Forbidden Fruit

Chapter 29

When Cas entered the motel room he saw that Victor was tucked away into bed and that Viola had just emerged from the bath. Her hair was slightly damp and she looked worn out, but the moment she saw him she ran to his side and gave him an embrace. She wrapped her arms around his neck and instantly felt relieved. Cas didn't waste any time reciprocating her relief. He also yearned to find solace from her presence.

Tenderly, she pulled away and gave him a light kiss and ran her fingers through his hair. "Oh, Cas. Are you all right?"

"Wait, shouldn't I be asking you?"

Vi held Cas' hand and led him to sit down beside her on the second bed and replied, "I'm not sure. I'm worried about him, Cas. I think he'll be all right, but this wasn't supposed to happen. We have to think of a way to put an end to this. Isn't there something we can do?"

Cas drew in a deep breath and wrapped his arm around his angel and said, "I'm sorry, Vi but our options are limited. All we can do is stay one step ahead of Lucifer until we can think of a more permanent solution, though until then Victor isn't safe."

Vi tilted her head to look at him and noticed for the first time how tired he seemed. Gently, Vi caressed Cas' cheek and watched him close his eyes.

"You're still drained from the holy fire."

"Yes, but I'll recover. I'm more concerned about the situation in Heaven. Things are getting worse. I'm losing supporters."

"It's because of me, right? They think us being together is a sin."

Castiel was startled by her words. He didn't think Vi knew about the opinion of Heaven, but he had discounted her time as Raphael's underling. She would have had spent time with the other angels. However, presently he couldn't careless about their opinion. All he cared about was protecting her and their child.

"Vi, what we have isn't a sin. Love isn't a sin."

However, Vi wouldn't have Cas getting upset. She hushed him and pressed her finger over his lips. She shook her head to signal for him to stop and pressed her palm over his chest.

"Do you want me to heal you?"

He grabbed her hand and replied, "No, you don't have to. It isn't serious. I should really put a seal on Victor to hide him from detection."

Vi reached over and yanked on his arm and forced him to sit back down and said, "You don't have to. I already did. I just want you to stay with me. Let's rest."

"I don't require sleep."

She smiled and lay down over the covers and said, "Yeah, I know. I don't really need to either, but I want you to hold me."

Castiel knew he could not deny his angel anything. If she wanted to be held then he was more than happy to obey. He carefully lay back down onto the bed as well and stared up at the ceiling while Vi sat up to turn off the light. She then snuggled up to his side and kissed his cheek and began to play with his tie. It didn't take long before she began to still and drifted off to sleep like their son. It always amazed him how human his beloved could be. Yet, deep down he envied her rest. Cas was too troubled to find any real relief.

Suddenly, from across the room another lamp turned on and revealed Balthazar seated in an armchair. Smugly, he smiled at Castiel and said, "Oh sorry, were you two having a moment? I could come back later?"

"Balthazar? What are you doing here?"

The rebel-angel narrowed his brow and gingerly eased Viola off of his chest, but his head jerked when he saw that his tie was wrapped around her fingers. Amused, Balthazar watched as Cas untangle himself and ushered him to follow towards the door.

Once outside he whispered, "Balthazar, how did you find me?"

Smiling, the rogue-angel said, "Oh, don't worry. I got your location through Bobby Singer. Though, I've got to say you and the Mrs. have landed yourselves in a heap of trouble. Though it looks like she's got you whipped."

Cas narrowed his brow in confusion. "What does 'whipped' mean?"

In responds, Balthazar sighed and rolled his eyes at his brother's lack of understanding of human metaphors. He thought he'd learn a thing or two since he spend some much time with the damn Winchesters.

"Look, forget it. I came here because I heard about what went down with you and Lucifer. I thought I should tell you that your troops are starting to sway. They think you might be cutting a deal with Lucifer."

"No, that couldn't be farther from the truth. However, I understand your concerns. Viola mentioned the same thing."

