Jo woke up to Crowley pressed against her back with his arm around her middle, she could feel his breath against the back of her neck. She pressed back and cuddled closer, she could tell it was too early to get up, but her disturbed dreams woke her. She rested her hand over the one he had spread over her stomach. She suddenly felt his fingers flex and she squirmed from being tickled.
"Stop squirming," Crowley said roughly in her ear.
"Then stop tickling me," she said lightly.
He chuckled lowly and stopped moving his fingers, instead he just moved his hand over her smooth skin, moving it up and down her stomach hard enough to not tickle. "Why are you awake so early?" he rumbled into her ear.
"Bad dreams," she murmured, running her hand up and down his arm.
He nuzzled into her neck, "I'm sorry, sweetheart."
"Not your fault." Jo rolled over so she was facing him and tucked herself into his arms. He wrapped his arms tighter around her, they had been home a whole week today, and since her last blow up with her Mom the Sunday before, she had been having upsetting dreams, not nightmares, but bad dreams where she would wake up crying with her Mother's words echoing in her mind.
Her Father had told her that he explained to her Mother about Crowley. She had listened but was still very against her marrying a man who was so much older then her. Her father had seemed exhausted and sad when he told her that her Mother was still being stubborn. So she hadn't taken herself or Crowley to family dinner the night before. Her Father had tried to convince them to go, that maybe if her Mother could just see them together she would be more understanding, but Jo was refusing to go anywhere near her Mother unless the other woman was ready to apologize.
Tonight they had made arrangements with the rest of the family to have dinner at Crowley and Jo's place. Jo had told her Father that if her Mother was willing to apologize and be civil she was invited, Bill had sounded ashamed when he told her that Ellen had refused. So it would just be Bill, Bobby, Sam, Dean, Charlie, and Ash coming tonight. Jo imagined that her Mother was none to pleased that Bill was coming, but as she understood he had told Ellen that he supported Jo and would have no involvement in her feud with their daughter. Jo was anxious about dinner but also happy to have her family over to meet her soon to be husband.
Jo spent her day fretting while Crowley tried to keep her calm. She cleaned up the already clean living room, they went shopping for some more groceries, then Jo spent a lot of the afternoon making a home made cheesecake. It took forever for the thing to cook once she got it all mixed and put together. Crowley helped in the kitchen where he could but in the later afternoon he made a few calls to his family in London.
By the time evening rolled around the cheesecake was done and sitting on the island and Jo had dinner in the oven. She had changed her clothes three times until Crowley had taken her by the shoulders, kissed her deeply before pulling away to hug her, "They are the same people you talk to everyday, you don't have to dress up, sweetheart."
"This is the first time I've hosted anything. I just want this to go well. I don't want to loose them too." said Jo into his chest.
"You haven't lost her. She will come around. You have to know that." said Crowley into her hair.
Jo sighed, she wanted to believe that, but she couldn't help but doubt. Jo pulled away from him and slightly nodded her head, she ran her hands up his chest like the dark blue shirt he was wearing, she flicked open the top two buttons. "You look good." she gave him a small smile.
Crowley grinned, "Always trying to undress me, aren't you?"
She smiled wider, "It just looks better with those buttons undone."
Crowley just pulled her into another tight hug, "Everything will be fine." he kissed the top of her head, then pulled back, "Now finish getting dressed, I think it's almost time."
Jo nodded and gave him a quick kiss, "I'll be out in a moment."
Crowley nodded and walked to the living room. It was a bit more like a home now that Jo had hung her pictures and art work from her old place around the living room. She had put her knives in shadow boxes along the wall next to the island along with her reproduction of Sting. He gave another look around to make sure he had picked up all of his work papers. As he was taking a step closer to the coffee table to move some books around he heard a knock at the door. He checked the clock, it was a little early but only by 15 minutes.
Crowley opened the door to Bobby awkwardly standing on the other side. Crowley raised an eyebrow a the man, he was dressed exactly like every other time Crowley had seen him, except now his clothes looked slightly cleaner.
"Why the hell do you live way up here?" groused the older man as he brushed passed Crowley and came into the penthouse. He started looking around with interest.
Crowley sighed and closed the door, "Because I like looking down on everyone." he snarked back.
Bobby sent him an unimpressed look, "Yeah, I just bet, you damn narcissist." Bobby flopped himself on the end of the couch. "Where's Jo?"
"I have her tied up in the back room." Crowley smirked at him as he took a seat in the arm chair near where Bobby was sitting.
