#filled request(s)

“Need some help here!”

Sam’s shout had you on your feet in an instant.  You ran out of your room and down the hall, skidding to a stop when you saw Sam and his brother laying out a very injured Samandriel in one of the bunker’s unused bedrooms.

“What happened?” 

Sam looked up, his face tired and etched with worry.  “Rowena.  She hit him with a hefty dose of magic.”

Damn it.  You really needed to find a way to kill that bitch.

“What can I do to help?”  You felt tears forming in your eyes as you looked down at the unconscious angel, but quickly blinked them away.

“First aid kit from the bathroom.”

Nodding, you hurried off to get what Dean had asked for.

Once the brothers had patched Samandriel up as best they could, they headed back out.  Rowena was still wreaking havoc and needed to be stopped.  This left you alone to keep an eye on the injured angel.

“No!”

Alarmed, you rushed to Samandriel’s room.  Upon entering, you saw him thrashing around on the bed.  He still appeared to be unconscious, probably having a nightmare about all he’d just endured.

“Samandriel?”  You inched closer to the bed, not sure if you should wake him.  “Samandriel?”  You reached out and brushed your fingers along his hand.

The moment your skin made contact with his, he opened his eyes, wide, and started gasping for breath.

“Samandriel?”

“______?”  He tried to sit up, only to fall back, groaning in pain.

“Don’t–” you frowned, unsure of what to do.  “Don’t try to sit up.  You were hit by some pretty nasty magic and you need to heal first.”

He nodded weakly.

“Can I get you anything?”

He shook his head.  “I feel…I feel this overwhelming urge to sleep.”

“Then sleep.”  You shrugged.

“Angels do not sleep.”

“Well,” you bit your lip.  “Then don’t sleep?”

He barked out a laugh before groaning again.  “Thank you.”

“I haven’t done anything.”

“Well, thank you for being here to watch over me.”

Blush crept up to your cheeks.

You looked up from your notes just in time to see Samandriel collapse against the door frame.  You jumped up, moving quickly to help him to a chair.  “What are you doing out of bed?”

“I’ve been in bed for days now.  Tired of looking at the walls.”

“Oh.”

“It’s only nice when you’re in there with me.”

Your face began to heat as you ducked your head.  “Can I get you anything?”

“No.”  He sighed, sinking into the cushions of the chair.  “Have the Winchesters been able to defeat the witch?”

“No,” you sighed.  “They called yesterday and they have me looking up some stuff, but so far, I haven’t found much to help them.”

“Perhaps I can assist you?”

Your blush was going to wind up permanently staining your cheeks red.  “It’s OK, Samandriel.  You should probably rest up some more.”

“I don’t mind.”  The angel bit his lip.

Maybe he was just as unsure of all this as you were.

“Um…OK.”

For three days straight, Samandriel was with you while you researched.  Sometimes, he’d help look through books and notes.  Other times, he’d be too drained, still recovering from whatever Rowena had done to him, but he’d still sit with you and keep you company.

It was nice.

“I’m fine!”

You looked up from your book to see Sam helping a limping Dean into the library.  “What happened to you?”

“Nothing!” Dean snapped.  “I’m perfectly fine.”

“You broke your leg, dumbass.”  Sam retorted, rolling his eyes.  “You got any ice packs, ______?  We gotta get the swelling down.”

“Yeah.  Hang on.”  You set your book aside and hurried to the kitchen.  You were surprised to see Samandriel already there.  “Are you OK?”

“Much better.” He frowned, taking in your rushed appearance. “Are you alright?”

“I’m fine.  It’s Dean who broke his leg.  He needs some ice packs.”  You grabbed what you needed from the freezer and started back towards the library.  “Guys?”  They were nowhere in sight.

“Dean’s room!”  Sam shouted.

“Of course.”  You shook your head and made your way towards his bedroom.  “Here we go.”

“Thanks, ______.” Dean sighed as the ice hit his skin.  “Shit, that’s cold.”

“It’s ice, Dean.  An integral part of ice is usually cold.”

Sam chuckled and even Dean smiled at your sarcasm.  It wasn’t often that you broke out of your shell around them, and it made them happy when you did.

“Thanks, doc.”

“We’ll need to set his leg.  But we can’t do that without an x-ray machine or whatever it is doctors use.”  You paused.  “Oh.  Wait.  Hang on a sec.”  You hurried out of the room and back towards the kitchen.  “Samandriel?”

He looked like he was puzzling over something.  “Yes?”

“Are you feeling well enough to heal Dean’s leg?  If not, that’s totally fine, but if you could use your--”

He huffed.  “It’s fine.  I will heal Dean’s leg.”  He disappeared and reappeared before you had time to decipher his tone.  “Dean Winchester is healed.”

Then he disappeared again.

Weird.

As soon as Dean and Sam headed off for another hunt, Samandriel popped back into the bunker, acting as if he hadn’t been gone for over a week.  It was puzzling, but you enjoyed the angel’s company too much to question it.  After all, Cas popped in and out.  Maybe it was just an angel thing?

Except, it seemed like every time Sam and Dean were home, Samandriel would disappear.  And then, once they were gone, he’d be back.  It didn’t make much sense.

“Samandriel, wherever you are, we need you to get your feathery ass down here.” Dean called out to the ceiling.

“What is it?” The young angel snapped seconds after he appeared.

“Look, kid, we need to talk.”

“I am not a child, Dean Winchester.  I am still, very much, an angel of the Lord.”

Dean rolled his eyes.

“It’s about ______.” Sam interjected.

“What is wrong with ______?” Worry laced Samandriel’s voice.

Dean and Sam shared a look.

“See, it’s like this.”  Dean began.  “______ feels like you keep ditching, anytime we’re at home.  But that’s crazy, right?  You wouldn’t skip out just ‘cause Sam and I are around.  Right?”

“I do not like seeing you with ______.”  Samandriel admitted with a sigh.  “I do not understand why I get so angry, so I distance myself.”

Another look passed between Sam and Dean, this time, with a smirk.

“So, you like spending time with ______?” Sam asked.

“Very much so.”

“And you get jealous whenever we’re around ______?”

Samandriel cocked his head to the side.  “Is that what I am feeling?”

Dean grinned.  “Sounds to me like you might be in love.”

“Oh.”

“Oh?”  Sam was confused.  “That’s all love gets...‘oh’?”

“What am I supposed to do about it?”  Samandriel was genuine in his curiosity.

“You march right up to ______ and say ‘I love you.’  It’s not rocket science.”  Dean scoffed.

“Very well.”  Samandriel disappeared.

“I didn’t mean--” Dean began, too late.  “--right this second.”

“Well, at least ______ will stop sulking.”  Sam shrugged.

You were trying not to mope over the fact that Sam and Dean would be at the bunker for another week.  That meant it would be at least that long, if not longer, before you got to see Samandriel.

A distraction.  That’s what you needed.  Something to get your mind off your problems.  Maybe you could go for a drive or something.  Getting some fresh air might help to clear your thoughts.

“______?”

Scratch that.  Samandriel was here.  Wait...Samandriel was here?  Now?

“Are you OK?”  He looked very nervous.

His steps were very determined as he moved to stand right in front of you.  “I love you.”  Then he was gone.

“What...what just happened?” you asked to your empty room.

A moment later, Samandriel reappeared.  “I apologize.  Dean did not tell me it was proper etiquette to stay after I said that to you.”

“Dean?  He put you up to this?”  You started to get angry.

“No.”  Samandriel shook his head.  “He was merely helping me tell you how I feel.  I left to make sure I’d done it correctly, but he told me I was supposed to stay with you after I said it.”

“So...you love me?”  Your heart began to beat wildly.  Was this why he’d been so weird lately?

“Forgive me, ______, for my ‘weird’ behavior.  The Winchesters helped me realize that what I was feeling was jealousy.  I did not like seeing you with them.”

“You know, I live here.  I’m going to be around them.”

His brow furrowed.  “I understand.  I am just unsure of how to make these feelings of jealousy disappear.”

“You have nothing to be jealous over.”  You smiled.  “Sam and Dean are like brothers.”

“That is good to hear.”  He returned your smile.

“So, here’s no need for you to be jealous.”  You reached out and took his hands in yours.  “As for that other feeling...do you know why it’s proper etiquette to stay after you tell someone you love them?”

He shook his head.

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     You awoke to Dean shouting, which wasn’t all that strange, he did happen to be one of those quick-to-anger types.  Groaning,  you shuffled out of bed, dressed in a flannel shirt you stole from Dean and shorts.  Following the sound of Dean’s voice, you walked into the library.

    “What are you going on about now?” You shouted over Dean, as he hadn’t noticed you walk in.  “You know we all got to bed very late, because you,” you rounded to Dean, pointing your finger at him, before continuing your rant,  "insisted we could get to the Bunker before night fell. Is it too much to ask that you keep it down?"

    The room instantly fell silent, and all eyes rested on you. And that’s when you realized Dean wasn’t yelling at Sam, there was someone else in the room.

    “Well, you’re a feisty one, aren’t ya?”  

    You turned to your left to see a man with honey colored hair and a smirk on his face. You stared at him for a moment, your eyebrows furrowed. You knew him from…. somewhere. But you weren’t sure where.

    Sam looked between you two, before clearing his throat. “Sorry about that Y/N, but as Dean said before, Gabriel, you can’t just pop up uninvited.”

    Gabriel? Gabriel… No bells were ringing, and you were still having a silent staring contest with him.

    Gabriel turned to Dean, “Dean-o, I couldn’t give a damn if you wanted me here or not.”

    Dean grumbled a few choice words before settling into a chair next to Sam.  

    Gabriel turned his attention back to you, looking you from head to toe before slowly dragging his eyes up to your own. “Because I believe we haven’t met,” he continued with a grin, shortening the distance between you with three steps.

    “Yeah, let’s keep it that way, angel boy,” Dean decided,  turning back to share a look with Sam.

