Note: I was trying to figure out WHY this was taking so long to write. This SINGLE chapter. Turns out- it's because it's 12 PAGES long. 4077 words. I'm dead after this. My word.
Anyway- so here we have the continuation (and finish) of GabAnna fluff coughdatecough. If you remember, he just saved her from demons that attacked.
So much fluff. I have officially rot all my teeth from these two. Anyone else?
Even though I say that- I love the two of them- and the Hammer of the Gods episode is gonna kill me to write.
Disclaimer: I don't own SPN, but Anna (And 3 upcoming OC's, Seraphiel, Miranda and Bailey) are mine.
We stayed there for a few silent moments, just staring at each other—neither really knowing what to say. Finally, I shoved up from the ground and backed up several steps, crossing my arms in front of me—as if it would protect me from any harm.
"W-what do you expect me t-to say to something like that?!" I demanded, my voice shaking with nervous energy.
"I didn't mean to drop that on you, cupcake," Gabriel sighed, hanging his head briefly before slowly standing up," Besides—you asked for the truth. That's it. There's a connection between us—and I've tried ignoring it since I met you—but I can't. Especially with the threat of my brothers hanging around your head."
We stood there just staring at each other for a few more silent moments; I was grateful that Gabriel was giving me time to let it sink in. Time for me to figure out my own thoughts.
"So… what—I'm—I'm your vessel or something?"
"Maybe," Gabriel shrugged," The old man never gave word that he made one for me—or Raphael. Just the eldest two."
"Is—is that—I mean, the reason you're always—"
"Relax buttercup," Gabriel gave a humorless chuckle," I don't want your body—not like you're thinking. I'm one-hundred percent content with this vessel here."
A few silent moments passed before I nodded," I—I believe you. Don't know why—but, I do."
"Great!" Gabriel suddenly clapped happily, causing me to slightly jump," Let's uh—let's continue, shall we? Before we were so rudely interrupted. I know just what to do—bumper cars!"
"You are such a child," I shook my head, but Gabriel just ignored me as he snapped his fingers, transporting us to another part of the park.
After hours of bumper cars, skee ball, a lesson in archery and a balloon-dart game, Gabriel dragged me to a huge house and stopped short.
"Next up!"
"What… is this?" I asked, dumbfounded.
"It's a Fun House cupcake! C'mon!"
Gabriel rushed inside- not even bothering to wait for me. Rolling my eyes, I darted after him but soon after entering I quickly became confused.
"The hell kind of trick is this?!" I demanded, looking around. Every angle was a different mirror- giving me a full three-sixty degree view of myself.
"No tricks! Just mirrors!" Gabriel chuckled from somewhere.
"Get back here!" I called out, trying to head the way his voice came from—but I'm almost certain it just got me more lost. "Dammit Gabriel."
"So you DO know my name! How nice to know! I was beginning to think I'd have to reintroduce myself, Gingersnap."
"I swear—if you don't show yourself now-!"
"You'll what?" Gabriel questioned, instantly reappearing in the mirror. Glaring at him, I realized that it wasn't just the one mirror he was in. It was every single mirror around.
"You think you're so cute-"
"Mmmm," Gabriel pursed his lips as he feigned thinking, before nodding," Yeah." He wiggled his eyebrows before disappearing," Find me if you can, Cupcake."
"Oh—it's on, Candyman."
It felt like hours had passed and I was no closer to finding Gabriel. The little brat had appeared constantly in front of me, taunting me in his playful way—only to disappear quickly after, leaving me fuming.
After one such occasion, I came to a stop—groaning in frustration—but then taking a moment to just… look. Look at my own reflection. Normally I would ignore all surfaces that would only show me what I looked like. All those years in the psych hospital caused me to hate myself, my appearance. The pale skin, sunken eyes, skin and bone. That's all I ever saw—and I despised myself for it.
But as I looked at myself right now—the person I saw looking back in the mirror?
She looked well slept… wasn't all bones— she looked healthy. Happy.
She looked alive.
I was too wrapped up in my own little musings that I almost didn't notice Gabriel standing right behind me, a soft smile on his face.
"You should like yourself more, Annie. There's a lot to like—everyone around you can see it. It's time you do, too."
Da-dump.
