#pt. 6

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It was a good thing monsters had way better vision in the dark than humans did. He could actually see where he was going - unlike you. Even with your status as an anomaly, the reality you watched over wasn’t kind enough to give you enough sight to see the foliage that Saejun had to jump over to get to your vessel. It took him very off guard at first, especially since so many of the plants around you looked... very out of place. 

Some of them weren’t supposed to bloom until much later - or should have already wilted away by now - or just weren’t supposed to be growing in this sort of region... But they all clung to you - some of them hugging the post that held you upward. Others were wrapped around the scarecrow’s arms and dangling down from the face... 

The very recognizable forget-me-nots on your vessel’s face broke his heart, and the way that the stitched smile had fallen apart so badly that it frowned, made his own teeth twist into a grimace. From what little the moonlight illuminated, it only caused regret to crawl further up his spine, and he got to work stepping carefully around the thornier guards around your post. 

He pulled the vines off your arms as if he was shrugging off your jacket, prying away the brush as if making way for you to step forward, and plucking the bluebells and forget-me-nots from your face as if he was wiping away your tears... and he took your vessel under the arms and lifted you out of the ground. 

“i’m sorry.” He whispered out, barely audible and only for you to hear. 

“it’s time to go home...” 

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In, under, out, over.  In, under, out, over. 

It was like clockwork to him, and each movement of his hand poured out the affection in his soul. He had already patched up the tears in your vessel’s clothes, the frays in your hat had been woven back together - he would make you a new one soon, and the hay that had fallen out had been replaced with fresh straw. He plucked out the thorns, pulled you off the post, and in this moment, he was sewing new button eyes on your vessel’s face and re-threading the smile that had fallen. 

He wouldn’t let your smile fall like that ever again... 

“SANS?” Papyrus was visiting for the day. He had been so worried when the neighbors called him about his brother running out and driving off in a panic the night before. “UM... ARE YA SURE IT’S A GOOD IDEA TO BE PICKIN’ A SCARECROW OFF THE SIDE OF THE ROAD LIKE THAT?”

He couldn’t help but smile softly at you, “heh, don’ worry about it... it’s not like they- er... it’s a stranger ‘r nothin’... i left ‘em out there. ain’t leavin’ them again. felt bad about... abandonin’ it there...” 

“I SEE...” He let out a hum, obviously a little unsure about his brother’s words - let alone the look on his face... Ah... He’d never seen that look on Sans’ face before. “SANS?” He received a simple hum of acknowledgement as he concentrated on sewing the smile back up. “ARE YA IN LOVE WITH SOMEONE?” 

Saejun jolted up in his cushioned rocking chair - pricking his finger as he winced and green magic began to dust his cheekbones. “w-what?? p-paps, wha-” He laughed nervously, a string of ‘heheheh’s flowing from his teeth that only caused the Papyrus to narrow his eye sockets at his brother. “what’s got ya thinkin’ like that?” 

“YOUR FACE!” He spoke like it was the most obvious thing – something that he himself should be aware of, “YA’VE PRACTICALLY GOT HEARTS IN YOUR EYELIGHTS!” He quickly pulled up a seat and scooted it closer to his brother as he leaned in. “TELL ME ABOUT THEM! PLEASE! YA CAN TELL ME, I WON’ TELL A SOUL!” Yes, he would. He totally would. He would shout it from the rooftops if Saejun let him.

The Sans only chuckled, shaking his head with that blush not leaving his cheekbones. “don’ worry ‘bout it, paps.” He said, resuming his sewing, only to tie the knot on your smile and finish repairing your grin. “i'm… still sortin’ stuff out, but i'll update ya if there’s anythin’ to update ya ‘bout…” The Papyrus was obviously a little unsatisfied with his brother’s response, but that dreamy, far-off look in Saejun’s eyelights convinced him not to push him. It seemed as though his brother still had some figuring out to do…

“ALRIGHT, FINE! BUT I’M GONNA CHECK IN ON YA EVERY DAY TO MAKE SURE YA DON’ FORGET TO TELL ME!” In other words, he was going to bother his brother daily about his love life if he didn’t keep him updated. Like any annoying younger brother would – but Saejun just grinned up at him.