    “Oh my god,” you whispered as it finally clicked. This Gabriel starred in many films, like sexy films. You suddenly thought back to all those nights in motels, watching Casa Erotica while the boys were out.  Oh god, this is awkward, do something, say something!

    “Y/N? You okay?”

    You blinked and glanced to Sam , who was gently shaking your shoulder.

    “Yeah, yeah, I’m fine. I’m just really tired.”

    Meanwhile, Gabriel, who may have been reading through your mind, laughed out loud. “Wait, you’ve seen those? You watch porn? My day keeps getting better and better.”

    Dean turned to Gabriel, “What the hell are you talking about now?”

    Gabriel pointed to you, “I may not know her, but she definitely knows me.”

    You flushed red, and avoided looking anyone in the eyes.

    “Y/N, what is he talking about?” Sam questioned.

    You looked up at him, wishing this entire situation had never happened. “Casa Erotica,” you finally whispered.

    Dean busted up at that point, throwing back his head, while Sam removed his hand from your shoulder and looked to floor, trying to think of something to say.

    “Jesus, Y/N, Casa Erotica?” Dean laughed, looking to you.

    “Whatever Dean, you watch porn too!” You shouted at him.

    “Yeah, I’ll give you that, but not porn with Gabriel in it!”

    “Woah, woah, woah, don’t hate on my work,” Gabe cut in, “based on some certain memories, Y/N here really enjoyed it.” He added with a wink.

    “And that’s my cue. I can’t watch this anymore. Dean, let’s grab something to eat, ” Sam shook his head and walked out of the library.

    Dean looked between your embarrassed expression and Gabriel’s delighted one before following Sam out, still chuckling to himself.

    You buried your head into your hands. “I think that’s just about the most embarrassing thing that has ever happened to me, ever.”

    "C'mon Sugar, no one should feel guilty about their pleasures," Gabriel replied, stepping closer to you and placing his hand on your shoulder.

    You looked up from your hands to his whiskey colored eyes, trying to read the situation. Finally you groaned, “I do, is the problem, I feel guilty that I’ve seen you in rather compromising positions and I don’t even know anything about you.”

    Gabriel raised an eyebrow, “If that’s your only problem, that’s an easy fix. We could start over if you’d like? Pretend this whole pornstar thing didn’t happen,” he suggested. “Although I must say I’m glad you liked it,” he added.

    You flushed at the last comment, but nodded your head in agreement, “Yeah, okay, let’s do that.”

    Gabriel grinned and offered his hand to you, “Well in that case, my name is Gabriel.”

    You took his extended hand and shook it, “And I’m Y/N.”  You noticed that he held your hand a bit longer than normal. “So tell me about yourself, Gabriel.”

    “Sugar, my life’s story would be nothing compared to yours. And you can call me Gabe,” he replied, waving off your question with his hand.

    “Oh I doubt that, I believe earlier Dean called you “angel boy”,” you countered.

    “Not just any old angel, sugar, I’m an archangel,” he smirked, taking a small step closer to you.

    You looked up into his eyes. “Oh, I don’t think I’ve met an archangel before,” you breathed out, the sudden proximity intoxicating.

    “Are you saying I’m your first?” He joked, and you flushed red, glancing down. He gently grabbed your chin, pulling you up to look at him. You trailed your eyes from his pink lips to his eyes, and without a second thought you leaned up and pressed your lips to his.

    Gabriel surprised you by returning the kiss with a newfound vigor, as he moved his hands to your waist, tugging you closer. You smiled into his lips, and threaded your hands into his hair, tugging slightly. He moaned slightly as you tugged, and you took the opportunity to deepen the kiss.

    You pulled away, out of breath, and looked up with half-lidded eyes to Gabriel. His mouth was slightly open, shocked or something else, you couldn’t tell; however, his eyes were dark, lust-blown.

    You kissed him again, this time it was hungrier, messier. You heard Gabe click his fingers together, and rush of wind followed. Surprised, you opened your eyes to find yourself in your bedroom. Grinning you walked over to your bed, pulling Gabe down on top of you, reaching up to capture his lips again.

    His hands wandered down your body, landing on the waistband of your shorts, but he paused before pulling them down. He pulled away and looked at you.“Are you sure, sugar?”

    You raised your eyebrows, “Gabe, I’ve seen enough to know I want this,” you lifted and pressed your hips against his needily. “I want you,” you added lowly, unbuttoning and pulling off your shirt.

    He chuckled to himself before complying and shimmying down your shorts and panties, and shedding himself of his own shirt. Smirking, he leant down and placed a short kiss on your lips, and when he pulled away you whined, but that turned into a moan when he planted his lips on your neck.

    He trailed lower, stopping to lavish your breasts with wet kisses, before continuing down. He skipped to your inner thighs, before placing butterfly kisses up until he reached your slit. His breath fanned out, so close yet so far. You desperately bucked your hips, trying to get more contact.

    Gabriel pulled back, a smug grin on his face, “Steady,” he chided, and placed his firm hands on your hips.

     You breathly agreed, and threaded your fingers into his hair. In the next moment, Gabriel leaned down and pressed his tongue to your pussy. He hummed lowly as you gently tugged his honey locks, the sensations spurring you both on. You moaned as he slowly drew one of his hands away from your hip, and brought it down to play with your clit. You gripped his hair and grit your teeth as he worked you to the edge.

    You open your mouth to warn him, but all that comes out are whimpers as his tongue swirls around your wet cunt. He lets out a pleased groan as you come, crying out and squirming beneath him.

    Releasing your hips from his grip, he pulled himself up to your face, bracing himself on his forearms. You lean up, placing kisses to his collarbones, trailing up to his ear. "So are you going to take your pants off and fuck me, or what?"

    And with another snap his pants were gone, and his lips were pressed aggressively to yours. Internally, you were priding yourself that you had managed to say anything at all. There was no doubt in your mind that Gabriel was the best you'd ever had. And you hadn't even gotten to the best part yet.

    Gabriel was laughing slightly when he pulled away. "You think too loud," he explained.

    “Well, are you going to prove my theory or just lay there?”

    Gabriel narrowed his eyes at you, and with a low growl,  he pushed himself into you.

    You cried out, your hands reaching out for something to anchor you, as he pumped in and out. Your hands found his sturdy shoulders, your nails digging into them.

    Gabriel leaned his head down to the crook of your neck, placing kisses to your flushed skin. You moaned loudly as Gabriel trailed a hand down to press his thumb to your clit, the other threading into your hair and tugging.

    The combination of his hot skin touching yours and his groans had you shivering with pleasure, crying out his name. Gabriel came soon after you, your name and a foreign language falling from his lips like a prayer.

    Moments later, he moves next to you, throwing his arm around you. You cuddle up next to him, your hand tracing patterns on his chest. He looks at you and places a kiss to your forehead.

     Without looking at him, you speak up, “You know, the boys will be out for a little while longer, Dean hasn’t eaten in at least 12 hours.”

~*~*~*~*~

According to legend, a long, long time ago, in the land of Asgard, lived a boy.  Now, this was not just any boy.  Rather, he was the son of a god and goddess.  This boy lived with his mother and father in this magical land.  He grew up brave and strong.  When the boy was grown, he was said to be so beautiful and amazing that he actually gave off a glow.  He was loved by one and all.

Well, all except one.

When the boy began to have dreams of his death, his mother went to everything, great and small, and procured a promise that they would never harm her son.  From the birds that flew overhead, to the trees of the forest, everything promised to bring no harm to the boy.

Well, all except one.

The boy’s mother neglected to garner a vow from the mistletoe plant, believing it too small to ever be able to cause anyone problems.  When Loki learned of her oversight, he crafted a spear from the mistletoe plant.  He convinced a blind god to test the boy’s immortality.  For surely, nothing could harm him.  This god, not knowing what the spear was made of, threw it at the boy.

The boy died.

~*~*~*~*~

It had taken you four months find all the ingredients to complete the summoning.  Four long months since Sam had given you the news of Gabriel’s death through a phone call.  Four months of waking up alone after sobbing yourself to sleep.  Four months of barely eating, your appetite having completely deserted you.  Four months of devoting yourself to researching exactly what you’d need to summon the goddess who might be your only means of getting back the angel you loved.

You watched the flame from the candle eat up the parchment in your hand.  When the heat began to lick at your fingers, you tossed the paper into the cauldron.

“______.”

“Kali.”

“Why have you summoned me, huntress?” One of the goddess’s perfectly arched eyebrows lifted.

“To right a wrong.” You were not going to be intimidated, at least, not on the outside.  Inside, you were terrified six ways to Sunday, but you refused to let it show.

“And what is your perceived wrong?” The corner of her mouth lifted into a smirk.

“You know the wrong I’m talking about, Kali.” The hunter in you hated to address her with reverence.  But that was only hurting your chances of getting her help.  You tried to keep from panicking at the thought of her refusing to do this.

“I’m afraid I don’t, human,” she folded her arms across her chest, a hint of humor in her eyes, “but feel free to enlighten me.”

Your pride would have to take a back seat if you ever wanted him back. “Loki.”

“Who?”

“Loki.  Trickster.  Whatever the hell you know him as.”

“Ah, you mean Gabriel.”

You couldn’t mask your look of shock quickly enough.

“What?  You think an archangel could hide his true identity from me?” She scoffed.  “You forget, ______, he was mine long before he was yours.”

“That’s great and all, but I don’t feel like going all ‘Jerry Springer’ here.” You tamped down your jealousy.  “Gabriel didn’t deserve to die.  I need your help getting him back.”

“What makes you think I’ll help you?”

“Because that’s what you do–right wrongs and shit.”  You paused.  “You can do this, right?”

“You misunderstand.  I am capable of completing this task.  What makes you think I will?”