"You wish." said Jo as she walked in from the side hallway. She had finally decided to just wear her black jeans, her new boots (which had become her favorite shoes) and a white peasant top she had found in the back of her closet when she moved in with Crowley. She had bought it on sale months ago and never worn it. It was light and flowy, and more feminine than she usually had reason to wear. She had put her hair up in two messy buns, the whole look was sort of hippy chic. Crowley grinned at her, it was a cute look he had never seen on her before. Jo pressed her lips and him and put her hands on her hips, "It's too girly isn't it? I'm gonna change." she started walking back towards the hallway.
Crowley jumped up and got an arm around her waist before she could make it, "No, no you look beautiful. Don't change, darling." He led her back towards where Bobby was sitting watching them, "Doesn't she look nice, Robert?" Crowley looked over to the other man.
"Uhh, yeah...you like nice, kiddo." Bobby gave her an awkward smile.
"Wow, Robert." said Crowley with an eye roll, "you are such a help."
"Well I don't know what to say. Women don't exactly ask me about their outfits. Especially not Jo. I don't know how to deal with frilly Jo." Bobby grumbled.
"Oh god, is it to frilly?" asked Jo, looking ready to go change again.
"No, you look lovely." Crowley sighed. "I promise. How about you just go sit with Robert and forget about what you're wearing. I'm going to go find that book I wanted to give him, maybe if he has a book to look at he'll stop putting his foot in his mouth. Though at his age I'm not sure how he manages it so well. Do you do yoga?" said Crowley sarcastically.
Jo just laughed as Bobby glared at Crowley as he left the room. Once he was gone Bobby turned back to Jo. "Sorry." mumbled Bobby.
Jo rolled her eyes, "It's fine. I'm just being all spazy. I want this to go well." Jo sighed.
Bobby shook his head, "I wouldn't worry about it, Jo. We all love you, and they'll get used to Crowley. I did." Bobby shrugged.
"That's because you too have your book lovers bromance going on." giggled Jo.
Bobby was just about to respond when there was a knock at the door. Jo smiled at Bobby before jumping up to go answer it. Jo opened the door to Sam, Dean, Charlie, and Ash. Jo raised her eyebrows at seeing all of them standing there. "Hey, everyone! Come on it." She pulled the door open to let them in.
Dean made a b line for Bobby and sat next to him on the couch. He looked like he would rather be anywhere else. Jo rolled her eyes. Charlie hugged Jo and handed her a bottle of wine. "Here you go, house warming gift! And what a house!" Charlie exclaimed as she started looking around, Ash following behind her to have a look.
"Thanks." mumbled Jo as Charlie was already walking away. Jo looked at the bottle, then up at Sam who was standing near her but also looking around with a critical eye, "I have no idea what to do with this." She said to him in a whisper.
Sam laughed, "You put it in the kitchen, I guess." he replied with a shrug.
"Right." Jo walked towards the kitchen with Sam not far behind her.
"I heard you got a huge engagement ring." he said as he glanced around the spacey apartment.
"Yup." Jo said with a smile, and held up her hand for him to see.
"Dang. That is huge." smiled Sam. Then his face went serious, "Are you happy, Jo?"
"Yes, of course! Why wouldn't I be?" she asked as she walked to the oven to check the chicken she had roasting.
"You just don't seem like yourself right now." said Sam lowly, "He's not forcing you into this is he? Whoever this guy is?"
Jo actually started laughing at this, and shook her head, "You are a great brother Sam. But no, no force necessary, I promise. I'm just stressed. With everything that's been happening with Mom." Jo leaned her butt against the counter, "I just wanted her to be here, to be a part of my life, and it seems like I might have lost her. I mean, I'm hella pissed at her, don't get me wrong, but shes still my Mom, you know?" Jo sighed, "And now all of you know she doesn't approve of my choice, and I'm so worried I'll loose all of you as well."
"That will never happen Jo. You have been our sister and friend since we were kids. Even if I hate your husband, I'll never stop being there for you." Sam said earnestly.
Jo smiled a real smile at him, "Thanks Sam. It means a lot." Jo walked back over to the couch and Sam followed. "So how do you guys like the place?" she asked the people in the room.
"It's huge!" grinned Charlie.
"Yeah, dude must have some serious rent on this pad." responded Ash who was looking out the window over the city.
Jo laughed, "We don't pay rent. Crowley owns the place." Jo smiled.