"Smart girl, but you should really return to Heaven."

Cas met his brother's eye and said, "I can't. At least not yet, Viola still needs me here."

Balthazar stepped closer to Cas and retorted, "Yeah, well don't take too long playing house. Raphael is going to make his move and he's going to do it soon."

XXX

Location: Bobby's house, 2 weeks later

As time spend on, Victor got over his shy baby-boy ways and startled walking and talking around and behaving like a pre-teen. He mostly followed his mom and dad like an imprinted baby duck and Dean had to say Vi put a lot of effort in educating her son. Though, it made sense since she also had to play catch-up when she broke out from Temeriel's stronghold. And like any good mom she read him bedtime stories, made sure he brushed his teeth and baked him loads of homemade apple pie. Dean knew it was kind of shameless to be repeating the rewards of somebody else's mom's treats, but good lord could she bake.

Bobby and Sam watched as Dean joined Victor at the supper table and grinned like an idiot as Vi served up a freshly baked shepherd's pie.

"Oh yes! This is awesome! I love you mom."

Irked, Sam said, "Dean, you're pathetic."

Bobby reached over with his fork and took a bit and momentarily closed his eyes and said, "Holy molly, you ain't kidding Dean. This stuff's delicious. It's a shame her man doesn't need to eat. You don't know what you're missing."

Smiling, Vi looked over at Cas and gave him a plate. "Yeah, well Cas only seems to like burgers or stake."

The Winchesters all looked at the angel and grinned. Dean winked at him and said, "You glutton. I though you said angels could deny themselves anything?"

Uncomfortably, Cas cleared his throat and rose from the table. He started heading towards the study and stated, "Dean, can I have a word with you in private?"

Dean recognized that look in his eye and quickly shoved the last of the pie into his mouth and tried to chew swiftly. He knew Cas could be a sensitive party pooper, but this was ridiculous. He watched as the rebel-angel anxiously paced and realized this was serious.

"Cas, you all right?"

"No, Dean. I have to leave."

Wide-eyed, he asked, "What? Where? What about Lucifer? What about the kid? What about Vi?"

"I have do, Dean. I want you to keep an eye on them until I return."

"Whoa, hold on. You want me to baby-sit while you go off doing your angel thing? This is dangerous, Cas."

"I know, but it can't be helped. Just give me your word you'll look after them until I get back."

The elder Winchester replied, "Yeah sure, no problem. You've got it. You know I'd do it even if you didn't ask. You're like family."

Touched, Castiel nodded his head and said, "Thank you, Dean." Then, without another word he was gone and the hunter was left alone in the study. Though, unexpectedly he turned around and saw Viola was standing at the door.

Startled, he nervously grinned at her a little too cheerfully and said, "Hey, Vi. Um, Cas—he—he just stepped out to a—a do some stuff. He'll be back."

The green-eyed angel narrowed her brow and yanked off her oven-mitt from her left hand threw it onto a table and said, "He left? He left without even saying good-bye?"

Dean commented, "Believe me, the dude near says good-bye. It's like it doesn't even exist in his vocabulary."

"Shut up!" roared the she-angel.

The elder Winchester suddenly realized that she was getting pretty upset. He raised his hands in a gesture to ease her down and said, "Hey, he said he'd be back. Just—just take it easy, ok?"

Annoyed, Viola approached Dean and subconsciously he backed away from her and into Bobby's desk. He glanced down at the table and wondered how the heck did this pie-making angel turned into this scary woman in the blink of an eye.

"Well, if he thinks I need somebody looking out for me than he's wrong. He's not the only one who knows how to break into Heaven."

Dean was bewildered. It sounded like she was about to do something stupid. She was starting to sound like Cas. In a flash, he grabbed her arms and said, "No, bad idea! This isn't the freakin three musketeers here, all for one and one for all crap. Who's going to look after Victor if you both disappear?"