Fuck.  “Kali, please.”  You searched your thoughts, frantically.  “I brought this to you because you’re the only one powerful enough to do this.”  Maybe playing to her ego would help persuade her.

“True.” Her smile unnerved you.  “What will you give me in exchange?”

“What do you want?”

“Retribution.”

“What?” Now it was your turn to cock an eyebrow.

She ignored your question.  “Is it a deal?”

Your hunter instincts screamed that this was a bad idea.  A horrible, awful, bad idea.  Only idiots made deals with supernatural creatures.

Still, you found yourself nodding.  You finally understood why Dean made that crossroads deal.  If it meant getting Gabriel back with you, what did it matter how you did it?

“I will just need a small sample of his blood.”

You began to reach for the tiny vial he’d given you to summon him in case you ever found yourself in serious trouble and he wasn’t with you.  He’d meant it to be used if you were in danger, but that didn’t matter anymore.  He wasn’t with you, and that was more than enough reason to use his blood.

Surprisingly, she waved you off.  She held out her palm and a smearing of red blossomed on her fingertips as she began to chant. The ground beneath your feet began to shake as her volume increased.  Her body began to glow and you could just make out the two extra arms, as well as her third eye.

A flash of light had you squeezing your eyes shut.  Then everything stopped.  The ground stopped shaking, the glow had vanished, and her chanting had faded out.  You opened your eyes to see Gabriel sprawled out on the ground, the outline of his wings charred onto the floor.  

You couldn’t breathe.

Until he bolted upright, gasping in a lungful of air.

Tears had been falling from your eyes, but you hadn’t realized it until you locked eyes with the archangel.  Seeing him looking completely confused and utterly adorable had you grinning.  Your grin was contagious, as he returned your smile, pushing himself up to his feet.  God, looking at him–he was sunshine and happiness and everything you’d missed these last four dark months.  It was as if your heart finally started beating again.

“I’ve missed you, so much.” It was the only thing you could think to say.

He pulled you to him, crushing his lips against yours.  He still tasted like chocolate.

“I’d say I missed you, too.” He pulled back. “But I’ve been dead.”  You immediately balled your fist and punched his shoulder.

“That is not funny,” you choked out, bunching the front of his shirt in your other hand.  “You left me alone.  I spent four–four months,” you started crying, “Do you–do you have any idea–I didn’t want to keep going.”

“______, don’t talk like that.” He cupped your face and wiped your tears away with his thumbs.

“______.”  Shit!  Kali was right behind you.

“We are done here, Kali.”  Gabriel pulled you so that he was standing between you and the goddess.

“I’m afraid not, Gabriel.”  Kali taunted.  “She must hold up her end of the bargain.”

“Bargain?”  Gabriel spun around to face you.  “You made a deal?”

“Yes.”  You nodded.  “And she did her part, so it’s time for me to do mine.”  You weren’t going to apologize.  You peered around Gabriel.  “What do you want me to do?”

“You don’t get to have her, Kali.”

“She made a deal.”

“Call it off.” Gabriel snapped.

“No!”  What the hell was he saying?  “If she calls it off, you’re dead.”

He grabbed your shoulders, as if trying to shake sense into you. “If this ends badly, you’re dead!”

“I can’t–I can’t do this without you, Gabriel!”

“What makes you think I want to do this without you, ______?”  His eyes were wide with fear and anger.

Kali ignored both of you.  “Baldur.  His soul rests with Hel.”

“You mean in hell, right?”

She rolled her eyes.  “With, you stupid human.  With.  You might know Hel as Death.”  She looked at Gabriel.  “Honestly, I do not know what you see in her.”

“End the deal now, Kali.”  Gabriel held up his hand.

“Or what?  You’ll destroy me?”  She laughed.  “I think you’ll find your powers have diminished immensely, Loki.”

He snapped his fingers.  Nothing happened.

“I was able to resurrect you, yes.  But not as an archangel.”  Her lips twisted as if she’d tasted something unpleasant.  “Not even I have the ability to give you your complete powers back.”

“Fuck!  What the fuck possessed you to make a deal?” Gabriel growled at you.  “How could you think I’m worth making a deal over?”

“How are you not worth making a deal over, Gabriel?”  

He’d been your life for almost two years.  You loved him with every fiber of your being.  Nothing was worth losing him.

You watched as a sense of wonder and amazement filled his eyes.  

He pressed a hard kiss to your lips.  “We do this together.”  He turned to face Kali.  “We’ll retrieve Baldur.”

“If you fail,” Kali directed her statement to you, “You belong to me.  You have 48 hours.”

***

You waited anxiously as Gabriel finished the summoning.  This could be it.  Once you got Death to release Baldur, you were in the clear.  Free to be with Gabriel forever.

“I do hope you have a reason for summoning me.”  A slender, pale man stood before you, dressed in a black suit, and staring at both you and Gabriel, rather crossly.  “Gabriel.”

“Um, yeah.”

Gabriel’s sudden nervousness caught you off-guard.  Still, you had a reason for summoning him.  “Death, uh…” you began.

“Wait your turn.” Death glared at you before turning his attention solely onto Gabriel.  “I ought to end you right now, for all the trouble you’ve caused me.  Although it does delight me to see that you’re not at full capacity.”

Oh shit.  Terror began to creep up your spine.

“Look, if this is about me pretending to be dead–”

“What else would I be upset with you about, boy?”  Death rolled his eyes.  “Would you kindly tell me why you’ve summoned me?  I have more important things to do with my time than to waste it on a protozoan and an infantile angel.”

“Um, sir–we are here on behalf of Kali.”  You tried to sound more confident than you felt, but even you could hear the fear in your voice.  This wasn’t just some random monster–this was Death-capital D and all.  “She’s requested that we retrieve Baldur from you.”

“And why isn’t she here, asking me herself?”  Death cocked an eyebrow.

“I–uh–I don’t know, sir.”

Death turned back to Gabriel.  “Just like old times, Loki.  This is the second time someone has asked me to turn over that arrogant little worm to them.  Although, I must admit, I’m surprised that you’re the one asking for him.  If I recall, you were the reason I had him last time.”

“What?”  You looked at Gabriel who only shrugged helplessly.  “Look, uh, sir–not to be rude or anything–”

“A bit late for that.”

“We just need Baldur.”

“And why should I just hand over Baldur to you?”

“I–uh–shit.  I don’t know.”

Death sighed as if just speaking to you was taxing on him.  “Bring me mistletoe and I will release Baldur.”

“Seriously?  Just mistletoe?  That’ll be ea–”

“Bring me the mistletoe that once pierced Baldur and sent him to me the first time.”

“How the hell are we supposed to do that?” Gabriel snapped.  “It’s not like the mistletoe was preserved or anything.”

“Why must they always be so petulant?” Death shook his head, annoyed.  “Frigg kept the mistletoe that took her son from her.  Bring me that mistletoe and I will give you Baldur.”  

And just like that, Death was gone.

“There has to be another way!”  Gabriel shouted at the empty space Death had occupied.  “Shit, ______.” He turned to you, his face ashen.  “There’s no way she’s going to give that up to me.”

Your tried to reign in your thoughts.  This was it.  You’d failed before you even got started.  You were going to die.  But, at least you’d gotten Gabriel back for a little while.  Maybe that could be enough.

Gabriel grabbed you by the shoulders.  “I am not letting you die, do you understand me?”

“How?”  You felt tears sliding down your face.  Who were you kidding?  Forever would never be enough with Gabriel.  “Gabriel, I–”

“You!  She’ll give it to you!” He sounded near hysterical.  “I’ll take you to Frigg and she’ll give you the mistletoe.”

“Please, Gabriel, don’t–”

“No!” The venom in his voice startled you.  “Look, I’m still Loki–sort of.  I’ll take you to Frigg as Idun, and she’ll give you the mistletoe.”

“What?”

“Just trust me.”  He kissed you, his desperation pouring out through his embrace.  “I’m not letting Kali have you.”

Deep in your heart, you knew he was grasping at straws.  Still, you found yourself nodding.  “OK.”

***

Gabriel had given you a crash course in Norse gods and goddesses.  Apparently, during his time as Loki, he’d already killed Baldur once.  Or, rather, he’d tricked another god to kill him with mistletoe.  It was all a big mess.  And he was going to have you masquerading as some goddess he’d kidnapped after he’d tricked her into some marriage and…yeah.  None of it made much sense, but you figured it didn’t have to.

Still, nothing could have prepared you for the grandiose setting you found yourself in.   Asgard was indescribable.

“Loki.”

Something about how she said his name made you want to run.  She’d know this was all a ruse and she’d kill you before you could even speak.

“Frigg.”  There was definitely no love lost between the two of them.

“And this, Idun, of what business do you have with this trickster?”  

Holy shit.  Gabriel had told you he could have Frigg believing you were this goddess, but you’d been skeptical.  How in the world had he managed this?

You bowed your head, just as Gabriel had told you to do.  “I have come with news–your son, Baldur, has fallen to Hel once more.”

“You have taken my son from me again?”  The woman’s entire body began to glow.  Shit–she was going to kill both of you.

“Actually, Frigg, it was Lucifer who took Baldur from you this time.”  You bit your lip to keep it from trembling.  Where the hell had your brave hunter-side gone?

“Lucifer–the angel?”

“Cutting to the chase, Frigg–we have a way to get Baldur back.  We just need the mistletoe he was stabbed with the first time around.”  Gabriel stepped in, saving you from having to get all that out.

“Mistletoe?  The mistletoe you so painstakingly carved into a spear to end my son’s life–that mistletoe?”

“Hel gave us his word that he will deliver Baldur the moment we have given him that particular bit of mistletoe.”  You needed to suck it up and put your game face on.  Lives were at stake–namely, your own, and possibly Gabriel’s.  “So, we have come for it.”

“Why?”

“To bring your son back?”  What part of this was she not getting.

“Why are you so interested in bringing my son back, human?”

