Marked

A/N- Hey y'all, this is a new story from me. A Cas one too which is new but he doesn't come into it for a little while yet. Bare with me though it may take a while to update. Well first person which is a change for me. Enjoy.

Chapter One- Coffee & Ketchup

Well, this is me or more like my story. I'm just you're average survivor of the destruction of most of mankind. Y'know all those years ago I'd have never thought that any of it would, or actually could, happen; the whole loosing everyone you love, the forbidden love, the near death chase and the Apocalypse. Sounds like a typical B-rated movie script, I know. Hell, even when I look back I think it must have been a dream or at least part of it.

But this is my story, Our story.

The story of how it all started and how it all ended for a small town girl from South Colorado and the people that she met along the way. The story of the person who changed my life before it really had chance to get going and the person who tried his best to set it right, the person who didn't care and took me for what I was and died in the process of protecting me, the friends and the big ass battle at the end of it all. Yeah, life is a bitch. But it's more real than any movie could ever be.

I'm writing this for those who died not only in the battle but all those that died in the war between Heaven and Hell; the hunters, the friends, the family, the lovers and the innocent. This is for those brave people who put themselves in the firing line in the name of the best and worst feeling imaginable- Love.

I'm writing this so I don't forget, so that no one ever forgets what they did. What they all did. What he did.

And nearly all of them promised me not to write anything mushy...

Oh well, guys. I love every one of you, especially my angel. I miss you.

-M-

I reached over for the chipped mug of coffee only a little distance away from my position on the red stool near the counter. I looked down at the black mush that had gathered in the bottom. It looked more like mud than filtered caffeine. It clung to the mug for dear life and I'd always wondered why people had milk in their coffee. Now I knew. To stop it from sticking to the goddam bottom. I downed the rest of it with one long gulp and felt the almost solid mixture crawl down the inside of my neck and into my stomach. I made a face to myself. It wasn't as if I could complain. My uncle and only living relative had made it from his new fancy machine he'd bought for the diner that he'd owned ever since I could remember.

When he'd noticed that I'd finished he smiled to himself through the hatch and walked out into the main diner and looked at me. A huge expectant grin had spread across his face wrinkling his weather beaten and tanned skin, "so, what do you think?"

"It's great but," I forced a smile not wanting to disappointing, "I have milk with coffee."

"Oh sorry Rox," he gaped like a fish for a few moments then something sparkled in his eyes, "no you don't."

"I do," I sounded like a little kid, a little kid that was actually twenty years in the past.

He folded his arms across his growing belly and scoffed, "since when?"

"Last night," I looked away choosing to stare at a bottle of vinegar instead of his face. I took in its detail; the red and black label telling everyone where it was from and slowly watching an air bubble from the bottom rise up.

He laughed, "Liar, I saw you make some coffee and you didn't even touch the milk."

"You obviously weren't looking when I did," I replied stubbornly and went over to where the aprons were kept and tied one around my tiny waist. It wasn't brand new but it wasn't stained or fraying either. It covered my half of my thighs and lower abdomen making sure my jeans wouldn't get stained if I dropped anything. Then the antique jukebox sitting in the corner of the huge room startled me. It started playing How To Save A Life by The Fray.

How the hell had that happened? I wandered over to it and pressed the off button. The old thing was on the blink, it was finally going to die one of these days. What the weirdest thing was though was the fact that it wasn't even plugged in! My eyebrow rose partially as I went back to getting ready.

"Rox," his voice turned stern as I twisted my shoulder length hair into a French twist.

I turned to face him still puzzled, "What?"

"Tell me the truth," he said and his warm brown eyes were fixed on my own sapphire blue irises, "its only coffee."

"Erm, well," I struggled for an answer not wanting to upset him, "just check the filter next time, okay?"

He nodded; the white chefs had slipping out of place and revealing white and scattered hair, "okay."

Oh crap, I had upset him, damnit.

I knew that tone of voice better than anyone. That 'oh, okay then' slightly depressed one. He'd used it an awful lot when I had been a teenager.

I sighed and looked over at the red and green cockerel clock hanging over the wooden red painted door. It was seven fifty five and there were only another five minutes until we opened. My uncle fiddled with his stained apron and he went over to the coffee machine and started checking it. He was close to fifty five and slightly overweight. I'd told him to lay off the hamburgers but I'd gotten nowhere.

I shook my head and made sure all the tables were clean and fully stocked with sauces and condiments. After this I changed the sign on the door from 'closed' to 'open'. All the time my Uncle Jay was silent.

I glanced over at him from where I was standing by the door. He had his head down and had nearly disembowelled the machine. I sighed just as our loyal customer, Mr Stafford, walked into the building. He was an old but kind man and had been the first in the diner everyday for the past twenty five years.

"Hey Mister Stafford," I called to him with a smile noticing that he was wearing his usual dark suit.

He waved at me with a wrinkled hand, he was short with grey hair and dark skin, "blah don't call me that, just call me Terry like everyone else 'round here."

I laughed, this was our usual greeting and had been since i was two years old. Obviously, I hadn't been able to pronounce it properly back then so it sounded like I was saying 'hey Miser Safferd', "you just having the usual?"

"Coffee, sweet like my wife and a good old fried breakfast, the sort that the doctor disagrees with," he chuckled to himself and sat at the counter in his normal spot close to the till.

I made him a pot of coffee and me and the old man gossiped about the local happenings for a while until I noticed Jay hadn't gone to make his breakfast. I rolled my eyes.