Hotly, Viola said, "I'm not sitting on the sidelines, Dean. Everyone seems to think I can't do anything. That I'm just some thing that makes babies that can spell the end the world. Well, I'm more than that and it's about time you boys knew it. I'm not going to lose somebody I care about again."

"Vi, wait. That isn't what I mean."

She took several steps away from him and said, "I know, but I've got to do this." She then smiled and added, "I'm his partner, Dean. I'll be back."

Dean couldn't help smiling back when he saw the confidence in her eye. He nodded his head and said, "Yeah, yeah I guess…but you kids don't stay out too long."

"Thanks, Dean."

The she-angel then disappeared in a burst of whirlwind and once again Dean found himself alone in Bobby's study.

XXX

Location: Heaven

Viola wasn't expecting Heaven to like quite like it did. She knew that Heaven could look like anything depending on who's Heaven it was, but still the earth-like landscape in some unknown town was not her idea of paradise.

However, regardless her senses were telling her that Cas was here and it didn't take her long to find him speaking with a group of angels. They were all dressed in black suits and giving Cas their undivided attention. It looked like he was bossing them around and in a stray thought Vi wondered what the gang might think of her dressed in a baby-blue blouse, skirt and boots.

Though, unexpectedly one of the suits spotted her in her hiding place and dragged her over towards where the others were. He shoved her in the center of the group and quickly they seemed on edge.

"Castiel, we found this spy eavesdropping. What should we do with her?"

Instantly, he met her gaze and narrowed his brow. He looked pissed off. He quickly moved forward and stilled the man's hand were he held his sword and approached her aggressively.

"Vi, why did you follow me?"

"I want to help you, Cas. Why did you leave with out telling me?"

He drew a deep breath in exasperation and replied, "Vi, this is neither the time nor the place for this conversation. You need to return back to earth."

Suddenly, one of the female-angels said, "It's her, isn't it? She's the abomination."

Cas immediately turned to the female-angel and said, "No, do not call her that." He then returned his attention back to his angel and commanded, "Viola, leave."

"No, I said I want to help. We're in this together, Cas."

The rebel-angel sighed and wished he could show is appreciation, but given the present company he figured it wasn't wise to outwardly demonstrate his affections. Instead, he nodded his head and gave her hand a squeeze. Viola smiled and knew she had his acceptance.

"Fine, but for now on do as I say."

The female-angel was confused and stated, "So what? Now she's on our side, just like that? I thought Viola Landon was under Lucifer's control."

Annoyed, he said, "No, Viola was never in Lucifer's possession. She's our ally. You can trust her. I trust her."

Viola met his eye and couldn't stop grinning. She wanted so badly to hug him for saying that, but knew he was trying to act all professional. Though, Cas suddenly realized that his comrades had been greatly misinformed. It was no doubt Raphael's doing. He was probably spreading malicious rumors and propaganda about them both. It probably was a good idea that Viola had followed him. It would put to rest a great amount of uncertainty. Any angel could see that she wasn't an abomination. There was very little difference between Vi's forced-angelic state and that of a typical angel. However, personally he would have rather she remained out of reach on earth.

The female-angel replied, "Great, but how long are you staying?"

"Not long, Muriel. Maybe a day, maybe two, but no more. I still have business on earth."

Frustrated, Muriel said, "Castiel, I know the Winchesters are important, but we really need you here. We need you to organize the troops."

"I know that Muriel, but for now they will have to keep. Now, tell me have you made any progress? Have you gained any new recruits?"

Viola gradually got tired of listening in on Cas' group meeting. It was sort of repetitive and she felt bad for him that he had to practically tell them all exactly what to do. Angels weren't big on thinking for themselves. They didn't have free will.

Though, without warning Raphael appeared with several of his men. With a glare he said, "Well, well I must say you've got a lot of nerve coming back here, Castiel."

XXX

TBC

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