Fuck.  Fucking fuck.  You glanced at Gabriel in fear before turning back to the goddess.  “Look, your majesty–I’m just here because I want to fix this.  Baldur shouldn’t be dead, but neither should Gabriel, and I’m just trying to make it so everyone is OK.”  *Please don’t let her kill me*

The goddess snapped her fingers and a deadly looking spear, covered in mistletoe, now rested in your hands.

“You will take this, and you will retrieve my son, and neither of you will set foot in Asgard again.”

“Frigg–” Gabriel’s voice was gone.  How–?

“If either of you step into Asgard, I will find you.  And I will kill you.  Do you understand?”

You nodded.  Gabriel glared daggers at the woman.

“Are you aware of my powers, human?”

“You can see everyone’s destiny.”  And rob Gabriel of his voice.

“You have informed her well, Loki.”  There was still disdain in her voice.  “I never reveal destinies, but I will tell you this.” She looked on you with a sort of pity.  “Beware of your connection with this trickster.  He has been the downfall of many, and he will be yours as well.”

“What the–”

In the next instant, you were back inside the warehouse where you’d originally summoned Kali.

“–fuck is that supposed to mean?”

“We will get this all straightened out, ______.  I promise.”  Gabriel had his voice back.  He took the spear from your hands and set it aside.  “I’m not letting anything happen to you.” He pulled you into his arms. “Even if I have to bind Death, myself.”

“I do hope it won’t come to that.”  Death appeared before you, causing you to jump.

Seriously, why couldn’t anyone announce they were coming?

“And what would the fun in that be?”  Death sighed.  “I’m afraid I cannot accept this mistletoe.”

“What?”  You looked over in horror.  “But we went to Asgard and Frigg gave it to me!”

Death turned to Gabriel, the spear in his hands.  “I’m surprised you don’t recognize that this isn’t your handiwork.”

Gabriel took the spear from Death and examined it.  “Shit!”  And he disappeared.  A second later, he was back.  “I can’t–I can’t get in.”  He looked you in the eye and you finally noticed the hope that had been there since he’d first re-awoken had started to die out.

“Since you have nothing for me, I will be keeping Baldur.”  Death was gone again.

“I’ll talk to Kali again,” Gabriel reasoned quickly, trying to come up with any possible way to save you.  “You tried.  That has to count for something.”

“Gabriel,” you bit your lip, willing your poker-face to stay intact.  “Maybe it’s time we face facts.  We failed.”  Your strong facade began to break and your bottom lip began to tremble.

“NO!”  This time, he actually did shake you.  “I’m not losing you.  Do you understand that?  I can’t do this without you.”

“Sweetheart,” you were crying again as you reached up and cupped his face in your hand.  “You did this without me for eons.  One little blip in time isn’t going to make that huge of a difference.”

He took your hand from his face and placed it against his chest.  “Do you feel this?  This thing beats because of you, for you.  I love you, ______.  Kali isn’t taking you from me.”

“That was almost beautiful.”  Both you and Gabriel jumped at the sound of Kali’s voice.  “And yes, I must commend you for trying.  However, the deal was for Baldur, not for effort.”  She raised her hand towards you.

“Kali, don’t do this.  Please.”  Gabriel stepped between you and Kali.

You felt a sudden stab of pain in your stomach and you doubled over.  Fuck, nothing had ever hurt this bad.  It was as if a fire had started in your gut and was trying to burn you, from the inside, out.

“______!” Gabriel was at your side, holding you.  “Stop it, now!”  He turned his attention completely to you.  “______, I–”

“I suppose you’re wondering how it is that I came to be in possession of the archangel’s blood.” Kali’s voice had both you and Gabriel turning your attention to her.  

It took a moment for your brain to stop focusing on your pain and to register what she was saying.  Yeah, it had been curious that she hadn’t needed Gabriel’s blood from you. But that hadn’t exactly crossed your mind since he’d been back.  Why was she bringing this up now?

“As he was with me shortly before he met his demise, I felt it would be wise–as one never knows when they’ll need an archangel’s blood.”

“Kali–” Gabriel began.

“With?” you coughed out and blood spilled from your lips.  

“______, baby–”

“I believe you asked me to go to Pandora with you, right, Gabriel?”

You watched as the angel paled, confirming everything Kali was saying.

You closed your eyes, not wanting to see anymore.  Wasn’t it enough that she was killing you?  Did she have to break your heart as well?

Gabriel had told you about his previous relationship with the beautiful goddess.  He’d said he had once believed he’d been in love with her.  Of course, he’d also said that he’d been wrong, that what he’d felt for you made him realize he’d never actually been in love with Kali.

But he’d been with her just before he’d died.  He’d told you he had to go help rescue Sam and Dean.  But instead, he’d been with Kali.  She’d gotten some of his blood.  And he’d offered to whisk her away to Pandora instead of trying to save humanity like he’d promised you he would.

“I–” You felt a dull ache in your head, accompanying the unbearable pain in your stomach, just before several images popped into your mind.  Kali wearing practically nothing. Gabriel holding a red rose. A heated embrace. Gabriel helping Kali to her feet while shielding her from Lucifer’s wrath, archangel blade at the ready.  Your fingers went to your temple, unsure of which part of you was hurting worse.

“Sweetheart, listen, whatever she’s showing you–.” Gabriel took your hand in his and it took everything in you not to jerk back from his touch.

“I, um–I think I should…”  You pulled free of his grasp and backed away.  

You didn’t make it very far before you collapsed from the pain.  How could everything hurt so completely?  Gabriel had led you to believe your love for him was reciprocated.  And here you were, dying because of it.

“______, please!” Gabriel pulled you into his arms, cradling you to him.  You closed your eyes, unable to look at him without feeling your heart break even more.  “Please, sweetheart–I needed to get back Sam and Dean’s blood.  She bound them to her and Lucifer was coming.  I was trying to save them.”

“Gabriel, really, it’s OK.” Actually, it was anything but OK.  You opened your eyes, but kept your gaze from landing on his face.  “If you lo–if–,” you sucked in a deep breath even as another wave of pain washed over you. “If you’re in love with her, she’s the one you need to be with.”  Your own words cut at you.

“Do you really think you weren’t the only thing I was thinking of while I was staring my brother down?” He reached out and lifted your chin with his fingers.  The look of panic on his face was breaking your heart all over again.  “Dean may have been the one who called me out on being afraid to stand up to my brothers, but you–you are the one who gave me a reason to believe I could stand up to them.”

“Gabriel–”  An incredible weight had set itself on your chest, making it impossible to draw in another breath.

“Don’t you fucking die on me, ______.  You fight whatever she’s doing to you.”  He tore his gaze away from you to glare at Kali.  “Please, Kali–take me, don’t do this.  Take me instead, please!”  

“I’m sorry, Gabriel, but a deal is a deal.”  She closed her fist.

You were able to take in one more gulp of air, and then everything got dark, fast.  The last thing you saw was Gabriel, tears flowing freely, screaming at you to wake up.

***

Kali disappeared as soon as the last bit of life left your body.

Gabriel clung to you, calling on any power he had left to try and revive you, but to no avail.  You were gone.

Blinded by rage and guilt and a slew of other emotions he didn’t have a name for, Gabriel took off for Heaven.  He no longer had the power of an archangel, but he wasn’t about to let that keep him from you.

***

“Gabriel, you are alive?”  Hannah was the first of his angelic siblings to greet him as he began his frantic search.  “But you died!”

“Where is she?”

“Where is who, brother?  And why do you no longer have the power of an archangel?”

“______!  Where is her heaven?”  He didn’t have time for dealing with anything other than finding you.

“I–I do not know.” Hannah was puzzled and a bit taken aback by Gabriel’s behavior.  “Perhaps it is written–”

“She’s new.  Not even an hour, Earth-time.  Where would I find her?”

“There’s an infinite number of places she could be.”

Growling, he took off, desperate to find you.  You had just sacrificed your life to save him–something no one else had ever done for him before.  You had given him a home free of judgement and had given him love without expectation.  This was the kind of love his Father had wanted for all his creations.  There was no way he was letting something as simple as death keep him from having it–from being with you.

***

Finally, Gabriel made it through the entirety of Heaven.  He’d never done that before, and found himself getting weary with every passing moment that he couldn’t find you.  He wasn’t even sure how long it had been, on Earth, since you’d died in his arms.  But still, he couldn’t locate you.

***

“Alright, Death,” Gabriel finished the summoning and waited for the old man to appear.

“You are looking ghastly,” Death said as he manifested in the room with Gabriel.

Gabriel could admit, even he thought he’d looked better.  The search had taken its toll on him and his vessel had aged with each new heaven he encountered that wasn’t yours.  Instead of the vibrant archangel he’d once been, his eyes had bags under them, his frame had shrunken, and his skin had become so pale.  But that didn’t matter now.

“Where is she?”

“Where is who?”  Death absently picked at his nails.

“______, you bastard.  Where is she?”  He grabbed Death by the lapels of his coat.

Death simply rolled his eyes and brushed Gabriel off of him.  “I believe you will find her in Hell.”

“What?”  If it was possible, Gabriel paled further.  “No–there’s no way she’d wind up in Hell.  She didn’t make a deal with a demon, she made it with Kali!”

“You, more than most, know it’s always a bad idea to make a deal with anything supernatural.”  Death’s lips twitched.  “Pity you didn’t pass that information on to her.”

Before Death had the chance to disappear, Gabriel, in hysterics, grabbed him once more.  “You don’t understand.  She died for me.  No one has ever loved me enough to do that.  I can’t just let her stay in Hell.”

“There’s nothing I can do about that.”

“Then–then let’s trade.  Let me give you my life.  My soul for hers.”  He couldn’t leave you down there.  Just the thought of you being there felt like a vice-grip on his heart.

“You don’t have a soul.”

“Then my grace.  Please, anything.  Anything I have is yours.  Just–just give her back to me, please.”

