"What's better than a devil you don't know?"

The hunter's gaze softened as he looked her over, a ghost of a smile on his lips.

"Uh....just tired of driving, honestly. Been spending a little time on the road," he replied, though he didn't give anymore information for the time being.

"I appreciate the gesture though, really I do. Just....may not be the guy you're looking for."

Simon arched an eyebrow at the other. "Did you ah, did you drink any of the water? Because even if you inhale it by accident it's quite the trip. Listen, not to rush you or anything, but it's going to storm soon and you'd be better off in a base rather than trying to get back to that cave."

"Look man, I just got here. I don't even know where here is. I was...." He'd just been in a fight with one of his brothers, and then the next thing he knew, he was here.

"The last time I had this happen, I was stuck in a wasteland for a year. Can you at least tell me where I can go that's safe?"

Not again..... Please not again.

He wasn't home much. Honestly, even in his opinion, he wasn't home enough.

The demon stood carefully, picking his daughter up and holding the baby close.

Dante was at the club tonight, everyone else was either asleep or out. Maybe tonight…

"What say you we go meet your Uncle John, hm?"

Gemma made a quiet coo, icy hues looking up to her father as her little fingers cling tightly to his suit vest. She was strong for being so tiny. The baby seemed comfortable in his arms, happy to be in his presence.

Tonight, it was a little chilly, and John had decided to stay in next to the fire with a good book, not suspecting Phantom this evening. Though his husband's presence was never undesired.

"Hello, Dearest. I have someone here I've been wanting you to meet," he said, relaxing his hold a little so Gemma could look at John.

John on the other hand, rose his brows, confused as to what the hell Phantom, a demon, was doing with a baby.

"I.....she's adorable," he hummed, getting to his feet.

"Is she....yours?"

"You know, I don't know if you've ever met the Winchesters, but that series was written about them. It'll be a gospel one day."

— Cas to Tony

Tony stood straighter, blue eyes turning black as he looked to the angel and took a step back. "Uh…no, but my…my brother knows them. Or, one at least. I've seen the books, though. I prefer comics, honestly. You should see if they can make a graphic novel or some shit…"

Maybe it was that Castiel often times found himself to be lonely. He'd found some demons weren't always such bad company. Meg hadn't been anyway.

"I see.....I appreciate your honesty. Crowley is making some moves I intend to keep an eye on, and I was hoping to approach Evan to be an informant. Now I feel a bit more prepared to do so knowing he isn't in league with him."

The vampire looked up from his book, nodding. "Are…is everything ok?"

She didn't appear to be injured. Just anxious. She seemed happy, in fact, and her heartrate had risen a bit. He didn't want to ask though and worry her if that had nothing to do with this.

Mare patted the couch next to him, moving his research over. Dante was still gone, and while Mare doubted he could find a solution to getting his soulmate back sooner, he would still search.

It also gave him something to do besides blame himself for something he had no control over.

"Of course, Evelyn. What's…is everything ok? Are you ok?"

"I uhm.... I'm fine, but I'm.... Mare, I'm pregnant, and it's Paultin's, and I've never been so excited in my life, but I'm scared if I tell him he's just gonna run, or that he isn't going to.... That he won't want this with me, and I.... I don't even know how to tell him."

She'd stayed out before. Never this long, but the family always seemed to understand when she needed space.

Max and Pika had made their way to the mouth of her temporary home, though, and she knew someone was bound to be close behind.

She knew Chase would be understanding. She just didn't want to play twenty questions concerning who and when and how…

— for Chase

Chase followed shortly behind the dogs, wings out, yet tucked against his back.

"Faith?" He called, sitting down at the mouth of the den. He knew something was wrong. He'd sensed it for days, but he wanted to give her time and space to come to him, but his worry was beginning to overtake his understanding.

"Why don't you come talk to me for a minute? Uh... I was gonna make your favorite for dinner tonight. Thought maybe we could make it a daddy and daughter date night like we used to when you were a kid."

All he wanted was to cheer his little girl up. Adult or not. She was his baby. They all were.

Leaning forward, he pressed a kiss to the top of her head as he kept petting her, his wings wrapping around them both.

"I understand now, and I'm here. I'm here no matter what you need, Faith. I love you."

caretaker.

i'll  stay  until  you  fall  asleep.

you're  not  a  burden.  not  to  me.

you  don't  have  to  act  tough  with  me.

let  me  help.

if  you  need  to  cry,  i'll  look  the  other  way.

you  don't  have  to  talk.

let  me  handle  it,  just  for  a  minute.

rest,  i'll  watch  over  you.

i  don't  care  if  you  think  you're  fine.  i'm  staying.

deep  breaths.

just  lean  on  me.

you're  safe  now,  okay?  just  breathe.

i  know  it  hurts.  i'll  sit  here  as  long  as  it  takes.

i'm  not  leaving  until  i  know  you're  okay.

you  don't  need  to  hide.

let  me  take  care  of  you  this  time.

shh.  i'm  right  here.

you  don't  have  to  put  on  a  smile  for  me.

i  don't  think  less  of  you.

i'll  be  here  when  you  wake  up.

you're  allowed  to  lean  on  me.  that's  what  i'm  here  for.

you  don't  have  to  be  okay.

scoot  over,  i'm  not  letting  you  sleep  alone.

your  hair's  a  mess.  let  me  brush  it.

don't  apologize.

cared  for.

i'm  tired,  that's  all.

please  don't  go.

i  don't  know  what  i  need.

you  didn't  need  to  come.

you  shouldn't  have  to  see  me  like  this.

i  hate  feeling  like  this.

i  was  trying  to  push  through.  i  think  i  made  it  worse.

this  is  so  embarrassing.

can  you  just...  stay  a  little  longer?

i  didn't  think  anyone  would  notice...

i'm  not  safe  in  my  own  head  right  now.

why  are  you  being  so  gentle  with  me?

i  don't  want  you  to  fix  me.

today's  just...  one  of  the  harder  days.

i  didn't  know  i  needed  to  hear  that.

can  you  stay?  after  i  fall  asleep?

sorry.  i  didn't  mean  to  flinch.

i  don't  always  know  what's  going  to  help.

this  is  the  nicest  anyone’s  been  to  me  all  week.

i'm  sorry.  i  know  i'm  a  lot.

i  don't  even  know  why  i'm  crying...

i  think  i'm  broken.

you  didn't  have  to  do  all  this  for  me.

i  don't  want  to  be  a  burden.