“heh, i know. see ya, paps.” He waved his brother out as the taller skeleton stood and made his way to the door.

“TAKE CARE, BROTHER! AND DON’ GO RUNNIN’ OFF IN THE MIDDLE O’ THE NIGHT AGAIN!” Papyrus teased before closing the door behind him.

It was only after he heard the other’s truck pull out of the driveway that he began to speak to himself or perhaps to you. “heh… don’ worry, paps… everythin’ i need is right here.” He caressed your vessel’s cheek affectionately, “so i won’ be runnin’ around much anymore.”

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“heh, there ya go… good as new.” He muttered, his affection rolling through his words as he set you up on a shorter post in his kitchen. “and you’re here too – perfect timin’.” He chuckled. He seemed… happier. The bags under his eye sockets had lessened, even if it was just a fraction. It was an improvement. His grin was genuine and wide and happy to see you…

“보고 싶었어, 여보.”

With the warmth he spoke those simple foreign words, you could feel your soul flutter – and he chuckled.

“it’s good to see ya again…” His expression fell a little bit, “i… i thought ya left us fer good…”

“…”

“it kinda fell apart after ya left…” He held your vessel steady by its midsection. “someone else took over frisk… they ruined the harvests for years, ran us outta town… we settled down here. it wasn’t good, but… it’s not bad here.”

You could see the little connecting ribbon wrapped tightly around his wrist again. Like he was afraid to lose it this time. “paps is a carpenter in town. and i've been workin’ in a flower shop with asgore. heh, ever since ya pretty much forced my hand, i’ve gotten pretty good at growin’ ‘em…” His smile came back in full force. “the opportunity presented itself, so i rose to the occasion.”

He laughed to himself, but he could feel the joy in your soul bubble up.

“… it’s good to have ya back.”

“🎵 someday, somewhere, somehow…” He began singing, taking you off-guard for a moment – you’ve heard him hum occasionally from the kitchen window or when he tended to his garden… but he’s never sang in front of you… let alone for you. “you’ll love again. 🎶”

And then his feet began to move, “🎵 ya just need to find someone.” Taking one of your vessel’s arms, he pulled you into a dance position and spun the two of you around the kitchen floor, that soft green flush on his cheekbones.

“someday, somewhere, somehow. you’ll love again, you just need to find someone~. 🎶” He held you close, staring past button eyes and into human irises that weren’t quite there… but he could feel your eyes on him.

“🎵 someone who treats you better, someone who wants you around.” He swayed side to side, shuffling his socked feet across the floor, refusing to feel silly for dancing with a short scarecrow in his kitchen, because someone much more important was with him.

“someday, somewhere, somehow, you’re gonna feel found… 🎶” He paused, not realizing how much energy it took to sing, dance, and fight down his blush as he prepared himself for the last line.

“🎶 today, right here, right now, i already feel found… 🎵” He twirled your vessel one last time before magic flooded your vessel, his intent thinning the glass separating the two of you…

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But… it… wasn’t enough.

He tried… He really did… But he couldn’t find you.

He couldn’t reach you. Not in the way he so desperately wanted to.

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“i'm sorry, 여보.”

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*You told him that he didn’t need to apologize.

He jolted up, quickly pushing your vessel out to arms reach as he stared at the scarecrow with wide eye sockets and pinprick eyelights. “w-wait what??”

*Wait… He could hear you!?

“yes!” He answered immediately before dewy magic began to crowd the corners of his eye sockets. “oh stars, yes!” He laughed triumphantly. “yes, i can hear you!” Tears of relief flew down his skull as he pulled your plush vessel closer. “i found ya, 애인.”

He nuzzled your vessel’s inanimate head affectionately – desperately stuffing his skull in it as he whispered sweet nothings in Korean for who knows how long. “oh stars – ok – okay, before i forget!” He took a few deep breaths before he held your vessel out for him to look at again.

“사랑해, 해바라기.” He was more sure of himself in his words than you’ve ever seen him before… “i love you, sunflower.” His eyelights softened. “i have fer a long, long time… ”

*You told him that you love him too.