“I’m in deliveries.  Not returns.”  Death brushed him off once more.  “If you want her back, you’ll have to retrieve her yourself.”

“But I can’t–”

Death vanished.

“–do that anymore!”  

In anger, Gabriel punched the wall closest to him.  As expected, he didn’t feel it, but he wished he could.  Maybe it would detract even a fraction of how awful he felt.

You’d given up your life for him.  You’d given up your life and your place in Heaven to save him.  He still struggled to wrap his brain around that.  How could anyone find him worthy of such a sacrifice?  Even when he’d died on the floor of that hotel conference room, he’d done it to save humankind.  Yes, you’d been on his mind and in his heart when that angel blade had pierced him. But what, exactly, had he done to deserve your selflessness?

***

Gabriel struggled with every bit of his being not to be consumed by the darkness that surrounded him.  The wrongness of what he was doing clung to him like a second skin–angels didn’t belong in Hell.  But then again, neither did you.

“There is an angel among demons.” One of the demons sneered at him before lashing out with a dagger.

In a matter of moments, Gabriel had the demon pinned and shoved its own blade through its skull.  “Where is ______?” he bellowed at the demons surrounding him.

Instead of answering, the demons began to move towards him, drawing closer and closer, weapons at the ready.

With a bright flare of grace, Gabriel decimated the majority of the group.  Gabriel cornered the remaining few.  “Where is she?”

“She is one of us.  We will not lose another.”  The demons gnashed their teeth at him.  “We will bury you, angel.”

Gabriel screamed out in anger before dropping his angel blade from his sleeve and slaying the demons he’d cornered.

***

He lost track of time and of the number of demons he killed trying to find you.  The despair seeped into his lungs, tore at his wings, ate at his grace.  There was no hope left to give of finding you.  Still, he kept up the search.  It was as if Hell had reprogrammed him, and all he knew how to do was look for you.

It wasn’t until he felt a pull on the last shreds of grace that he realized he’d found you.  Your soul was dark, nasty with hate and vile, but somehow, he was able to recognize you.

“______!”

“Angel.” You hissed, drawing a weapon.  Dark thoughts flooded through you and you longed to sink your blade into the angel.  Wanted to feel his blood running through your fingertips.  Wanted to watch the grace burn out of him when you twisted your knife deeper.

“I found you.”

“Congratulations.”  You swung out, catching him off guard and slicing into his forearm.

“What the hell?”  He jerked back, cradling his injured arm.  “______, I’m here to take you home.”

“You overestimate me, angel.  I am home.”  How dare this creature presume anything about you?  You swung again, but he dodged you.

“______, please.  Let me get you out of here.”  He reached for you and you took advantage of his movements, striking him in the shoulder.  “Fuck!”

“You do not belong here.”

“Neither do you.”  This time, he was quicker than you, and two fingers were pressed to your forehead.

Nothing happened.

“You’re too late, angel.  Whatever was left of my soul has long-since burned out.”  His expression fueled your desire to hurt him.  You lashed out, bringing your blade down against his wing.

The sound Gabriel released shook all the way down to the remaining pieces of you still left.  The complete anguish that ripped from him began to mend you.  For the first time in what felt like ages, it was like you were able to open your eyes after years of sleeping.

“Gabriel?”  Your weapon clattered to the ground.  “Oh my god, Gabriel!”  You were both overjoyed and mortified to see what you’d done to your angel.

“______?” He gritted his teeth in pain, but you could still see the faint traces of relief at the corners of his mouth.  

“Oh, Gabriel.”  You could feel your soul begin to put yourself back together again.  You started crying as you took in the bloody and broken angel in front of you.  “How did you get here?”

He shrugged the shoulder you hadn’t stabbed.  “Couldn’t just leave you here.”

You wanted to take him into your arms and offer him any sort of comfort.  He’d come all this way, just for you.  He loved you that much–to travel through the depths of Hell to find you.

But now was not the time for love and comfort.  The darkness that had encompassed you for years crept up around you and the angel.  “You shouldn’t have come, Gabriel.”  You wiped your eyes and picked up your blade.  “It already had me.  Now it will get you as well.” You took your stance, ready to hold it at bay so Gabriel could make his escape.  “Go, before it’s too late for you.”

His angel blade dropped to his hand and he gingerly took your free hand in his wounded one.  “If it takes you, then it will take me as well.”

~*~*~*~*~

According to legend, not so long ago, a lost soul and an angel descended into Hell.  They arrived separately–the story goes that she gave her life for him and, overcome with grief, he followed.  Somehow, they found each other among the brimstone and fire.

And while the two of them remain in that pit of darkness and destruction, it is together that they find the life they were looking for.

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"The threat must be eradicated as swiftly as possible."

Balthazar rolled his eyes at the angel in front of him.  Humans with an angel blade wasn't anything to rejoice over, but even a fledgling would know that these humans harming angels with said blade would be a huge problem that needed to be taken care of.

"I've got it." He responded with little concern. It wasn't that he wasn't worried--he just hated that his brother seemed to think he was too thick to understand.

"It is of utmost importance that you proceed with caution."

"Really? Because it's not like five wounded angels is a big deal or anything."

"Brother, I am not sure you are taking this matter as seriously as you should."

"No, I think I am. I think it's you, standing here, insulting my intelligence, who is not taking this the right way."

"Balthazar, I was the one who gave the orders." Michael was suddenly in front of him, and Balthazar and the other angel immediately bowed their heads, showing reverence. "I do not want any more of our brothers and sisters to fall victim to these humans. It is important that we handle this matter as swiftly and efficiently as possible so as not to cause any more concern than absolutely necessary."

"Right." Balthazar sighed. He missed serving under Gabriel's command--at least that archangel knew how to have fun.

"Make sure that you stay safe. It would do Heaven no good to have more incapacitated soldiers.”

With that, Michael was gone.

“Love you, too, brother.” Balthazar griped, rolling his eyes, yet again.  “What I don’t understand is...if Michael has sent other angels after these humans already, why am I the only one being sent out?  Why not just wipe these bugs off the planet and be done with it?”

“Michael wants you to handle it because you are the best candidate for infiltrating their ranks.  The others who have been sent were detected immediately as angels and are now being treated for their injuries.”

“Great.  So when they skewer me, I hope Michael has at least a few kind words to say to commemorate me.”

The other angel nodded.  “Godspeed.”  And was gone.

“Seriously?”

You felt the hairs on the back of your neck stand up.  Someone was following you.  Instinctively, you reached into your jacket and wrapped your fingers around the hilt of the blade you kept there.  You kept your other hand loose, ready to snatch your gun out of its holster if that’s what the threat required.

“Hello?”

The accent threw you and you hesitated a moment before ducking completely into the shadows.  Once you knew you could do so without being seen, you turned and waited, watching as a man cautiously stepped closer to where you were hiding.

“Hello?  Did someone come this way?” The idiot called out into the night.  “Look, I’m just trying to find my way back to the interstate.  I thought I saw someone coming this way...and now I’m pretty sure I’m just shouting at nothing.  So if there’s someone out there, could you please at least acknowledge me so I don’t feel like a complete imbecile?”

It felt like several minutes passed before he finally gave up and headed back the way he came.  You followed him, making sure to stay hidden, as he made his way back to the road.  There sat a rather expensive looking vehicle--or, rather, what had been an expensive looking vehicle.  

The glow from the closest streetlight showed that the two tires in your view had been slashed.  The driver’s window had been smashed in and the paint job had been etched into.  

“Damn it!” The man ran the last few steps to his car, spewing a stream of profanity as he circled around it, taking in all of the damage.  “I was gone for five fucking minutes!”

Sighing, you stepped out of the shadows.  “Looks like you left your car in the wrong spot.”

The man jumped at the sound of your voice, and it helped to ease your suspicions.  Creatures could hear you coming.  And demons and angels simply sensed your presence.  So this guy had to be human.

“I knew I saw someone!” He whipped around and you could see the rage in his features.  “Why wouldn’t you answer me?  I could have been back to my car and these--these hooligans wouldn’t have had time to damage it!”

“You really think I’m just going to let some strange guy with an accent get the jump on me?” You glared at him, keeping track of his every movement.  Just because he wasn’t a supernatural being didn’t mean he wasn’t a threat.  “It’s bad enough, having to walk by myself in the dark.  How was I supposed to know you weren’t going to hurt me?”

His rage faded into something akin to sympathy.  “And yet, you decided to come out now?”

“Well,” you looked down at his broken car before shrugging.  “You seem to be having a bit of bad luck, what with getting lost and then this.  I figure, if you did try to attack me, you’d probably trip over your own feet.”

He barked out a sardonic laugh.  “That’s probably true.” He looked back over his car and groaned.  “What am I supposed to do now?”

“Call a taxi?”

“Yes, and I’m sure your taxi drivers here take euros.”  He ran his hand through his hair.  “I should have known not to max out my credit on this worthless piece of junk.” He kicked the closest flattened tire.

“Probably would have been smart.” You nodded.

“I need to call the sheriff and the insurance company.”  He reached into his pocket before frantically patting down his jacket and pants.  “Shit!”  He leaned through the busted window and glanced around the car.  “Shit shit shit!”

“Here.” You pulled out your own cell phone and handed it to him.

He nodded his thanks as he began punching in numbers.  He held the phone to his ear and frowned.  “Forgive my ignorance, but what is the emergency number here?”

“9-1-1.” You couldn’t help but smile.

You weren’t sure what made you stay through the police reports and the tow truck, but you did, sitting on the curb, watching the fluster of activity that had nearby residents poking their heads out of their windows to see what all the excitement was about.

“No one saw anything!” He flopped down on the curb next to you, frustration radiating off in every direction.

“It’s the middle of the night.  Not many people out and about now, unless they’re up to no good.”

“You’re out and about.” He pointed out, cocking an eyebrow.

“True.” You shrugged.  “So are you.”