By the time I spun around, he was gone—and all I saw looking back at me, once again, was my own reflection.
"Dammit," I muttered under my breath.
Somehow, I finally got to the end of the mirrors—only to have Gabriel appear out of nowhere behind me.
"Took you long enough."
"GABRIEL!" I yelled, spinning around and clutching my chest," Don't sneak up on me like that!"
"No can do buttercup—but come on! More to see!" He chuckled, grabbing my hand and pulling me along behind him. When we entered the next room I heard a thunk behind us and looked—only to see the once-open door was now very shut. Shaking my head, I turned my attention back around. Gabriel was standing near an edge, waiting patiently for me.
"Not afraid of heights, are ya?"
"Pfft, no," I scoffed," Why?"
As soon as I got near, I got my answer. A good fifty foot drop ended with a ball pit below.
"I am not jumping into that—nah." Shaking my head, I turned around and went back to the door, reaching out for the handle—only to realize.
"Gabriel. Where's the door handle?"
"What door handle?
"The door handle—that's supposed to open the damn door."
"Ohhhh that door handle. Why didn't you just say?" Gabriel chuckled," There isn't one. One way in and one way out. C'mon! It'll be fun!"
I slowly turned around, crossing my arms and gave him a bitch face that Sam would be proud of. Gabriel in turn gave me a disapproving frown.
"C'mon! Where's your sense of adventure! Sense of fun!" He prodded, before crossing his arms and scowling," Don't tell me—you're the unfun Winchester."
"Bitch please—I'm all fun," I retaliated, stalking over to him and coming to a halt right before the ledge. He slowly turned around and whispered over my shoulder.
"Then jump."
"I will. Just—give me a bit."
Gabriel held up his hands in mock surrender and took a step away.
"It's just a jump. Nothin' to it," I thought to myself, taking a small step and looking out over the ledge a bit more, before taking a step back," It's a small… safe jump. Nothing to it—just close your eyes and jump. Really. One small step and—"
Suddenly, I felt pressure on the small of my back.
Then weightlessness.
"GABBBRIEELLLLL!" I screeched out at the top of my lungs, only to hear his unending laughter follow me as I fell to the ball pit below. The impact was soft enough, but it still sucked what air was in my lungs—out. I laid there for a few moments, letting my heart rate settle.
"You still alive over there, buttercup?" Gabriel laughed. Slowly, I moved my head towards where he stood—lollipop in mouth—and wordlessly glared at him. He simply smirked at me, watching without worry as I slowly started to crawl out of the pit; my hazel eyes didn't leave his honey ones once as I came to stand before him.
"You—Little—"
"Next up! Some fun fair food! Hope you brought your sweet tooth, sugar!" Gabriel smirked, gently grabbing my arm and flying us away.
When I finally felt the ground beneath my feet again, the air in my lungs—I pushed away Gabriel, glaring at him.
"I told you to warn me when you do that!"
"Awe come on cupcake," Gabriel pouted, a smile on his face still yet.
"Do you know what that feels like?! It's like the air gets completely sucked out of my body! Added onto the little air I had in my lungs after you pushed me from that ledge!" I exclaimed, hands balling into fists at my side. Wordlessly, the archangel tilted his head to the side, his smile almost caring. It was almost hard to be upset with him. Crossing my arms across my chest and averting my eyes from looking at him, nibbling on the corner of my lip. I was barely aware of him walking towards me, but before I knew it, he was standing right in front of me, not even a foot away.
Suddenly, a rose was in my vision- taking me by surprise. I swallowed the lump in my throat, glancing towards Gabriel briefly. His mouth twitched briefly into a smile, as he just looked at me.
"Forgive me?"
"I-I…. Y-you can't buy me with flowers," I scoffed, looking back away.
"What could I buy you with?" he asked, curiously- but I refused to answer him, the scowl on my face only intensifying.
"Hmmm, perhaps something… shiny? No—no, maybe you're like Dean-o. How about something to eat? Food always seems to motivate him," Gabriel suggested, snapping his fingers and food stands appearing around us. "Anything sound good, cupcake?"
Again, I refused to answer straight away, opting to stay quiet for a few moments—until I noticed something that made me confused.
"What—the—" I walked over to the stand and looked at the food being offered," You're kidding—right?"
