"In daunting darkness we will march, towards the end with desperate hearts," - Stratovarius

I honestly thought everything was going to be normal for once. Dean and Sam were doing well with their hunting (as far as I was told). Daddy Devil is still in the Cage with Michael, and Adam too as Maeve sadly pointed out. Nothing is coming in or out of Purgatory. Metatron is locked up.

As for his son, Nephros...

Damon had raised Nephros since birth, even before he knew that Nephros was the Alpha Nephilim (the first one ever born, how did Metatron manage that one?) so only nine hundred years later (he was put into a permanent sleep for most of that time thanks to Clifton's father) when Nephros learned Metatron was his real father, it screwed with his mind pretty badly. Metatron was able to brainwash him into helping him and Gadreel in recreating Heaven.

They tried to, at least. Gadreel left the dark side to help us stop Metatron. We succeeded of course. Now Nephros is back with Damon, but he is far from the same. One time I caught him crying. Good, hard tears as if he'd just lost a loved one - which he pretty much did. He told me he missed his father and not to tell Damon I saw him in this state. I gave him a hug and promised I wouldn't say a word, and I still haven't to this day.

I rub my eyes. It might take a long time for Nephros to be completely normal again. Poor guy.

Regardless, I thought life was going to be peaceful from now on, but I was wrong. Oh how wrong I was.

It starts with Castiel calling me on a Saturday morning, going on about how Hannah left her vessel and returned to Heaven. I may have over rejoiced about that. Then he went on about how a giant cathedral was engulfed by a massive angelic light and afterwards half of the cathedral exploded. "Did a bunch of angels die at once?" I wondered.

He wasn't sure, but he wanted - needed me to go with him. I didn't want to, but he decided to be clever and said that Gadreel was going. Now I was hands down. I have a guilty secret crush on him, and Clifton guiltily adores him. We're guilty because he killed Kevin.

Please don't tell Murdock. Or Megan. Or anyone.

Before we leave, Clifton put his tiny tan hand into mine and I zap us all to somewhere in the south, near the site of the half destroyed cathedral. "See Uncle Cas!" Clifton greeted. "Uncle Dreel!" He toddled over and hugged their legs. Murdock and Juliet gave Gadreel a short sour glare, and then promptly acted like he wasn't even there. I decided to piss them off by giving the angel a big hug.

"Let's go," Clifton urged us, leading the way as if he knew where the cathedral was. The morning sun was barely up but it was enough to make my son's shadow colored hair shine. I notice some curls were threatening to grow out, and I think it would be absolutely adorable - reminding me of Colby easily.

I remember Murdock said one time, "He gets to have long hair but I can't?"

"He's never gotten a hair cut before," I remarked to him. "I don't want him to have one yet. I love his baby hair."

"Juliet," Gadreel tried to address her. This should be interesting. "Did you know we made an agreement in Heaven, to allow the Nephilim to be among us?"

"I told her," I said quietly.

"I don't want to be around you," Juliet scowled, pushing up her pink glasses to hide the anger in her blue eyes.

"...it's not just me," Gadreel continued. "All of the angels. A lot of them want to meet you."

"Me?" She squeaked, but then quickly hid her tone.

"Yes," Gadreel confirmed.

"I'll be their friend," Juliet promised. "But I won't be your friend."

Ouch, that had to hurt what little pride Gadreel had left.

After we walked in silence for a while, the nine year old girl said, "Kevin was my friend."

"He was my friend too," Murdock finally spoke.

"Will you guys knock it off?!" I hissed.

"Gadreel redeemed himself!" Cas defended.

"Be nice to Uncle Dreel!" Clifton added. "Oooh... look!"

We all see the cathedral now. There was a faint blue light glowing on the side that got destroyed. Blue? Were angels still fighting? If there were any at all?

My son took off like a bullet towards the scene, Juliet close behind him. We started stepping over smaller pieces of rubble from the building as we approached it. "Why haven't the authorities been here?" I questioned as we neared the glowing light.

"I believe this cathedral is abandoned," Cas answered. "They may have came and then left."

"Guys?!" Juliet screeched from afar. "There's someone down there!"

"Down where?" I demanded. I sped up and saw what she meant - where the destroyed half of the cathedral once was had been replaced by a giant hole, a crater even. It was the source of the blue light.

There is a man unconscious at the bottom.

I angel-fly down there and slowly turn him over. He's a big guy. Dark skin, bald, and did I mention tall? Or did I say big?

"Recognize him?" I ask Castiel and Gadreel. They both shook their heads. "Son? Can you touch him and see?" I asked next.

"Yeah," Clifton answered. He put his hand on the guy's chest, doing his thing where he reads your thoughts and memories. "No?" He spoke, and that's his way of saying he can't read anything off of this guy.

"He has to be an angel," I decided. "If and when he wakes up, maybe we can figure out who he is. One of you grab him, let's get out of here."

Gadreel ended up being the one who had to carry the body. He gently placed him in the back of Cas' pimp car, and I had no choice but to laugh. "Where are you taking him?" Murdock asked.

"He will stay with us until he wakes up," Cas answered.

"If he wakes up," Gadreel added.

I shrugged. "Seems like the best idea we have. Call me if you find out who he is."