He couldn’t help but grin – it wasn’t cheeky or relieved or anything, but “i know… i know, you do, 백일초.” Otherwise, why would you have stuck around this long right?

Noah was in the middle of another tantrum as you tried to pack his room up. You were standing among scattered boxes and open drawers with a toddler sat on his bed pulling every toy you packed into a box out again and throwing it on the floor.

“Noah, please, I’m trying to pack it all up. Do you want to leave those toys here and take nothing to the new house?” you ask, exasperated.

“No! I don’t wanna go!” he yells, crossing his arms stubbornly.

“You have to, baby,” you tell him, scooping up some of his favourite books and placing them at the bottom of the box instead.

“I don’t want to leave Grandma and Grandpa! I don’t want to go to a new home!” he shrieks and pushes the box over. It topples over and the contents fly across the floor. Noah drops down and crosses his legs, burying his head in his hands.

“Here, I’ll take him outside so you can get something packed.” Your mum strides into the room and lifts Noah up, carrying him swiftly out of the room.

It’s your turn to bury your head in your hands in defeat. You take a deep breath to calm yourself and continue packing what you know he needs the most. It’s not even a minute later that you hear a soft knock on the door.

“Hang on, don’t let him in until I get the boxes out,” you call to your mum, knowing she’s the only one home. It’s weird that she knocked though, you think. Closing the now full box, you scoop it up and turn to carry it to your room and then nearly drop it when you see who’s standing in the doorway.

“Shawn,” you exhale. It feels like the air has been kicked out of you. You never thought you’d see him again, and here he was in your childhood home looking at you like he was breaking at the seams.

His hair was tousled like he’d been running his hands through it, and his shirt was crumpled and textured with wrinkles. His brown eyes were ringed with deep, bruise-like shadows and they were trained on you, filled with a steely determination that made your breath hitch.

“What are you doing here?” you manage to ask, feeling like you were talking around a tongue tied in knots.

“I couldn’t get you on the phone,” he answers.

“Sorry,” you say though you don’t know why.

“Y/n, I’ve made a complete mess of everything.” He takes a bold step in your direction. You back yourself away. “I trusted all the wrong people and it’s made me lose some of the best things I’ve ever had in my life.”

“Shawn, I’m done with all of these games,” you sigh, turning back to the box you’re packing. “One minute you believe me and want Noah and me in your life, the next we’re scheming to steal your money and we’re being told you’re trying to get rid of us. I’ve had enough.”

He seems to notice the disorder of the room for the first time, eyes sweeping over the boxes and bare bookshelves.

“Nick said James had sent you money,” Shawn mumbles almost inaudibly but it snags your attention.

“What?” you say, forgetting the stuffed toys you’re trying to sort. “What does Nick know about all of this?”

“More than I did,” Shawn mutters, irritated. “Or at least, he found out before I did.”

“What are you talking about?”

“Nick overheard James talking to a bank the other day, he was organising money to be sent to you every month,” he explains. “He knew something weird was going on with James the day you came to the studio but he thought he was just being paranoid. And then he heard that phone call and another one to one of his friends at another company.

“He told them he’d finally managed everything. He’d gotten rid of the kid and the ex, screwed with all of our heads until we ruined ourselves. He said he’d thought those messages he’d sent all those years ago would be enough to make you disappear.”

“James?” you whisper, dumbstruck. “He sent those messages?”

“I don’t know how I didn’t see it all before. He’s the only person who had complete access to my phone when you sent those messages. He must have seen me put my passcode in and used it to unlock the phone when he saw you were calling.”

“But why? Why would anyone do that?”

“Easy, he wants to make as much money off me as possible. A family is only going to get in the way. Why would he let my life be taken over by a child when he can stop it and continue having me at his beck and call with nothing tying me down?” he spits the words at the floor, his faces stony and eyes flashing bitterly. “That sick bastard screwed us around so he could keep using me as a cash cow.”

He runs his hand through his hair angrily and you gasp.

“Shawn, what happened to your hand?” you exclaim, rushing forward and taking hold of his palm. The knuckles of his right hand are split and red, the beginnings of a bruise forming on his fingers and the back of his hand. “Please don’t tell me you hit him.”

