her blue-gray gaze. She offers him her hand. He takes it, that yellow glow of hers surrounding and filling him as he struggles to stand on wobbling legs.

He takes a few experimental steps, and then a spark lights up his spine. He gives her a look of confusion before he looks up at the sky, noticing the gathering of gray clouds overhead. The first drop of rain splashes down across the bridge of his nose, and she lets his hand go, receding with the tide, her voice a whisper in the breeze by his ear.

"You're a guardian now, Jared. A guardian on land. You have more hope at love than those of us caught in the sea. Protect this island."

He runs toward the surf, the waves receding. He splashes into the water, the rain from above pelting down on him gently as he calls out to her, asking for her name, but she's already gone, and he's left wading in the ocean, the rain showering down on him, and it's not cold. In fact, it almost feels like heaven.

----------

2008:

There's a solid, warm weight draped across him, and he takes in a deep breath, a smile pulling at his mouth, because he's never felt so comfortable waking up with someone before. It's so simple, and comforting to have someone to wake up to, and well, even his dick is happy with the way things have worked out. At least that is the point his morning wood is trying to make.

Jensen lets out a groan, and he can't resist the urge to stretch anymore, so he shifts, eases his arms carefully over his head and allows his muscles to pull, constrict, and warm up to being awake. He freezes at the change in Jared's breathing, and the slight movements of Jared's body as the larger man's arms pull him in closer. Jared really is like a giant blanket, not that Jensen minds all that much, mainly because Jared is a very comfy human blanket.

Jared nuzzles at the curve of Jensen's neck that descends into shoulder, and Jensen can feel the smile on Jared's face as Jared's mouth presses a kiss to his collarbone. Jared then stretches out, and while Jensen finds himself kind of missing Jared's long body curled up around him, Jared's sleepy smile and bedroom eyes are just as satisfying.

Jared bumps their noses together affectionately, and then his lips are against Jensen's, coaxing him into a good morning kiss, morning breath and all. Jensen doesn't mind, he's just trying to enjoy the intimacy as Jared pulls back, and in a sleep husky voice says, "Best birthday ever, hands down."

Jensen smirks at that and says, "I aim to please. Now how about shower, mouthwash, and coffee. Not necessarily in that order."

Jared is about to answer him when the door leading into the house crashes open and Chris steps out onto the porch with a low whistle. "Damn son! Least this explains why it's so damn late and their ain't no coffee brewing! Jenny done went and got himself laid! Bout time! Can't stand you when you're a mopey bastard!" Chris says with a wolfish grin, then he gets a good look at Jared and cocks his head to the side, "Say, you look mighty familiar. I know you from somewhere?"

Jared stiffens next to Jensen. He's got the look of a deer trapped in headlights written across his expression. He gives his head a shake, and in a rush that damn near gives both Jensen and Chris whiplash, he's managed to find most of his clothes, and slip out of the door. Jensen gets up, struggling into his shorts by the bed to go after him, but by the time he's reached the door there's no sign of Jared anywhere, not even footsteps in the sand.

Jensen spins around, and fixes Chris with a glare. Chris just shrugs and scratches the back of his head. "What? Don't look at me like that. I don't think I done nothin' wrong… You don't think it was somethin' I said, do ya?"

"What the hell was that?" Jensen snaps.

"Damned if I know, but I swear that kid looks familiar…" Chris says, and then something sparks in his blue eyes and he lets out a snort, his expression dumbstruck. "I'll be damned. You mentioned his name was Jay right? As in Jared Pada-something or nother. Never could get his damn name right! I had a fling with a friend of his a while back, long before I was famous. She was somethin' else too, let me tell ya. Girl cheered for the Lakers! Talk about me bein' one lucky sonuvabitch! Damn, that boy ain't aged a day in damn near fifteen years. Still all bright eyed and baby faced, and apparently got a thing for you!"

Jensen gives him an odd look. "Wait, you know him? What do you mean he hasn't aged a day in fifteen years? That's not possible. Yesterday was his nineteenth birthday."

"Hardly. That kid's bout as old as me. Well maybe I got a year or two on him, but we're damn close in age. And I ain't seen him since him, Sandy and Chad came out here. She came back all sad and shit, and I couldn't deal. Like I said, it was a fling. They start gettin' clingy and all depressed and I just haul ass. You know me. Strings ain't my thing less they're on a guitar," Chris replies and then he notices the look of shock and hurt on Jensen's face, and says, "Hey man, you all right? Am I gonna have to kick the kid's ass, cause for you I totally would. I know I could take his tall ass down."

Jensen shakes his head and goes to sit down on the bed. Nothing is making sense. Jared told him yesterday was his nineteenth birthday. Chris says he knew Jared fifteen years ago, and they are about the same age. He's living in what use to be Jared's house. Sandy and Chad seem awfully protective of Jay, even though they act like they haven't seen him in years. Something's not right, and he wants answers. He wants answers now, dammit, and he'll start with his impromptu realtor and her friend the caretaker.

Read Chapter three of three of Tempestquill's A Cottage with a Sea View