“I was just looking for help.”

“Maybe I was just trying to get home.”

He studied you for a moment.  “So you live around here?”

“No.” You shook your head.  “Just passing through town.  I was on my way back to my motel room, though.”

“Well, thank you for helping me out...eventually.  I’d offer you a ride to your motel, but, uh...yeah.”

“I’m good.” You smiled.

“Don’t suppose you’d be alright with me following you back to your motel, would you?”

“Why?”

“Well, I was supposed to make it to Boise tonight, but it doesn’t look like that’s going to happen.  And sleeping right here doesn’t seem preferable.”

“How are you going to rent a room if all you have is euros?”

His face fell.  “You think maybe they’ll take pity on a lost boy so far from home?”

This had you laughing.  “You can always try.”

On the way to the motel, you both introduced yourselves properly.  You learned his name was Ian and that you liked the way your name sounded in his accent.  When you finally made it back, you left him to fend for himself with the clerk and headed to your own room.

“What a freaking night.” You sighed as you got ready for bed.  You tucked your blade and your gun away, but still within easy reach.

Just before you crawled onto the less-than-comfortable mattress, there was a knock on your door.  You grabbed your gun and edged cautiously towards the door.  Looking through the peep-hole, you noticed it was Ian standing on the other side.

“Just a sec!” You hurried back to hide your gun before opening the door.  “D’you get a room?”

“Yes.  I’m right next door to you.  I hope you don’t mind--I asked the young man at the desk which room you were in.  It’s always nice to see a familiar face in the morning.”

“Look, Ian--I’m only in town until I finish the job I’m currently on.  And you’re off to Boise.  I don’t want you to get the wrong idea--I don’t do friends.”

“Everybody needs friends.”

He looked so damned earnest that you almost wanted to believe him.

“Sorry, bucko.  It doesn’t work like that.  Not for me.”  You started to close the door but he put his foot out to block it.  “Look, I don’t know what you want, but whatever it is, you won’t find it here.”

“Just breakfast.  That’s all.  I’ll have my cousin wire me some money and I’ll even pay.”

You were about to decline when your stomach began to rumble.  Apparently, the mention of food reminded your body that it had been a few hours since your last meal, and it would be at least another twenty-four hours before you could collect payment and eat again.

“Fine.  But after that, you go your way, and I go mine.”

“Sounds perfect.”

Breakfast the next morning went as well as could be expected.  You ate, let Ian do most of the talking, shot him down anytime he tried to flirt with you...it wasn’t terrible, just a little too close to normal for your tastes.  Your life hadn’t been normal for a long time.  And it wasn’t going to be all apple pies and white-picket fences after one meal.

When Ian bid you adieu--literally, you went back to your motel and got to work. 

A fellow hunter had called you last week to see if you could take care of a rogue vampire here.  Usually, one vampire wouldn’t be too much trouble for any hunter with experience, but some of the happenings in the area had you worried.  If it was just a vampire, it wouldn’t explain the reports of sulfur saturating the air whenever a body was found.  Something demonic was happening, and you needed to figure out what.

You didn’t leave your motel room until after eleven that evening.  According to the reports you’d read, the kills happened at night, so you’d waited.  Then you’d packed up your blade and your gun and headed to the location of the last death.  Hopefully, with Ian long gone, you wouldn’t be interrupted again.

“Mother fucker.” Of course--right in the middle of an intersection.  “Alright, you little blood-sucker.  Time to come out and play.”

“You know, most hunters--smart hunters--they actually hunt.  They don’t go right into the devil’s lair.”

The air filled with the smell of sulfur.  Your hands immediately went to your blade and your gun, drawing both of them out.  The vampire’s eyes widened and he began to back away from you.

“Why must you always--what is this?”  The newly manifested demon took one look at you and turned to glare at the vampire.  “You summon me to fight a human with an angel blade?!?!”  He advanced on the vampire.  “Do you have any idea how deadly those things are to my kind?”

“I--I didn’t--” The vampire stuttered and held his hands up in submission.

The demon groaned before snapping his fingers, completely disintegrating the vampire.  “Right.  Well, I’ll be off then.”

Before he could disappear, you pulled the trigger of your gun, the bullet hit him square in the chest.  

“OK, now you’ve just gone and pissed me off.”  The demon snapped his fingers again, but nothing happened.  He stared at his hand for a moment and tried snapping again.  Still nothing.

“Demon trap etched on the bullet.”  Your lips slid into a sly smile.  You needed to remember to thank those hunter-brothers the next time you ran into them for passing this idea on to you.

“Damn it!”

You advanced on the demon and had your blade ready to strike--

“______!”

Ian’s voice distracted you just enough that you were suddenly tumbling backwards, thanks to the punch the demon had landed on your cheek.

“Fuck!”  You looked up to see the demon grinning at you.  You shook off the dizziness that had accompanied the blow and pushed yourself up from the ground.  Then you jammed the angel blade into his gut, enjoying the satisfaction of watching him sizzle out.

“What the hell?”

“What the hell are you doing here, Ian?  You’re supposed to be in Boise.”  You yanked your blade from the body and spun to face him.  

His eyes were wide in horror.  “You just killed--”

“A demon.  I just killed a demon.  Now, what the hell are you doing here?”  The last thing you needed was to have law enforcement on your tail.  What the fuck was this guy’s problem?

“I came--holy shit--I came to see if I could persuade you to join me in Boise next weekend and--fuck, you just killed someone.”

“Deep breaths, man.  He was a demon.  You know--like from hell.”  What on earth made you tell him that?  You were a seasoned hunter.  You knew better than just dropping the truth on a civilian.

“A demon?”  He said it slowly, as if trying to process it.  “A demon--was that what was killing all those people in town?”

“You know about that?”

“I may be a tourist, but I still read the news.  There’s this app on my phone that told me all the news of the towns I’d be travel--” he shook his head.  “And you just killed him.  Maybe you’re the one killing all those people.”

“Fuck, I need a drink.”  You groaned.  “If you read anything about the deaths in town, you’d know they were all caused by exsanguination, not stabbing.  This guy was aiding and abetting a vampire.”

“Vampire?”  He scoffed.  “Did you just say vampire?  Are you on some kind of medication or something?”

“Look, believe it or not.  I don’t care.  But give it a few days and there’ll be a new article on how the ‘mysterious deaths’ suddenly stopped.”

“Yeah, when they have you behind bars.”  He began to pat down his pockets.  “Shit.”

“Forgot your phone got jacked?”  You smiled.

“Um...______, you...” he started to back away from you.  “You don’t want to kill me.  I promise, I won’t say anything to anyone.”

“Would you relax?  I’m not going to kill you.  Unless you’re some sort of supernatural creature, you’re fine.”

He eyed you with suspicion.  “Seriously?”

You sighed, tucking your gun and blade away.  “Honest.  I’m here to slay demons and vampires.  Not stupid humans with horrible timing.”

“Vampires?”

You nodded.  “And demons.  You saw the way he kinda sparked when I stabbed him, right?”

“Yeah.”

“Demon.  That’s what happens when they get stabbed with the blade I have.”

“What’s so special about the blade you have?”

“It’s--” how to explain this? “It’s a special blade.  Takes care of all the supernatural baddies.”

“And this--chasing down demons and vampires--this is what you do?  You just travel around and save people with this special blade you have?”

“Yeah.”

“Is this why you think you have to go the ‘no friends’ route?”

“Hunting these creatures...doesn’t allow for a lot of friends.  Either they don’t believe me and think I’m crazy or they get killed.  So, it’s better just to not have any.”

“Must get lonely.”

“Meh.”  You shrugged and began walking.  You were surprised when Ian followed you.  “OK, dude--you just saw me kill someone.  Why the hell are you still bothering me?”

“I--I know it’s mad, but my mother, she believed in things like this.  Swore my entire life that supernatural creatures existed.  She said she was a witch, herself, so she knew these things were real.  I just--I don’t think you’re crazy.  But something about you--you have me so completely transfixed on you, I couldn’t stop thinking about you the entire drive out of this town.  I had to come back.  Screw the mileage on the rental--I had to come back to see you.”

“Ian,” you sighed and bit your lip.  What the hell about him had you so transfixed as well?  “I can’t.  I can’t risk your life.”

“I’m not asking you to.  Just--Boise, this weekend?  Please?”

“I’ll think about it.”

You stared at the piece of paper with Ian’s hotel information on it.  You’d thrown it in the motel’s waste basket at least a hundred times since he’d given it to you.  Each time, you hadn’t gone five minutes before retrieving it.

But there you were, Sunday evening, standing in the hallway in front of his room.  You tried to force your brain to stop overthinking as you reached up and knocked.

“______?”

“Hey.”

“I didn’t--I wasn’t sure you were going to come.”  He smiled warmly.  “Come in?”

“I can’t--I can’t stay long.  I have another job I have to head to.”  You followed him into the fancy digs of his room, trying not to gawk at the lavishness.  “That motel room you had next to me must have given you nightmares if this is what you’re used to.”

“A little.”

You smiled at the face he made.  “I just needed to say, thanks for the offer.  I just can’t do the friends thing.  I can’t risk getting attatched and losing anyone else.”

“A lover?”

“No--she was my best friend...” you paused.  “Actually, she was more like a sister.  We grew up together.  And then, one day,” you sighed.  “I don’t know why I’m telling you all this.”

“Might help to get it off your chest.”  He offered with a hopeful smile.

“Maybe.”  You sighed again.  “They kept calling her an ‘abomination.’  Said she didn’t deserve to live.  That she should never have been born.  That her mother was a lowly human and should never have been bred.”

“What?”

“Her father was an angel.  Not the man I knew to be her dad--her actual father.  He’d had some sort of relationship with Macy’s mom and Macy was a ‘nephilim.’”  Tears began to spill from your eyes.  “They didn’t even care that I was there, in the apartment with her.  Told me I would serve as a warning to all humans who dared to believe they were worthy of an angel.  Left me with these.”  You lifted up the side of your shirt to show him the scars from where they had slashed you with their blades.