“Just a wall,” he reassures you with a wry smile. “I wish it had been him though.”

“Don’t talk like that, it’s good it wasn’t.”

“That man stole my sons first few years from me. He took away my chance to be dad Noah deserved. He kept me away from you when you needed me most. I would personally beat the shit out of him for the rest of his life.” His gaze is filled with such fierce honesty it leaves you breathless.

It seemed so clear now, how obviously you’d been manipulated. James had found out every one of your insecurities and exploited them so much that you’d forgotten all logic and reason. You were embarrassed by how easily you’d been backed into a corner.

“You never actually believed I cheated on you, did you?” you mumble, hating the vulnerability in your voice. 

“You’re the most loyal person I know, I could never really believe that,” he murmurs tenderly. “Will you forgive me for even asking it, though?”

“Just don’t do it again,” you warn him. “I’m sorry I let him make me think you not knowing who sent the messages was a sign you didn’t care. And that I let him talk me into running away instead of talking to you about it all.”  

Shawn smiles and it’s like a ray of light breaking through the storm clouds, a sign that maybe, finally, things would work out.

“What happens to him now?” You ask.

“He’s been fired,” Shawn tells you. “I have a new manager who thinks family is equally as important as work and completely supports me in wanting to be involved with my son.” He takes a step forward, his massive legs carrying him halfway across your small bedroom. “And with you. If you’ll have me.”

Your heart melts. You think you’re about to explode with shock and happiness until one thought brings you crashing down.

“What about Abigail?” he doesn’t even falter.

“She’s an amazing woman, but we agreed that maybe we’re not really as compatible as we thought. She’s not ready to be with someone with a child,” he informs you, pulling you closer to him with his injured hand that you’re still holding.

“It’s as easy as that?” you reply, stunned.

“It is,” he murmurs, pressing his forehead to yours.

“But-“ he cuts you off by bringing his lips down on yours. You inhale sharply but quickly forget yourself in the warm touch of his skin against yours. Your mouths mould together like they were crafted to, like this moment was the divine wish of some great entity, laid out in the stars. His hands find their way into your hair, gentle and insistent all at once. God, you’d missed this.

“I swear, if you pull any of the shit you’ve pulled in the last few months again, you’ll be out on your ass in the street,” you warn him. He laughs against your lips.

“I know,” he answers, pressing another kiss to your mouth.

“I’m serious,” you resist.

“I know,” he repeats, meeting your eyes. His are so happy and full of love it takes your breath away all over again. It’s you who kisses him this time.

“Shawn!” comes a tiny, joyful shriek and a weight crashes into both of your legs. Noah grips Shawn's leg, a beaming smile taking over his face for the first time in weeks. “You’re back!” he says ecstatically.

“I am, buddy,” Shawn tells him, reaching down to lift him up from under his arms. “But I think you can start calling me Dad now, little guy. What do you think, Mum?” he asks, resting the toddler on his hip. Both of them look at you, one hopeful, the other slightly confused but giddy with happiness.

“I don’t see why not,” you agree.

“Dad?” Noah asks, looking inquisitively at Shawn. “You’re my Dad? Like Mike's dad?”

“Yeah, like that except I’m your dad.”

“Is he your dad too?” Noah asks you. You can’t stop yourself from laughing, so filled with happiness you can’t contain it.

“No baby, he’s just your dad.”

“Oh, ok.”

“I promise I’ll be a cool one too,” Shawn adds, to Noah’s glee. Then he turns to you, wiping away a tear you didn’t even know you had shed and winding his free arm around you to pull you against him. “And I promise you, from here on out, no one else is coming between us. It’s just you and me and him.”

           Meanwhile, Meg had called you and invited you to the same party. You had no idea Crowley, or Fergus as you knew him, would be there. You just needed to relax a little after what had happened with Fergus. You had been so close to closing the deal. So why in heaven's name did you not try harder? Surely the man wasn't completely immune to your seduction. Sighing, you opened the door and smiled at the sight of the party in front of you.