"I dare ya to try one," Gabriel said to me, quirking an eyebrow as he came to stand beside me.
"I aint eating no bug."
"Why not?"
"Why—because! It's—it's a bug!"
"So? People around the world eat them," Gabriel shrugged," They eat a lot of different food. You should see some of the food I saw the people in this southern Chinese province eat. That was something else—"
"I don't care—I'm not eating it."
"No?"
"Nope."
"Not even dared?"
"Not even."
"Then I double dare you."
"What are you—a child?"
"Double dog dare you."
"You are a child!"
"Are you chicken?"
I glared at him for a few moments, before relenting with a sigh," Fine! Give me the damn bug already."
He snapped his fingers and a single deep-fried grasshopper appeared on the plate near the edge of the table.
"I hate this. I hate you for this." Scrunching my face in distaste, I quickly threw the bug in my mouth and chewed. The crunch was terrible—and I felt like spitting it out—but then I paused, my chewing slowing down.
It actually—
"Not that bad, eh?" Gabriel goaded me, smirking knowingly.
"Shuddup," I frowned, averting my eyes again, as I swallowed the last of it.
"Here—I'll make up for it. How about a main carnival food—something so deliciously sweet—"
"Gimme already."
He laughed whole-heartedly, leading me over to a nearby stand; I eyed him curiously, waiting for what he had in mind. Snapping his fingers, a round cake appeared in his hands, wrapped in a plastic cover.
"Funnel cake!" He handed it to me, as I eyeballed it. There was some chocolate syrup drizzled over it and some whip cream. With a snap of Gabriel's fingers, another one appeared in his hands. My eyes traveled between mine and his, debating.
Chocolate syrup and whipped cream.
Or.
Chocolate syrup, chopped walnuts, strawberries, pieces of shaved chocolate and whipped cream.
Then without further hesitation, I pointed at his- exchanging my food with his own," I'll take that—Thaaaaank you." Before he could react, I began to walk away, taking a bite of the very sugary sweet treat.
"I knew I liked you for a reason," I heard Gabriel say behind me with a chuckle, snapping his fingers and upgrading his funnel cake.
Three hours later, after chasing Gabriel around a darkening lot in laser tag, unsuccessfully throwing a pie at his face and some more skee ball, we stopped at the large Ferris Wheel in the middle of the park.
"Still not afraid of heights?" He chuckled.
"Shuddup—I'm not afraid of heights!" I glared, stalking past him, and walking into the cart, taking a seat; I glanced back at Gabriel," You comin'?"
The only response I received was a toothy grin before he walked over and sat down beside me. With a snap of his fingers, the Wheel jolted to life, slowly climbing towards the darkening night sky. It was quiet between us as we just sat there, watching the distant scenary as we got higher up. All I saw, no matter how far I looked, was nature. Green, lush trees; mountains in the distance; what looked like a waterfall. No buildings- no signs of civilizations anywhere. As I looked up out the side of the cart, I saw the stars shining brightly; the moon full and just as blinding.
"I haven't seen the sky like this in so long…" I thought, feeling a sense of calm wash over me. When we reached the highest part of the wheel, it slowly came to a halt- causing me to look beside me curiously. Gabriel sat there, calm as can be, arm bent against the back- head resting on it as he quietly watched me.
"You know it's creepy to watch people, right?"
"I'm simply trying to figure you out, Anna Marie Weston—or is it Winchester?"
It was the first time I had heard my full name in so long, it caused me to freeze in my spot. Was it Winchester? No—
"Weston."
"So you're not taking the name? The Legacy that is the Winchester family?"
"I—I don't. I mean…"
"It's alright—I mean, I could understand. John was in your life for such short time- and you've only been around Dean-o and Samsquatch, what—a couple months?"
Giving him a simple nod, he continued," You got thrown into a hell of a situation, at the worst possible time. They expect the world of you but at the same time expect you to stay out of it altogether. It's always what they want- what they need. What the world needs. But they don't stop to ask you—what do you want, Annie?"
What did I want?
I sat there for a couple minutes, thinking it over.
"I just…" my voice dropped so low- barely a whisper- and I wasn't even sure that Gabriel could hear me," I want to feel like… like I belong somewhere… like I'm wanted… I'm tired of feeling like the outcast… the freak… unwanted…"
"Listen to me. Right now."