“Fuck.”

You took several moments to get your emotions back under control before you spoke again.  “Her mom came to visit me in the hospital.  Said she never thought Michael would let something like this happen to Macy.  Then she gave me the blade I have.  I don’t know how she got it, and she wouldn’t tell me.  She just told me she wanted me to be safe.”

“Michael.  As in, archangel Michael?”

“Yeah.”

His brow furrowed.  “That still doesn’t explain how you got started hunting these creatures.”

“A hunter--this old guy--came to the hospital to interview me.  Said he was with the FBI.  I asked him what the hell the FBI was interested in me for.”  You rolled your eyes at the memory.  “He had some bullshit answer, but I knew something was off about him.  Long story short--I managed to convince him to take me on as an apprentice.  He thought I was off my rocker--kept saying angels didn’t exist, but he still trained me.  And now, here I am.  Hunting solo.”

He took a few minutes to digest everything you’d told him.  When he was still silent, you stood to leave.  This wouldn’t be the first time someone thought you were insane.

“______, wait.”  He stood and took your hands in his.  “This is just--it’s a lot to take in.  It’s not that I don’t believe you--”

“You just don’t believe me.”  You tried to pull your hands from his, but he held firm.

“Not at all.” He insisted.  “I mean, if demons exist, surely the stories I learned, whenever my grandmother would drag me to church, are true as well.”

“I thought you said your mother was a witch.”

“My father’s mother--she wanted to save me from the pits of hell my mother was trying to drag me to.”  He flashed a sad smile.  “I believe you.  Completely.  It’s just...hard to wrap my mind around the idea that angels would do something like this.  The Bible makes them out to be such caring and compassionate beings.”

“It’s what I learned when I was young.”

“Were you ever able to find them?  The angels who killed your friend?”

You shook your head.  “No.  But the angels know I have this blade.  A few of them have tried to take it from me.”

“And you killed them like you killed that demon?”

“No.  Wounded them, yes.  They underestimated me.”  You bit your lip.  “I know I can’t take on the hordes of heaven.  I wouldn’t want to, even if I could.  I would love to see the angels who murdered Macy meet her fate, but I’ve wised up enough to know that’s not going to happen--at least, not at my hand.  I’ve accepted it.  I just--I want to be left alone, to do what I do.  I can’t save Macy, and I can’t bring her back.  But I can save other people.  I can save someone from going through what I did.  From losing what I lost.”

“So, what’s stopping you?”

“The angels don’t want me to have the blade.  They think it makes me too powerful.  Too much of a threat.  Maybe they’re overestimating me now.”  You shrugged.  “But this--this is why I can’t do the friends thing.  I won’t risk losing anyone else should more angels decide to take me out completely.  I don’t want anyone else to go through what I did, should they get caught on the sidelines.”

“Then teach me.  Teach me to hunt like that old man taught you.”

“Did your witch-mother put some kind of ‘stupid’ curse on you?” You threw your hands up in exasperation.  “I just got through telling you why this won’t work.  And why the hell are you so interested in being around me, anyway?  A week ago, you didn’t even know I existed.”

He smiled.  “You stayed.”

“What?”

“You loaned me your mobile and you stayed through the mess with the police and you let me follow you to your motel room even though I was just some strange guy with an accent.  Not many people in this world who would do that.  But you did.  You care about other people.  If more people cared the way you do, can you imagine how much better life would be, for everyone?”

“Are you some sort of undercover evangelist or something?”

He blushed.  “No--I just--I want to do that.  I want to give people that hope you gave me when you held out your phone to me.  You made me feel like maybe there was something worth hoping for, even while everything around me had just gone to hell.”

“Ian--”

“Please?  Just on a trial basis, at least?”

You smiled at the hopefulness in his voice.  This must have been how Rufus felt when you’d begged him to teach you how to hunt.  And just like him, in spite of all the misgivings, you nodded.

Six months later...

“Ian, get out here and help me!”

You and Ian had found a small house for rent just outside of Boise and set up a home-base of sorts.  You still traveled around and hunted, but now, with the money Ian had from selling whatever business he’d had, you could afford a more permanent roof over your head and a steadier influx of groceries.

And said groceries needed to be moved from your truck to the kitchen.

“That man better be glad I love him.” You mumbled to yourself when he still hadn’t arrived to help.

The love thing--that had surprised the hell out of you.  Honestly, it still kind of surprised you, and scared you.  You hadn’t meant to fall for him.  Love was just one more complication you didn’t need.  But he’d managed to weasel his way into your heart.  The little shit.

With your hands full, you headed to the front door.  It took a bit of juggling, but you managed to get the door unlocked and open.  As soon as you stepped inside, a chill ran up your spine.  You dropped the bags as quickly and quietly as possible before hovering your hand near your blade.

“What is the meaning of this?”  The male voice was off.  Something about it made your skin crawl.

In the living room, Ian was standing next to a man you’d never seen before.  And for whatever reason, the man was wearing a suit.

“______.” Ian paled. “Get out, now.”

You were not about to leave him alone with whoever this fucker was.  “Ian--”

“Ian?”  The other man scoffed.  “Ian?  That is the best you could come up with?”

“Brother, please, don’t do this.”  Ian moved to stand between you and...his brother?  He’d never mentioned having a brother.

“You were supposed to eradicate the threat, not form relations with them.”  The man eyed you over Ian’s shoulder.  “Where are the others?”

“Others?” Nothing about this was making sense.

“Why yes.  The others in your group.”

“What group?  Ian--”

“You’re here for the angel blade?  Take it.  Just leave ______ out of this.”

An angel.  Of course.  The suit and the way he spoke should have clued you in.  You must have gotten soft with all this fancy living.  But what had Ian called him...oh, right...

“Brother?  You--you’re a fucking angel?!?!”

“You didn’t know?”  The angel looked at you before turning back to Ian.  “Michael was right in sending you, Balthazar, if you were able to go this long without being detected.”

“Michael?  You’re working for--fuck!”  You yanked the blade out, ready to fight.  “You want it?  Come and get it.”

Ian--Balthazar turned to face you.  “______, don’t.  Please.”

“All this time--all this time I thought...and you were an angel.  You sick son of a bitch.  You made me think you loved me.  Made me think I loved you.  And all this time, you were one of them.”

“I do love you.”  You rolled your eyes.  “And I wanted to tell you.  So many times.  But I just didn’t think you’d be able to get past what happened to Macy.”  He turned back to his brother.  “You want an angel blade?”  One immediately fell from his sleeve.  “Take mine.”  He thrust the blade at the other angel.  “Take it and go.”

“Baltha--”

“And you tell Michael he is going to have to answer a few questions I have for him.”

“You have no place, making demands of Michael.”

Suddenly, he was in the other angel’s face.  “He had a daughter, and he let her die.  Michael is no more holier than any one of us.”  You’d never seen Ia--Balthazar that angry before and you felt yourself cower along with the other angel.  “Go.  And any other angel that comes for ______’s blade will have to go through me to get it.”

A few beats of silence passed before the other angel nodded and disappeared.  With a heavy sigh, Balthazar turned and faced you, fear etched in his features.

“How do I even begin to apologize for what I’ve done?”

“You were sent here to kill me.”  It wasn’t a question, but he nodded anyway.  “Everything from the night we met to now, it was all just a scam.”

“No.”

“You are a fucking angel.  You hid that from me.”  You growled.  There really weren’t words to describe the agony you were in.  How did betrayal have such a physical pain to it?  “This was all some sort of elaborate set-up to ‘eradicate’ me.”  You flipped the blade in your hand and thrust it, hilt first, towards him.  “Do it.”

“______--”

“Just fucking do it, Balthazar.  End it.  There’s no way it could hurt worse than what you’ve already done to me.”

He took the blade and flung it down to the floor.  “I love you, ______.  Even if Michael himself came right now, hordes of heaven behind him, there’s no way I could hurt you.”

“You already have.”  

The two of you stared at each other in silence for a while.

“Yes, I was sent to kill the group of humans with the angel blade.  I staged the car jacking because I knew you were part of the group.  I needed to get you to get me into the group.  I was going to use you and then take you out with the rest of them.  But then you handed me your phone.  Just something about you--I knew right then and there that I had to make sure you stayed safe, no matter what.  I followed you when you went after that vampire.  But then that demon showed up--and you were still by yourself.  I thought the rest of your group should have been there by that point, but it was just you, and you killed that demon like it was something you did every day.  I needed to learn more about you.  Needed to figure out why you were working alone and with an angel blade.  I honestly never expected you to show up at my hotel room.  Asking you to come had been me grasping at straws, not sure how I was going to arrange our next meeting without it looking too suspicious.”

You didn’t want to hear this.  Most of you didn’t.  A small part of you--the part of your heart that hadn’t completely shattered, wanted to listen to what he had to say.  That small part needed to know it hadn’t all been a scam.

“But you came, and you told me everything.  When you showed me what those other angels did to you...I knew there was no way I was turning you in.  And then when you told me Macy had been Michael’s daughter--______, I don’t know how to make this right.  I know I lied about a lot of things, but I never lied about loving you.  I never meant to hurt you.”  He reached for your hands.  “Tell me what I can do to fix this.”

You looked over his face.  He looked so sincere, sounded like he meant every word he’d said.  Fuck, you wanted to believe him.  But you couldn’t.  He was an angel.  An angel that had been sent to kill you.  

He’d lied, about so much.  And even if he’d been honest about loving you, your whole relationship with him was based on this twisted deception, even the love.  That was probably what hurt the most--all of his lies had flowed so easily from his lips.  This could just be another part of it.  This could all just be another part of his dishonesty.