"Sorry," I apologised then walked over to where he was still trying to fix the machine, "Uncle Jay?"

He looked up with various metal parts in his hands, "Yeah?"

"Terry wants his breakfast," was all I said and I watched him put the tools down and go into the kitchen where he started to fry bacon, eggs and sausages.

I walked back over to Terry and apologised again, "Sorry."

"Ahhh don't fret over it," he shook his head, "truth be told, I like the talking."

I smiled, not many customers were as understanding and laid back as he was. It was almost a breath of fresh air.

"Basically," he finished his tale, "I don't believe a word that comes outta that woman's mouth, what's he fiddling with anyways?" he queried as he peered over my shoulder and gazed at the coffee machine that was currently in bits.

I looked too then turned back to him, "nothin' much, just a new coffee machine."

I topped his coffee up with the pot I'd made myself.

He shuddered as he replied, "Technology, I don't get it why can't things stay the way they are?"

"Because it's supposed to be progress," I commented and looked out over the parking lot nearby. I saw a dark blue car park up and waited for someone to get out. No one moved.

The old guy scoffed and grumbled just as a few more customers came in.

-M-

Three hours later at lunch time the place was full of people eating. I was leaning on the counter keeping an eye out for anyone who wanted anything. All the booths were full with locals and there were two strangers who were travelling on a road trip apparently. They weren't no trouble 'course and Jay was still messing around with that goddam machine. He'd managed to put it back together but it wasn't working at all now. I couldn't stand it any longer. I walked over and moved him out of the way, I lifted the hatch and clicked a leaver into place, I closed the lid back down and put a mug underneath the nozzle with a better filter. A few seconds later and along with a growling gurgling sound a velvety black liquid poured out into the white mug below it. It filled nearly to the top and I gave it to Jay.

"Taste it then," I said after he looked at me then the machine then the coffee.

He lifted it to his lips but pulled it sharply away, "Jeez, that's hot!"

I gave him a dumbstruck look, "well what do you expect, coffee liquor ice cream?"

"Well no but," he started then the man nearly thirty years my senior gave a stern look, "how'd you do that?"

I sighed and grabbed the instruction booklet that was lying unused on the counter, "I read it while you were in the kitchen."

His eyes looked down at the booklet in my pale hands, "wise ass."

I grinned like a Cheshire cat, "Must be my good eyesight"

"I told you, I am not going to the opticians," he told me for the seventh time that week.

"Fine, go blind. I don't care," I said as I saw a customer wave me over for something, I left him and walked over to where the strangers were.

"Hey," I gave them a complimentary smile, "What can I do for you?"

They were two men, I could've sworn that they were gay. The shorter of the pair had green eyes, light brown hair so it could've been blonde and had sleeves rolled up to the elbows showing off his well toned muscles. He was a few years older than me. He was dressed a bit like a trucker or someone always on the road. He was definitely the masculine one of the relationship.

Possibly overcompensating...

The other was taller by a few inches and had darker hair and hazel eyes. He was feminine; one of those in-touch-with-his-feelings sort. He was wearing a light shirt on top of another and had been stopped half way through talking by the other. He was roughly my own age give or take a few months.

Probably a lovers tiff...

I looked both in them in the eye as I waited patiently for them to reply. The taller guy sighed and gave up trying to talk to the other choosing to sit back in his seat and look upset.

"Just some more ketchup please," the other guy answered more than a little stressed.

I nodded with a pleasant smile, "sure."

They had gone through an entire bottle! How the hell did they manage that? Did they freaking drink it instead of the coffee? I sighed and went behind the counter to fetch them another. I grabbed air as I groped along the shelf for one. I looked along it and found that they'd all gone.

Great...

"Uncle Jay?" he turned around when I called, "we got any ketchup back there?"

"Nope, we're all out," his reply sounded with a sigh.

I walked back over, "sorry guys, it looks like you ate it all up."

The guy who had spoke to me chuckled, "perfect, as if I didn't have enough problems. I can't even finish my burger and fries with some ketchup on the side!"

"Oh yeah, 'cause everything is my fault!" the other guy replied trying to match his companions voice volume.

"No Sam, but if you do that again it will be!" he shouted back.

I whistled as they calmed down noticing that people were starting to look, "take it easy guys, it's just some ketchup."

"Look lady," he turned on me, "you know squat about me or my life so back off!"

"No I don't but what I do know is that what you're doing here is disrupting my customers," I leant in and whispered dangerously in his ear, "So if you wanna finish your burger and fries I suggest you shut up."

He didn't reply.

"Sorry," the other guy apologised, "rough day."

I shook my head, "its okay. I know a good relationship councillor if you're interested?"

"What?" the guy roughly my own age asked confused.

"Nothing. I was just wondering if she'd help with ketchup withdrawals," I made a joke and left them to it.

Men were a pain in the ass on their own let alone in a relationship. It was even worse when men were in relationships with other men. There wasn't anything wrong with it, it was just goddam annoying when they had arguments when I was working and the diner was nearly full of people. The few people who had been staring turned back around and carried on eating and talking.

Jay came out of the kitchen to join me near the till, a couple had just paid their bill and had left a very nice tip in the jar. He thanked them then he turned to me.

"Can you go and pick up some more ketchup?" he asked me.

"Oh," I paused for a moment and looked around. It was starting to die down, "sure thing, from David's warehouse?"

He nodded and I took off my apron and hung it up before taking some bills from the till and leaving the diner.