Summary: AU. Arranged marriages aren't really about whether the couple actually love each other, and in this case, they don't...to begin with. They're twenty-five years apart, but as time goes on, they actually begin to fall in love with each other. Please R&R!

Disclaimer: I don't own Supernatural or its characters. I only own Allie Matthews.

A/N: Again, thanks for the support with the last chapter! Here's chapter twenty-one. Hope you enjoy!

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Better With Time

-Chapter Twenty-One: I Pray That Something Picks Me Up-

As Allie rushed around the hospital corridors, finally finding the group who stood watching through the window. What shocked Allie was how tearful Crowley's eyes were. She hadn't seen anything quite like it before. She'd never seen him cry so this was just painful for her.

"Allie's here, Crowley." Bill said, Crowley turning and gazing at her with utter sorrow in his eyes.

"Oh, sweetheart..." Allie breathed, moving closer to him and hugging him close to her, rubbing his back as he buried his face in her shoulder, "Shhh...Hush, baby. Hush now, it's okay."

The others couldn't believe how gentle she was with him. Really, Crowley never cried at anything, but this had made him absolutely distraught. They'd all noticed the bump as she'd come round the corner, and they figured that on top of Crowley's worries over Allie, this wasn't going to do him any good. He really did worry about her, especially with her bump showing.

"Come and sit down, sweetie." She whispered, leading him to the chairs and keeping a tight hold of his hand, "How is he?"

"They've stabilised him." Crowley said, sniffling and wiping his eyes, "It's just hard to see him like that...I mean...I've been friends with him since I was your age. He was eleven...Lived a few houses away from me. I looked after him a lot when other kids decided it was alright to try and beat him up. Twenty-five years, Allie...He's the best friend I've got."

"Oh, honey." Allie whispered, "Listen, you're gonna have to come away at some point but I'll bring you back and forth every day."

"Don't be silly, I can drive myself here and back." Crowley said softly, "You're pregnant, love, you need to rest."

Allie nodded and rubbed his back gently, keeping his hand in her own as she stroked that soothingly with her thumb. He'd not been this upset since his parents died, so crying like this for the first time in ten years was pretty tough for him to take.

"I'll drive you home tonight," Allie said quietly, "And I'll make you some dinner if you want some, and you need an early night, okay? I'm not trying to be suggestive here, before you say anything."

Crowley laughed a little at that, looking up at his wife with red eyes to which she responded to by kissing him tenderly on the lips, then the cheek before she hugged him closely.

"Now, visiting hours end in ten minutes." She began, "You want a coffee, sweetie?"

Crowley shook his head and huffed out a tired laugh.

"That's all I've had all day." He sighed, keeping Allie close to his body and rubbing her back, "God, darling, I'm sorry I didn't call you earlier."

"Don't be ridiculous," Allie replied, "Clearly you've had a lot on your mind today, don't worry."

Crowley pulled her into a kiss, just wanting the comfort of it, of her taste, her feel, her touch...her. Allie smiled as his hands went to her stomach, rubbing it gently as he smiled down at it.

"Hello, my little one." He whispered, "Daddy's missed you today."

"We've missed you too." Allie replied, "Haven't we, my darling."

She rubbed her belly and placed her hands over Crowley's and smiled, watching her husband wipe his eyes tiredly.

"Crowley, we're gonna go home..." Bill whispered, "If any of us hear anything we'll let you know."

"Alright, if I hear anything, I'll let you all know." Crowley replied, the others passing him and patting his shoulder in attempts at comfort.

"Listen, if you don't feel okay to come to work, don't." Charlie said quietly, "The boss won't care. Ellis can take your shift."

"Boys, I'll be fine." Crowley replied, "I'll see you in the morning."

Bill stayed behind to drive Crowley's car while Allie took Crowley in hers.

Crowley sat in the chair in the living room that night, cradling a whiskey in his hand. He took the lot down and rubbed his eyes tiredly, putting his glass down before heading up to bed, finding Allie asleep on her side. He was as quiet as he could be, but Allie stirred as he approached the bed and he thought it was his fault she was awake.

"Honey?"

"Shhh, go back to sleep." He whispered softly, "I'm sorry for waking you, love."

"You wanna talk?" She asked, "It's good to talk...Get your feelings in the open..."

"M'fine, darling." He said as climbed into bed, pressing a kiss to her temple and holding her close, "Night, sweetheart."

"Night, baby."

As Allie fell asleep, Crowley found he couldn't. He just kept thinking of his friend, the one who used to look up to him constantly. Alan hadn't had a father around when he was younger. He'd not had many male role models, so Crowley became his idol. He'd ask Crowley about everything and anything, and they confided a lot in each other too.

He'd called Crowley the first time he'd slept with a girl, he'd called him on his graduation, when he graduated from college, when he was joining the same firm that Crowley worked for...when he was getting married. Crowley had been his best man, and Crowley regretted the fact that he'd not confided in Alan and had him as his best man. If Alan pulled through, Crowley would ask Allie if she wanted to renew their vows so they could write some true ones and then Alan could be his best man.

He did his best to sleep, but barely got any through the worry for his friend of twenty-five years.

Allie took Crowley's coffee into the bedroom the following morning, sitting by him on the bed and watching over him for a while. This was maybe his third hour of sleep through the whole night, and Allie (although she'd never tell him this) had been disturbed by his constant shuffling. As he stirred, she rubbed his back, leaning down to kiss his cheek gently.

"Morning, my love..." She whispered, "I've brought you a coffee."

"Morning, darling." Crowley replied, rubbing his eyes and sitting up, "Thanks."

"How are you feeling, or is that a silly question?" Allie asked, Crowley smiling softly and stroking her face.

"I'm alright, love." He replied, looking towards that bump and kissing it, "Morning, my little sweetheart."

He rubbed the bump tenderly before sitting back to drink his coffee, Allie asking the question she thought she knew the answer to.

"You going to work today?"

Crowley just shook his head and Allie nodded in response, kissing him gently.

"I'll let Ellis know. He's been asking about you." She whispered, "It seems none of the boys have had much rest."

Crowley smiled, taking her hand in his own and kissing.

"I don't know what I'd do without you, my Allie." He said softly, "I love you."

"I love you too, babe." She replied, kissing his lips and looking at her phone as a text came through.

Upon reading it, she gasped, Crowley asking what was wrong.

"Get dressed." She said, taking the coffee from him and throwing him his clothes.

"What's happening?" Crowley asked, Allie beaming at him and kissing him.

"Alan's awake!"

-TBC-

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading so far!

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