The serious tone of Gabriel's voice caught me by surprise, as I turned my head and looked at him. The archangel was leaning forward in his seat as he looked at me.
"I don't know my Father's plan—I can't say you have the Protagonist's important role in everything. I do know one thing though—and it's that you, Anna Weston, are wanted, loved. No way are you a freak. You think just because you can see the future that you are a freak? There are prophets out there with a similar gift."
"Gabriel…"
"From one family outcast to another—just know… you're not alone. Ever. You need to vent because Dean-o pissed you off? Call for me. Lucifer give you another nightmare? Call for me. Just feeling alone? Call for me. I'll be there- rain or shine, hell or high water."
"Why? Why are you doing all this? Y-you don't—know me…" I asked, tears threatening to fall from my eyes.
"Because—everyone needs someone. Whether they know it or not," Gabriel told me softly," I feel… I need to be yours. With the Destiny between your brothers and mine. I have to protect you—it's… I feel responsible for you… protective even."
"Ev-everyone lea-leaves me," I choked out, trying desperately not to cry in front of him.
"I wont. I promise—no, I vow. I will not leave. I will be right here—for you, anytime you need me."
I felt like my heart was going to jump out of my chest, it was beating so hard—and the lump in my throat was not helping the tears threatening to fall. Wordlessly- like Gabriel knew what I needed- he pulled me close to him, just holding me against him. For the first minute or so, I sat there—leaned against him—my body completely tense. As soon as my body untensed, the tears began silently falling down my cheeks. My body began to tremble as I cried, the tears falling onto Gabriel's shirt. His hand crept up to the back of my head and cradled it, somehow pulling me closer to him. The level of comfort that radiated off of him helped me immensely, as all the emotion I had been holding in—finding my brothers, finding out my father was dead, that my mom was possessed, defeating the demon that possessed her, Dean's near death, Lucifer coming at me, all the school drama- just everything; it seemed to roll out in the tears that seemed to never end.
"Let it all out, sweetheart," Gabriel whispered. We stayed there for who knows how long- I don't even remember falling asleep at one point. Last thing I did remember—was the sun slowly rising in the distance; the darkened sky being slowly painted with orange and yellows.
3RD PERSON POINT OF VIEW
Gabriel sat there, Anna leaning against him, just letting her get all her held-in emotions out. After a while, he felt her body tremors slowly fade out—and with it, Gabriel realized that she had fallen asleep.
"I promise you, Anna, I will always be there."
With one last look at the distant sunrise, Gabriel flew them out of his own Amusement creation—taking her back to South Dakota. When he arrived back at Singer's, he stopped first in the library, Anna cradled in his arms bridal style. The elder hunter looked up from his book, silently acknowledging them.
"She okay?"
"She will be. Just wore out—emotionally, mostly."
With that, Gabriel flew up to her room and gently placed her down in her bed. He bent down towards her face, hesitating at first—before caving and giving a kiss to her forehead.
"Sweet dreams, cupcake."
He flew back downstairs, coming to sit in the vacant chair across the room from Bobby.
"Where's the Losechesters and their lady friends?" Gabriel inquired.
"Carthage—dealing with your brother."
"Good luck with that."
"Where was she?"
"Earlier this morning? About five miles out—getting lost in that forest."
"Spend all day there?"
"No—I found her pretty much after I left here. Decided to kidnap her for the day. Hope you don't mind."
"Oh, of course not. Why would I mind ya kidnappin' the girl and takin' her God knows where—for an entire day—without so much a word to me or her brothers," Bobby frowned, crossing his arms.
Gabriel quirked an eyebrow in response, before shrugging.
"You stickin' around then?"
"Mmmm…. Maybe," Gabriel smirked, playing quirking his eyebrows before disappearing- leaving Bobby sitting there alone.
0o0o0o
"The number you dialed is unavailable. Please try your call again."
"Damn it, boys," Bobby muttered, flipping the phone shut in annoyance. I stood across the room, leaning on the wall, watching quietly. Ever since I had woken up, I had a bad feeling—no, a terrible feeling—about what my brothers and their two friends, plus Castiel—had left to go take care of. The vision I had nights before still heavy in my mind.