Sam looked at her in shock, "He owns the penthouse? Damn, that must have cost a fortune. Just the rent on these places is huge, I can't imagine how much it would cost to buy one,"
Jo shook her hear, "No, not the apartment. He owns the building. Another one of his little investments."
Everyone else in the room shot glances at each other, "No shit?" said Dean speaking for the first time.
"No shit to be had," joked Jo. She then looked towards the hallway, "Bobby is it just me or has he been back there a long time?"
"Yeah, he's taking his sweet ass time with finding that book." he grunted.
Jo popped up out of her chair and went to the hallway, she looked into Crowley's office, he was rummaging through a box. "Everyone but my dad is here. You coming out?" she asked him.
Crowley's head popped up, "Ah yes, I just can't find the stupid thing." he muttered looking around the room again.
"Was it the one you were looking at last night?" asked Jo.
"Yes, that's the one, green cover, gold lettering." he looked at her in question.
"You had it in bed last night, it's probably on the floor near the closet, remember I took it away from you and tossed it." Jo grinned at him.
"Ah yes, that was fun." he flirted back, he kissed her and headed for the door across from his office that led to their bedroom.
Jo walked back out to where everyone was sitting, "Sorry about that, he forgot he had it in our room last night. He was digging through boxes in his office." Jo rolled her eyes and Bobby chuckled.
"Here we are, Robert." said Crowley as he walked into the room. He went directly to the older man and handed him the book, before taking a look around at the other people there. As he looked he stepped next to Jo and put an arm around her waist. The person he immediately recognized was a surprise to him, "Moose! I didn't know you knew Joanna." He grinned at the younger man, who was starring at him in horror, "I still haven't heard from you about that job I offered you."
"Mr. Macleod! You? You and Jo?" he asked looking back and forth between them like he couldn't believe it. Dean had a similar look but he couldn't believe Jo would go for this guy. Charlie was smiling at the two of them unsurprised as she and Jo had spent a few lunches together and Jo had showed her pictures of her Mr. Crowley. Ash was cool as usual, more interested in the drama than anything, and Bobby was looking at the book Crowley had given him.
"How do you know each other anyway?" she wondered.
"I offered the Moose here a job at Hellhound when he helped me out with a contract problem. How do you know him, sweetheart?" Crowley glanced at her in interest.
"He's Bobby's younger son and this is Dean, his older son." Jo gestured towards Dean who was still starring at the two of them. "Also everyone, this is Crowley my fiance." Crowley smiled at her and pressed a kiss to her temple.
"I wish I had know that you were Robert's son, I would have made you a better offer, I didn't realize you would have different last names." Crowley grinned at Sam.
"We were adopted," said Sam with a short glare at Crowley, "and why would you have made me a different offer?" he asked suspiciously.
"Because you're family, of course." smirked Crowley, "I was thinking of getting a hold of you to make a better offer anyway. I like having the best working for me, and you are the best."
Bobby had a crease between his eyes as he looked between his son and Crowley, "How do you know he's the best?" he asked.
"He's already saved me a lot of money, and possible several lawsuits that could have made my company look bad. Not only that but he did it quickly and without any ego. Which is rare in the corporate law world." Crowley said casually.
"All I did was look over one contract." muttered Sam.
"Yes, and I offered you a very large salary to do it some more." replied Crowley, "Expect me to offer more then that come Monday, Moose."
"That is not his name." growled Dean.
Crowley raised an eyebrow and looked Dean over with a critical but lazy eye, "You're Dean...well I guess not everyone in the family can be as blessed in brains as Bobby and Sam were." he smirked at him
"You don't know me, jack hole." snapped Dean.
Crowley smirked and raised one eyebrow, "I know enough." he replied smugly. Crowley turned to smile at Jo who was frowning and scrunching her brow at Dean. "I'll go check dinner shall I, luv?" he leaned down and kissed her lips firmly before pulling away, he sent a meaning filled smirk at Dean before he walked into the kitchen.
"Woah, burn!" Cried Ash smugly, "because you were dumb enough to turn a hottie like Jo down man, oh man, he sure got you good!" Ash popped open a beer he pulled from his pocket and took a long drink as he snickered in amusement.
"Shut up Ash!" snapped Dean, then he turned back to Jo, "You can't be serious about this guy?"
"Oh Dean, grow up." Jo rolled her eyes and Bobby snorted in amusement, "You've never liked anyone I've ever dated, and honestly it's not up to you. I love him. We're getting married, Bobby and him are book buddies, and Sam is probably going to work for him. I think it's better you just suck it up and realize he's here to stay. Put on your big boy pants and shut up." Jo gave him a serious look before she went to the kitchen to help get dinner served.