My next phone call is from Crowley, so now I will explain why I address him as Dad. At first, to me he was just some crossroads demon whom Becky said had a fling with my psycho birth mother, the demon Lilith. That right there sort of gives me a "step dad" vibe. I met him shortly before my twin sisters were born, and ever since, we have always been a really estranged team.

So in the end, I look at him as a father, and that's a hell of a lot better than Lucifer. Screw Daddy Devil.

No one likes that this is how I feel. And I mean no one, except maybe Clifton.

Regardless... Crowley says on the phone, "I need you to play house for a bit and meet your fake grandmother."

My response is, "Come again?"

"My mother showed up out of the blue, alright? I told her that I had a family. She remotely assumed I meant my demons, but I told her..." he trailed off.

"You told her about me," I finished. Why didn't he just tell her about his son, Gavin?! "Fine! You owe me for this!"

"Yeah, yeah, see you soon love."

I explain to my son what was going on, and he was eager to go. I ask Murdock to go with us. Sure, I can take care of myself but... I do feel safer with my powerful warlock boyfriend. I poof us to... you know, wherever Crowley resides. He keeps it secret for a reason. I push past Gerald, one of Crowley's top dog demons (what a joke) and approach the King himself on his throne.

"Where is she?" I asked.

"Locked up that way," he replied, pointing down the hall. "Nice to see you too." He added with sarcasm.

"Hi Lee," Clifton waved happily.

"Greetings Little Cas," Crowley waved back. I snicker since I believe Crowley is the one who came up with that name. "Anyway, Gerald can show you the way."

I roll my eyes as Gerald walks up with a smirk and escorts us to the dungeon-like rooms and unlocks the one that "Grandma" is in. There are two women chained up - one is frizzy haired with dark skin. The other is much older and pale with long, red hair.

Huh.

No wonder Crowley hated Abaddon so much.

"What's this?" The red haired woman asked me.

"...hello..." I hesitated. "...Grandmother..."

Clifton maneuvered past me and toddled in as the woman's eyes nearly popped out of her head. "You are my grandchildren?" She realized.

"Yes..." I answered. "My name is Lynn, and this is my son, Clifton."

"Oh, my..." the woman remarked in shock. I opened the door all the way and looked at Murdock. He appeared nervous, very nervous. I didn't think anything of it so I gently took his hand and brought him into the dark, stone room. "You are beautiful." The lady said to me.

Clifton stares at the woman and then at Murdock - who looked ready to panic. Now I knew something was up.

"Rowena?" Murdock spoke.

I stared at him as my fake grandmother, or Rowena as he named, replied, "Always nice to be recognized. Who are you?"

"I'm Murdock," he introduced shakily. "Murdock Leroy."

Rowena appeared ecstatic. "Murdock?" She repeated. "All grown up, are we? You have your father's eyes."

"What the hell?" I interrupted rudely. "You know Crowley's mother?!"

"I knew his parents," Rowena corrected. "They were lovely people until they passed away," she looks at Murdock now. "I came to see you after they passed. Your grandfather said you had to live in the mansion by yourself until you were grown. I told him that was ridiculous, and offered to take you... but he wouldn't let me. It was your Cult's rule that you had to stay."

Murdock gulped. "Yeah, I briefly remember. My grandfather was a prick."

Rowena chuckled. "I briefly remember that as well."

What the hell? WHAT THE HELL? "Okay, we're done here. Nice to meet you, Grandma. Son, come on!" I yelled, grabbing Murdock's arm and dragging him out of the room.

"Bye!" Clifton waved to Rowena as he quickly followed us.

Back in the throne room, Crowley raises an eye at my angry manner. "What's the matter?" Murdock asked worriedly.

"I can't be slightly bothered that you know Rowena?!" I yelled.

"Huh," Crowley spat. "She did mention Merlin a few times when I was a boy."

"HOW WONDERFUL!" I continued. "CAN THIS GET ANY MORE-"

My phone starts ringing in my pocket. I pause, hold a finger up, and pull it out to answer. "Hello?"

"Hello Lynn, it's Cas," he spoke quickly. "The body we found is awake, and he is asking for Clifton."

"...what?" I asked stupidly.

"He says he needs to see Clifton Winchester right now, or the world will turn into destruction."

"What?!" I repeated.

"We're not in any danger. He is just sitting, saying he needs to see your son. Gadreel is trying to get more out of him."

"I can't... I don't... I..." I look down at my three year old son. "We'll be there soon." I hang up and shake a little.

"What is it?" Murdock questioned.

"The man we found at the cathedral is awake," I answered. "And he says he needs to see Clifton."

"See me?" Cliffy spoke.

"Am I allowed to have a breakdown right now?" I wondered. "There is too much going on, I can't..."

Murdock immediately wrapped his arms around me and I felt a small jolt run through me like always - like getting a small shock but it always feels good. Then I felt Cliffy hug my leg and heard him say, "Lee, hug?"

"Absolutely not. I'm perfectly comfortable in my chair over here."

That made me grin so big. These guys know just how to cheer me up: hugs and laughter. "Thanks guys," I said, pulling away. "We'll deal with this here later. Right now, someone wants to meet my son."

"See me," Clifton jumped up. "See me!"

Yeah, this isn't going to end well.