Thyme of My Life | J2 | 2020 Big Bang

Title: Thyme of My Life
Words: 38550
Rating/Warning: NC-17/Jensen is 24 and Jared is 20/21

Summary: Jared knows he’s better than what everyone tells him - his parents, his boss, and everyone at Morgan’s Restaurant. He finally gets the chance to prove it to them all when he nails a spot on Masterchef, the biggest home cook competition on TV. This is the one big shot he’ll ever get and he has to do it on his own as he leaves behind the only person who believes in him, his best friend Jensen. 

With Jared gone in LA and cooking for his life, Jensen is stuck back on the East Coast with more distance between them than ever. It’s also the first time Jensen really acknowledges why he has such a soft spot for the kid and finally realizes what they could mean to one another. Written for the 2020 spn_j2_bigbang.

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cassiopeia7's ART POST! *** READ ON AO3

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Thanks and Cupcakes!
First off to the fabulous cassiopeia7. THANK YOU FOR PICKING ME. It was so fun to work together again and I was so excited every time I got new art drafts. I even had to go through them all again earlier this week to get my mojo back and be inspired to wrap this story up. I'm honored to have your art on this story ... love you to bits, Deb! :-*

Writing this story started earlier this year when I was inspired by Season 10 of Masterchef, then the doc collected dust until I picked it back up to get a draft in for this year's BB. The draft was a mess, but I had ideas and then got even better ideas and loads of support from a great group of fandom pals ... kelleigh, ashtraythief, zubeneschamali, cherie_morte, and quickreaver. Their feedback made this story what it is today. Love you all!

As always, big thanks to wendy for running this challenge each year! I know we bitch and moan about it throughout the process, but it's such a legacy that I never want to miss it <3

And extra cupcakes to ashtraythief and zubeneschamali for last-minute beta. All remaining mistakes are my own.