           "Y/N!" Your head whipped over to Meg. She sauntered over and handed you a drink. "What is going on here?" Meg smiled. "Cas and I got bored." You laughed a little and took a sip. Your favorite. Humming in content, you began to relax. "Go throw your coat in the bedroom and start partying." You nodded and handed her your drink to hold while you started to shed your coat. She directed you toward the bedroom.

           You opened the door to the bedroom and gasped. "Oh, I'm sorry!" A man and woman were in there clearly about to partake in events of a carnal nature. You were just glad they were still dressed. "No worries, love" the man said, turning toward you. You felt your heart stop beating in your chest and your breath caught. "F-Fergus?"

           Crowley froze for a second. That was not what he was expecting. For a moment, no one moved or said anything., the woman in his bed completely forgotten. Then, you pivoted on your heel and headed back the way you came. In an instant, Crowley had righted himself and followed after you. He called your name, but you ignored him as you made your way out of his apartment.

           Crowley finally caught up to you when you made it outside. You were waiting for a taxi to take you home. "Y/N, wait!" You huffed, crossed your arms over your chest, and finally looked at him. "What?" you snapped. Crowley's brows rose. "Yer angry." You rolled your eyes with a scoff. "What was your first clue? I can't believe I fell for it. You won't sleep with me, but you'll go behind my back and sleep with another woman. You are just like the rest of them."

           "Lass, 'm sorry. I had a wee bit too much ta drink and I fell into her trap. Please. I never wanted ta hurt ya." Crowley studied your face as he spoke and, to his surprise, he could see you fighting back tears. He really was getting to you. What surprised him more was the fact that he actually cared. "Please, Y/N. Give us a second chance? I won't mess up again." Crowley needed you to forgive him. He still had to get his exclusive. At least that's what he kept telling himself.

           You sighed, lowering your arms in defeat. "One chance, Fergus. I won't be toyed with." Crowley smiled. "Thank ya, lass! Ya won't regret it, I swear." He leaned over and kissed your cheek as a taxi pulled to a stop in front of the building. Crowley helped you into the taxi and watched it speed away. He glanced up toward the windows of his apartment and sighed. Suddenly, he wasn't in the mood to party anymore. He blamed you. And, not for the first time, he couldn't wait for this charade to be over so he could go back to being himself and not Fergus.

           A few days later, Crowley asked you out again only this time, he brought you to his actual apartment, which you still thought was Castiel's. He had his recording equipment there and he could finally get what he came for. "I hope ya don't mind. My flat is being renovated and my friend let me use his." He was hesitant just because of what had happened there before. You smiled at assured him that it was fine. It seemed you really had forgiven him. Crowley was grateful because now he could make his final move. "Check mate," he thought to himself.

           Once again, after dinner, you found yourself in his arms with his lips firmly attached to yours. You wanted him more than you'd ever wanted anyone before and you only hoped he wouldn't push you away again. You didn't think you could take it. Every touch set your body on edge. It was like fire and it needed to be quenched before you exploded.

           Crowley had to force himself to detach his lips from you. When he did, you tried to speak. "Fergus? I have to tell you something." Crowley kissed you again to distract you so he could turn on the recorder. "What is it, love?" he asked when he parted from you. "I have to tell you that I," you cut off with a gasp when Crowley kissed your neck. "I-I can't," you cried pulling yourself away.

           Crowley sat up with you, a look of confusion on his face. "What do ya mean? I thought this is what ya wanted? Ya aren't interested in love. Just sex." You shook your head. "You're right. That's what I should want. It's what I thought I wanted it, but I was wrong. I want what every woman wants. Love...and marriage. In truth, I love you too much to have sex with you."

           You didn't expect the smirk that appeared on Crowley's face. You expected him to sigh or laugh. Not smirk. He leaned in and placed a soft kiss to your lips. He opened his mouth to speak, but before he could, the door burst open. "Crowley! You naughty boy! Leaving a key on the outside while you're busy on the inside? Oh well, never mind. Thought I'd pop in for a little sex a la carte, but I can see you're busy. Ta." The door closed, leaving you and Crowley alone once more. You turned your head to look at Crowley and he knew there was no getting out of this. He was busted.

(a/n: Crowley’s busted! Only two more parts...maybe.)