Dean looked to Bobby for help, "Sorry son, shes right. He's my friend. He's an ass, but so are all of us. He ain't goin' nowhere." Bobby stood up to go take a seat at the island where there were place settings set up for everyone.
Charlie nodded, gave Dean a smile and a pat on the back before she followed Bobby over to the island.
Ash just winked at him and followed the other two.
Dean and Sam stood there looking at each other, "You're not going to go to work for that asshole are you, Sammy?" Dean asked pleadingly.
Sam looked down, then back up at Dean, "He told me some stuff about my current boss, I've been looking into it, turned out Macleod...or Crowley, or whatever his name is, was right, my boss is a grade A dick. I was going to accept Crowley's job offer tomorrow morning. I didn't know he was marrying Jo though."
"Are you still going to accept it?" asked Dean worriedly.
"It's an amazing offer Dean, and if he really does offer me more, I can't say no. I just can't, and well, he is going to be family." Sam shrugged and joined everyone at the island.
Dean stood there in shock. He jolted back to reality when he heard a knock at the door. Jo yelled at him from the kitchen, "If you're done just standing there answer the freaking door, Dean!"
Dean sighed and went to the door, it was Bill. Dean gestured for him to come in.
Bill followed the voices coming from the kitchen area, they weren't hard to find. When Jo saw him she smiled and came to hug him, she thanked him quietly for being there. He just squeezed her a bit tighter before letting her go, "Better introduce me to this man of yours." he said gruffly, still not ready to meet that man who was going to marry his daughter.
Jo brought Bill into the kitchen where Crowley was putting pieces of chicken on everyone's plates. "Crowley," Jo said to get his attention. Crowley stopped what he was doing and wiped his hands on the apron he had put on. He came closer to Jo and Bill with a cautious smile, "Crowley, this is my Dad. Dad this is Crowley." Jo said with a hit of nervousness.
Bill held out his hand to shake Crowley's, "Nice to finally meet you," Bill said politely.
"And you as well," replied Crowley with a firm shake, "Thank you for coming to dinner. It means a lot to us both."
"Of course. Thanks for having me. I'm sorry my wife couldn't join us, I tired to convince her, but she is stubborn." he said apologetically.
Crowley nodded, "I've heard that, but I'm sure you'll bring her around. There is no way she can stay away from Jo too long." he smiled at Bill then went to finish serving dinner.
Bill nodded then gave a small smile to Jo. Jo hugged his arm for a moment before gesturing to the empty chairs around the island, "Sit down Dad, we're about to eat." she smiled.
Bill took a seat next to Bobby and Dean. Bobby gave him a pleased nod, while Dean just scowled down at his chicken. Bill had to stop himself from rolling his eyes, that boy never could figure out what he wanted.
Dinner went smoothly after that, everyone chatted and laughed, and enjoyed good food and an even better dessert of Jo's delicious cheesecake. As the evening wore on everyone trickled away until just Bill remained. They were all sitting in the living room, Jo and Crowley pressed together on the couch and Bill in the side chair.
"I honestly don't know what to do." Bill said with a sigh. "I've never seen her this way."
"Me either," Jo said sadly, "I wish she had came tonight, just so she could see that we are happy together." Jo reached out and laced her fingers with Crowley's, he smiled and squeezed her hand.
"Is there anything I could do to prove to your wife that I love Joanna?" Crowley asked Bill, "This is hurting Jo so much, I can't stand that."
"Crowley..." Jo said exasperated, "I'm fine."
"It's giving you nightmares." Crowley replied, he looked over at Bill, "I don't like her waking up at night crying because her mother is being unnecessarily cruel." he said firmly.
"I don't like that either." said Bill looking at his daughter with worry.
Jo rolled her eyes, "The both of you worry too much, I'm fine. I promise. She just brought up a lot of bad memories and insecurities. I guess it's getting to me, but it's gotten better. The first few nights were the worst. I promise." Jo said to them looking down at her fingers entwined with Crowley's.
Crowley gave a significant look to Bill who nodded. They both wanted to ease this situation. Bill decided he liked this Crowley fellow. He seemed honestly and utterly devoted to his daughter and Joanna looked so happy in a way he hadn't seen in a long time, at least until they started talking about Ellen. He sighed, he knew it was going to be up to him to get Ellen to see what he saw, and it wasn't going to be easy.