“I don’t know if you can.”  You sucked in a deep breath.  You needed to get away, get some distance.  Maybe then you could begin to sort through the chaos that had taken over your brain.  “I think I should go.”

“No.  I will.”  You shrugged and pulled your hands from his.  “I’m truly sorry, ______.”  And he was gone.

Four weeks later...

You blinked back your tears as you sat up in bed.  Every morning was the same.  You woke up reaching for a man who wouldn’t be there--a man that never actually existed.  You might have even been able to convince yourself you’d imagined it all, except for the angel warding Balthazar had put up on the walls one night while you’d been asleep.

Dragging yourself out of your cocoon, you heard your phone buzz.  You elected to ignore it--Balthazar had respected your wishes for no contact, and the only people who knew your number were other hunters.  Your heart just wasn’t into hunting anymore.  No, the pieces of that were still with the angel who’d broken it.

Your phone buzzed again, and again.  After the fifth call, you snatched it up.

“What?” You snapped.

“______?”  You didn’t recognize the number or the voice.

“Yeah?”  

“My name is Castiel.  I have been directed to not tell you that I’m an angel of the Lord.”  You could hear shouting in the background.  “Oh, right.  I mean, I am calling about a hunting matter.  Because I’m a hunter.  Not an angel.”

“Alright, hunter-not-angel Castiel.  What do you want?”

“My broth--friend, uh, Bal--I am trying.  I do not understand why I need to lie.  But isn’t lying how you wound up in this mess to begin with?”  He seemed to be talking to someone else, but his voice was still loud and clear in your ear.

“May I please speak to Balthazar?”  That name still felt funny on your lips, but the sound of it--yeah, it fit him better than Ian.

“Yes.”

“______?” Balthazar sounded nervous.

“Why?”

“Why what?  Why am I calling?  Why did I lie?  Why do I love you?”  He gave you no chance to answer.  “I’m calling because I need to make sure you’re alright.  I lied because I foolishly thought I needed to follow the orders I’d been given.  You are more important to me than any orders I’ve ever been given.  And I love you because...because you are the first, last, and only thing I’ve ever wanted to give up being an angel for.  Because you are always in my thoughts and I still find myself making decisions based on what you would want.  Because it’s been four weeks and I want to smite myself for ever causing you any sort of pain.  I love you because--”

“I miss you.” You admitted quietly, cutting off his declaration.

And it was the truth.  You missed his laugh and how he loved to tease you when you woke up grumpy.  You missed how he would butcher Shakespeare and watch your favorite movies with you after a long hunt.  You missed how safe he made you feel, even though you’d always thought you’d been the more experienced warrior.

You heard a sound of surprise escape from him.  “I can make it up to you.  Just tell me--anything--anything I can do to make it up to you.”

“Maybe we can start with breakfast?  See where we go from there?”

.

.

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.

.

You dropped the grocery bags in your hands and glared at the archangel currently spraying fire-retardant into your stove.

“What the hell, Michael?  I step out to pick up a few things and you’ve damn near burned my kitchen down!”  You could barely see him through the smoke and the spray.

“Oh--hi, ______.” He turned to look at you as soon as the air had cleared, blush creeping up to his cheeks.  “I didn’t hear you come in.  What are you doing here?”

“I live here, Michael.  What are you doing, there?”

“I um...I was trying to bake some cookies.”  

You cocked an eyebrow.  “Cookies?”

“Well, yes.  You said your sister was bringing her children and I thought they might enjoy a treat.”

“Why didn’t you just wait until I got back?” You were trying to hang on to your anger, but his hopeful look was quickly melting your heart.

“I wanted it to be a surprise.”  He reached in and pulled out your baking pan--that was now covered in charred lumps.  “Surprise?”

“Michael, it’s just New Years.  They aren’t expecting us to go all out.”  

This was how it had been for a while now.  Thanksgiving at your parents, as your dad made the most amazing pumpkin cheesecakes anyone had ever tasted; Christmas, being more geared to children, at your sister’s, spoiling her two kids; New Years at your place, laid back and relaxed.

This would be Michael’s first New Year’s lunch with you.

“I know that.  I am sorry about your oven.”  He frowned.  “And your pan.”

“Hey, you know what--I think it’s a great idea.”  He shook his head.  “No, I’m serious.  I think it’s sweet that you thought of my niece and nephew like that.”  You took the fire extinguisher from his hands.  “How about we try again?”  He nodded, one corner of his mouth lifting.  “Then you can help me with everything else.”

.

“I don’t understand why you think I need this.” Michael stared curiously at the scaling knife you’d just handed him.

“It’s for taking the scales off.” You nodded to the fish that was laying on the cutting board on the counter, one beady little eye staring blankly up.  “You’re also probably going to want gloves.”

“Is this what you went to the market for?”

“Well, yeah.  I know you don’t eat ham, so I figured fish would work just as well for you.”

“I don’t need to eat anything, ______.”

You frowned.  “I know, but...it’s tradition.”  You didn’t know how else to explain it.  You just knew you’d be spending the whole day trying to hide your disappointment if he didn’t want in.  

“You wish for me to partake in your family tradition?”

“Yeah.  Like when we went for Christmas and Thanksgiving.  You’re part of my family, now, and I don’t want you to be left out.”  He smiled before pressing a sweet kiss to your lips.

“You know, I could just take care of this, quite easily.”  He waved his hand over the fish and it was suddenly turned into a completely baked fish, steam still rising from it.

“That’s no good.  If you want the luck from it, you’ve got to prepare it yourself.”  He sighed and snapped his fingers, returning the fish to it’s original scaliness.  

“As an archangel, I do not believe in this thing you call ‘luck.’”  You frowned.  “Would it be better if I said that I do not need luck, for I have you?”  There was a definite twinkle in his eyes.

“Much.” You grinned.  “But you still have to gut the fish.”

“Fine.”

He started working on his fish while you began to rummage around the kitchen, gathering the ingredients for corn bread.  He may be eating fish, but the rest of your family was going to want the traditional southern New Year’s lunch tomorrow--ham, rice, black-eyed peas, stewed tomatoes, collard greens, and corn bread.  You needed to get as much done now, so that tomorrow wouldn’t be such a rush.

“I now understand why people choose to buy fillets that have already been prepared,” he groused.  You looked over to see a very mangled piece of fish sitting at the end of his scaling knife.

“You killed it!”

“______, it was already dead when you brought it home.” He looked at you like you’d lost your mind.

“No, I mean--you were just supposed to take the scales off.  You weren’t supposed to try and take the meat from the bones.”  You stepped over, trying to see if any part of the fish was salvageable.  

“I know it is hard believe, but I have never actually skinned a fish before.”

You couldn’t help it.  You started laughing.  “You don’t skin a fish that has scales.”  The angry look on his face only made you want to laugh harder.  “You know what...” You got your laughter under control after a few moments.  “Maybe it would be best if you just,” you waved your hand around, “did your little magic thing and got your fish done.”

“It is not magic.”  His anger had faded into a pout.  “It’s grace.  And I am not going to use it to prepare this fish.  I want the luck from it.”

“You know that whole luck thing is just a silly superstition, right?”  You pressed your lips together to keep from laughing again.  His pout deepened.  “Alright.  You salvage as much as you can and put it in a bowl.  We’ll make a casserole or something.”  He was still looking a little grumbly, so you leaned over and kissed his cheek.  “It’ll work out.  Promise.”  Finally, he smiled.

.

“Mom, Dad, you remember Michael.”  Michael offered his hand to both of your parents.

“Honey, you’ve brought him to every family function for the past six months.  I know we’re old, but we’re not senile,” your mom chastised gently.  Instead of shaking his hand, she wrapped him in a hug.  “How are you doing, dear?”

“As long as I’m not cooking, I seem to be doing well.”  You snorted a laugh.  “Thankfully, I have ______ to supervise me in the kitchen.”

“And I keep the fire extinguisher handy, just in case.”

“I see Michael is about as handy in the kitchen as I am.”  Your mom hugged you after she released Michael.

“You’re going to have to step up your game, young man,” your dad said, shaking Michael’s hand.  “Nothing like the feeling of being able to provide a good meal for your loved ones.”

You frowned at your father.  The ‘L’ word hadn’t been exchanged between you and Michael.  You’d certainly felt it--made sure to show it, and you knew Michael was on the same page as you, but actually saying it--that hadn’t happened.  Leave it to your family to try and push the issue.

“Uncle Mike!”  Your niece and nephew broke tension you’d been feeling as they raced to see who could tackle Michael in a hug first.

“Hey, guys...Michael made something for you.  It’s in the kitchen.  You can each have one before lunch.”  They squealed and ran towards your kitchen.  You looked over to see that Michael didn’t seem the least bit affected by their misnomer.  But that meant--great--now your sister was going to try and play match-maker too.

“Hey, Mom, Pops.”  Your sister poked her head in through the front door.  “______, how’re you doing, kiddo?”

“Kiddo?  I’m older than you, stupid.”  She’d gotten caught trying to meddle, and she was using this as a diversion tactic.  “And why are you having your children call him ‘uncle’?”

“It’s alright, ______.” Michael smiled warmly.  “I like it.” He paused, that twinkle back in his eyes.  “I feel like it should be my permanent title.”

“And that’s our cue.”  You were grateful that your mom had the presence of mind to herd your dad and sister out of the room.  As it was, your brain had temporarily shut down and you just continued to stare at Michael.

“I think this is where you are supposed to say something,” he prompted.

“You--you want to be their uncle?” You stuttered, mentally slapping yourself for having responded with that.  “I mean--you and me and...”

“Eternity is a long time, ______.  I cannot think of a better way to spend it than with you.”  He took your hands in his before leaning down and kissing you.  “So?”

“I love you.”  He was practically glowing at your admission.  “And if this is your idea of a proposal, then yes.  My answer is yes.”

“I love you, too.”  He kissed you again, lifting your hands to his shoulders before wrapping his own around your waist.