#amasterson

He looked up as Claire came into the room, dark circles from sleeplessness under his clear blue eyes. he watched her, flashing a smile, and saw her turn, slightly, smiling to herself. His heart squeezed.

"Morning, Claire-bear." He teased. She roleldher eyes.

"Aaron. Don't-"

"Yeah, yeah, yeah. Don't call you Claire-bear it's embarrassing, like ohmygod." He mimicked her annoyed tone, grinning at her, reaching out to put an arm around her waist and draw her into a half-hug. "How'd you sleep?"

She paused slightly, stiffening for jsut a moment, and then looked at him, her own blue eyestoo bright.

"I didn't. I don't. not since Nic gave me grace back." Her face darkened and she tilted in one direction again. Listening. He let her go but didn't take his eyes from her, concerned. "Did you know about Nic?" He nodded quickly, but he didn't want to talk about the demon alchemist right now, his heart was still to sore.

"Yeah, but let's not. Why don't you tell me aobut Arthur." he said, keeping his voice gentle. She froze again, staring at him as though he'd caught her doing something wrong. He led her to the couch, making her sit, holding her hand. Gentle. "I heard he helped you when you were... captured." Her face relaxed and she nodded.

"Yeah. He talked to me, reminded me of things... he told me to take the oath, to save my life that way." She said. She listened, and then shook her head. "Aaron's okay, he's our friend." she said softly, the words cutting right through him. It was true. She was hallucinating.

"I'm not going to hurt you or Arthur, i just wanted to know." he told her. She brightened.

"He doesn't like other people very much. It's nothing personal." She said, and Aaron nodded, feeling a weight settling inside of him.

"Can you... can you touch him?" He asked. She frowned.

"Why would i want to?" She countered, listening again. "No, he said he wouldn't hurt you, shut up."

"Just asking. I'm just curious, i've never had a friend come back for me like that." He lied easily; once you knew how to do it, the trick of it never left you. She relaxed again.

"I bet Rich would come back for you." She said. Aaron laughed, bitter.

"No, i wouldn't want him to, he's done enough." He said. He turned slightly to where her eyes kept going,a space just beside him.

"Hello, Arthur. I'm Aaron." He said, heart pounding. Claire brightened more.

"He told you to fuck off. Like i said, doesn't like people." She said, laughing. "I'l ltry to bring him around, though." She suddenly clutched his hand in hers, eyes desperate and sad.

-------

She pinched the bridge of her nose, breathing deeply as he spoke. He was injured, he was hurt, and she could hear the anger in his voice. She didn't want to think of what would happen when she told him what had happened. 

"I'm sorry, Aaron. I love you. Never stopped." 

She wasn't lying, and that's what broke her heart the most. 

And i didn't say i wanted it to happen again, just that...

Never mind.

Hello to you, too.

Timeline notes:

Gemma met Aaron six years ago. At this point, Abby was still alive, but she and Gemma were both flying solo. The cousins kept in contact frequently.

Gemma was in New York six months later on a job, and saw Aaron. Abby was supposed to meet her, but ran into trouble with the Winchesters and went to ground.

Another six months, (placing us now at five years ago) Abby was dragged to hell to fulfill her deal. Gemma returned stateside to identify the body, and remained for a few months. In this period, she met Daniel Collins, Rachel's brother. They had a quite short lived affair, both parties in considerably painful places in their lives.

She returned to London shortly after.

At this point, Abby has been in Hell for five years topside...for a grand total of 600 years downstairs.

She called Gemma that night and told her everything. About her deal, that she had dealt with Crowley. That she had tried to get out of the deal by giving him the Colt, but she'd missed the fine print. Or rather, lack thereof. No official deal, no obligation on his part to do her any favours.

The thought of anyone she cares about making a deal, especially with any version of Crowley, eats at Gemma. Because she knows how it ends. She doesn't want to go through the pain of that loss again.

If we kissed?

[] Quickie.[] Tongue.[] Softly bite your lip.[] We wouldn’t.[] Long and meaningful.[] Let’s hit up the bedroom.[x] You remember last time?[x] Awkward…[x] Lol no. your a good kisser and all butWould I go out with you?[] Yes, definitely.[] No.[] I want to, but it wouldn’t work.[] Maybe. [x] Nope, you’re like family.[] You’re cute, but probably not.[] Just simply not my type.[] If I knew you better.[] Already did.[] I don’t know.If we took a picture together, we’d be…[] Hugging each other.[x] Just chilling.[] Holding hands.[] Kissing.[x] Acting dumb.[x] Normal picture.[] You holding me from behind.You are…[] Cute/Pretty.[] Good looking.[] Sexy.[x] All of the above gotta admit you’re a pretty man.You + me + room = …[x] Movies.[x] Cuddling.[x] Hanging out.[] Kissing.[] Playing games.[] Everything.[] Wouldn’t let you in.You should…[x] Hit me up.[] Be mine.[] Marry me.[] Reblog this so I can send you a heart.[] be studyingx—be where you belong and not where you are at.

Aaron sat in the interrogation room, the lights hot on him. He was sitting inside a cage tat was in a larger room. This kind of cage was usually used for dangerous creatures. werewolves, Vampires, and the like. He grinned that they thought he was dangerous enough to warrant it.

His grin faded at the thought of his messed up rag-tag little family. He hoped they hadn't been tracked. He hoped they'd  gotten out of Saginaw. He thought of Sophie and Rich and their crisis. He thought of Claire and Eve, broken by the Brotherhood and trying to recover. He saved the best for last.

Katharine, breathing his name against his lips. Calling him love. The light in her eyes when he'd asked her to marry him. He'd promised her he'd come home.

He turned his head as the door to the interrogation room opened. He laughed when he saw his interrogator. Of course.