Suddenly, static filled the kitchen and Bobby rolled his wheelchair towards it, moving a book off of the old CB radio—the voice coming in more clearly.
"K C 5 Fox Delta Oscar, come in."
Bobby picked up the mouthpiece, replying," K C 5 Fox Delta Oscar, go ahead."
I leaned against the divider, waiting—hoping.
"Bobby, it's Dean. We got problems."
Instantly, I felt my heart sink low in my stomach and I gripped the chair behind me for support. Bobby sighed as he looked heavenward, before answering.
"It's okay, boy. That's why I'm here. Is everyone alright?"
"No. It's—It's—It's Jo. Bobby, it's pretty bad."
That simple sentence from Dean caused my legs to go out from under me, as I landed on the floor with a thud. Bobby looked over at me briefly, before returning his attention to Dean.
"Okay. Copy—"
The rest of what he said drowned out, as all I could think of was the sorrow that flowed through my body.
"I could've told them… I could've stopped this from happening—if I hadn't gotten all pissy with Dean—if I hadn't ran off—Jo… Ellen…"
"—missing, did Cas say how many reapers?"
"I don't—he said a lot of things, I guess. Does the number matter?"
"Devil's in the details, Dean. Annie, grab me that book on the corner of my desk."
Nodding, I got up on shaky legs and walked across the room, grabbing the book and bringing it over to Bobby—setting it softly on his legs—as I heard Ellen on the speaker.
"—looking, the number of places Castiel's eyes went, I'd say we're talking over a dozen reapers, probably more."
"I don't like the sound of that."
"Nobody likes the sound of that, Bobby, but what—wh—what does that sound like?"
Bobby flipped through the book, landing on a page and answering," It sounds like death, son. I think Satan's in town to work a ritual."
The older hunter flipped to a page marked with a sticky note, marked 'seventh seal'.
"I think he's planning to unleash Death."
"You mean, like, as in this dude and taxes are the only sure thing?"
"As in Death. The horseman. The pale rider in the flesh."
"Does that mean the other horsemen are gonna come top side?" I asked Bobby, slightly worried. He gave me a small shrug, muttering, "Probably."
"Unleash? I mean, hasn't Death been tromping all over the place? Hell I've died several times myself."
"Not this guy," Bobby shook his head, "This is—this is the angel of death. Big daddy reaper. They keep this guy chained in a box six hundred feet under. Last time they hauled him up, Noah was building a boat. That's why the place is crawling with reapers. They're waiting on the big boss to show."
"That sounds really bad," I thought to myself with a grimace, crossing my arms across my abdomen in worry.
"You have any other good news?" Dean asked, and I could hear the sarcasm laced in his voice.
"In a manner of speaking," Bobby gruffed, closing the book. That's when I noticed what the book was—
"The Bible has his answers?"
"The Battle of Carthage," Bobby said, picking up another book from the table in the kitchen," I've been researching Carthage since you've been gone, trying to suss out what the devil might want there. What you just said drops the last piece of the puzzle in place. The angel of death must be brought into this world at midnight through a place of awful carnage. Now, back during the Civil War, there was a battle in Carthage. A battle so intense the soldiers called it the Battle of Hellhole."
"Where'd the massacre go down?" Dean questioned.
"On the land of William Jasper's farm."
"Then I guess we know where we gotta go."
Later that night, the four of us quietly sat in the room, the old T.V in the corner the only background noise. It showed a tornado with the captions reading 'STATE OF EMERGENCY, Paulding County' and 'KOUA 16'.
I sat in the chair in the corner, my eyes cast down onto the ground.
"Just received an update that the governor has declared a state of emergency for Paulding County, including the towns of Marion, Fetterville, and Carthage. The storm system has reportedly touched off a number of tornadoes in the area."
Looking up, I saw Sam, Dean and Bobby gathered at the fireplace. He held something—looked like a photograph—in his hands.
"Death tolls have yet to be estimated, but state officials expect the loss of life and property to be staggering."
"I have to tell them…" I thought, swallowing the lump in my throat, as I watched Bobby lean forward and drop the picture in the flames- the three of them watching it burn," They'll kill me when they find out though… How do I tell them? How do I say that I could've potentially stopped their friends from dying?"