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: Thanks so much for the support with the last chapter! Hope you enjoy this one!

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Better With Time

-Chapter Twenty-Five: Happy Birthday-

Dean, Sam, Becky, Chuck, Jimmy, Castiel, Anna, Amelia, Richard and Andrea all sat in the living room while Crowley and Mary were with Allie upstairs. There was no sound upstairs which the others didn't know whether to take as a good sign or not. Three hours into the labour and there seemed to be no sign of moving from two centimetres of dilation which Allie really didn't need to hear.

Crowley sat beside her on the bed and held her hand in his own, pulling her close and kissing her temple gently. He smiled softly at her, taking in the tears in her eyes as she kept her hand on her bump. She was clearly so frightened, and Crowley knew he could only sit here. He felt useless.

"You want your parents?" He asked, earning a shake of her head, "Okay, love. You're doing so well, Allie, I'm so proud of you."

"Really?" She replied, Crowley nodding gently in response, "I love you."

"And I love you, darling." He whispered, holding her hand as another contraction came, "Breathe, good girl."

She kept a tight grip of his hand and Mary encouraged her through, rubbing her leg gently and smiling sweetly at her. She checked for any further dilation and smiled even wider at Allie who panted for breath as she rested against the pillows, Crowley noticing the sweat starting to show on her brow. He'd need that cloth soon. Ellen's words rang back to him from all those months ago. This was all he could do, so he made sure he did what he could for her.

"You're three, edging into four centimetres dilated now, sweetie." Mary sad softly, "You're doing great. Your mom wants to see you."

Allie nodded, looking up as her mother came into the room, holding out her hand to her daughter who took it and gripped it. Mother and daughter gazed at each other and all of Andrea's guilt was met by Allie's forgiveness all shown through their eyes.

"Mom..."

"You'll be okay, baby," Andrea whispered, "I know it hurts, and I know it's scary, but it's all worth it for the gorgeous baby you're gonna have by the end of it. You'll be able to hold that precious baby in your arms, Allie and you'll know it's all worth it."

"Love you, Mom." Allie sobbed, her mother smiling softly.

"Love you too, sweetie." Andrea replied, kissing her head tenderly, "You'll do well, Allie. I'm proud of you."

Allie watched her mother leave the room and she settled against the pillows, Crowley dabbing her head lightly as tears slid down her face. She was clearly in a lot of pain and he just wished that it would pass for her.

The big moment had finally arrived, and Allie was in a lot of pain and sweating like crazy as she got ready to birth their daughter.

Crowley knew that he was going to hate to hear Allie cry out in pain like she'd started to do, but it was to get their baby out into the world, and as Andrea had said earlier, it would all be worth it. And as Allie started to push, Crowley realised that his little princess was coming into the world right at that moment, that his daughter was almost here. They'd waited for her and right at this moment, she was coming into their lives, and she'd be with them forever.

"Give it some, Allie!" He encouraged as his wife pushed, hearing her groan in pain, "Good girl! Good girl, give it some!"

He was surprised after she'd stopped pushing and she'd taken a breath of gas and air that she started laughing. She pulled Crowley into a quick kiss and stroked his face, settling against the pillows and catching her breath before she had to push again.

"You think I can do this?" She asked, "I'll give it some, Crowley, but I need your faith behind me."

"I've got all the faith in the world in you, darling." He said, watching her face crease up in pain, "Push, sweetheart!"

"Here we go, Allie." Mary said softly, "The head's coming, okay? You're being really brave and strong, honey."

Crowley smiled at the words and looked to Allie who was panting for breath in his arms. She cried out and pushed again, Mary beaming at her as the head came through and the shoulders. Another life was about to come into the world and it was coming into the most amazing home that a baby could be born into.

"Wow, what a strong push, Allie!" She praised "Good girl! We just need one more!"

Downstairs, everyone looked up at the sound of a baby crying and they all grinned to each other, the girls bursting into happy tears while Andrea buried her face in Richard's shoulder and cried her happy tears into it.

Back in the bedroom, Crowley and Allie were met by the sight of their beautiful baby girl who was taken from their sight again for Mary to clean her up and cut the cord. The midwife quickly passed her back to Allie who beamed down at the baby, smiling sweetly as the name just came from her lips as naturally as anything.

"Hi, Mia..."

Crowley just beamed and looked at his little girl, stroking her face as she settled against her mother. Mia. How beautiful. It suited her so much too, and he couldn't get over how beautiful their little girl was.

"Mia..." He breathed, "Oh, my little darling. You're so beautiful..."

The baby locked eyes with him and gripped his finger, creating an instant bond with her father which Crowley knew would never be broken, no matter what. Mia looked so like Allie, and she had the colour of his eyes. She hummed a little as she settled against her mother and she squirmed slightly, Allie's heart melting at the way her baby girl looked into her eyes.

"Hey, gorgeous." She whispered, "God, you really are the most beautiful little thing, Mia."

She looked to Crowley, the two leaning in for the most amazing kiss of their lives, the two breaking it to gaze at their daughter again. It was official. They'd fallen in love with her.

Crowley was having a great time just holding Mia close to his body, and the baby recognised his voice, they knew that much. She'd blink up at him and grimace for a moment before settling when he spoke to her. He returned the bed, passing the baby over to her mother who kept her held incredibly close and pressed tender kisses to her head.

"I'm so proud of you, love." He told her, kissing his wife tenderly and then his little girl, "She's gorgeous."

"I know." Allie whispered, still emotional from the birth, "You gonna go out and wet the baby's head?"

"I might have a couple of the lads over for a drink, but I know you're tired, darling. I'd rather stay with you two." He replied, watching Allie glowing with motherhood as she held their baby.

"Mom was right. It was so, so worth it." She sighed, "She's just so..."

"Precious." Crowley whispered, Allie nodding gently in response.

"Amen to that."

-TBC-

Hope you enjoyed!

Thanks for reading so far!

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