Okay, here's the deal. This is going to be a multi-chaptered fanfic. It's going to be heavy on the CBG/Joan. So if you don't like that sort of thing, then please, please do not read it and then flame me on how stupid/horrible/illogical it is. I KNOW. But that's why it's called fanfiction. I've rolled this over in my head a million times over, seriously I have. I know it's going to be impossible for it to ever happen. But hey, that's what fanfics are for right? So yes, the ship is going to be CBG/Joan, again I say, if you don't like that kind of thing, then please vacate the premises. And if you are a fan of this pairing, yay! Unite! Major kudos to Sweetwater Gal for helping me with this, thank you so much! Anyways, on with the show.

Disclaimer: I own nothing. Hall is a goddess. And of course, much love to Kris Lemche, because with out him there would be no CBG or CBG/Joan which I am so deeply in love with.

Here With Me

Joan sighed as she stepped out of the house and onto the sidewalk. It was just like them to forget something while they were at the store. She grumbled to herself as she pulled her coat shut and headed to the little corner market for some last minute ingredients for dinner. Thankfully it was Friday and she didn't have any major plans she would end up being late for. She had asked why me and her mother just gave her an exasperated sigh and handed her the list. She kicked at the ground as she rounded the corner.

She looked up to make sure she was going in the right direction, having only been there once or twice since she moved to Arcadia. Suddenly, she came across a familiar face. She narrowed her eyes and contemplated walking right past him, but something inside told her not to. She huffed and stalked up to him.

"Okay, what is it now?" She said, crossing her arms in front of her.

"Excuse me?"

Joan let out an annoyed sigh and glared at the cuteboy form of God that stood before her, leaning against the brick wall, hands in the pockets of his coat.

"Don't play games with me, I've got errands to run."

"I don't play games, Joan" He said, turning towards her with the ever present amused look.

"Okay, what is it you want me to do?" She asked, trying not to sound as irritated as she felt.

"Did I say I wanted you to do something?"

"... No. But you don't come around unless you do" She stated mater of factly. "So .. what are you doing here?"

"Simply being present."

"Okay .." She said, not really getting what he meant by that. She was going to question him again when she was suddenly pushed to the side by a man who came rushing past them.

"Jerk!" She called out after him, just as her foot knocked into something. She looked down, bent to pick it up, but stopped when she heard Him speak.

"Joan, don't."

"What?" She said, standing back up and looking at him.

"Freeze!" A voice called out from behind them. "Don't move!"

Joan gasped in surprise when her father ran up next to them. "Dad!?" She yelled.

"Joan!?" He looked from his daughter back to the young man standing in front of her. "What're you doing here!?" He said as he gently pushed her back.

Before she could answer, other officers came up from around the corner and grabbed the young man. They pressed him against the brick wall, bringing his hands behind him and cuffing them. Joan stared in shock at what she was witnessing. Her father ... was arresting God. Well, he didn't know it was God.

"Dad! What're you doing!" She said trying to make her way towards the now cuffed CuteBoy!God. "Dad stop it!"

"Joan, you don't understand, this man is being placed under arrest for holding up a clerk in the market." Joan stopped, and then looked over to CuteBoy!God. 'The market .. that's ... where I was going ..' She thought to herself.

Will looked back at the young man, "Oh, by the way, you have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be held against you in a court of law. You have-"

"Dad! That's not him! I swear it's not. This other guy, he came running past us and knocked into me. He even dropped this!" She said, kicking the concealed object towards him. Will looked at Joan warily, not sure what to believe. The young boy looked alot like the perpetrator.

"Joan, I don't think-"

"Dad, please believe me. He's not the same guy! This guy's my friend! We've been hanging out all day!" She said, though realizing she just lied in front of God, literally. She winced inwardly at this.

Will sighed as he shook his head and looked over at the young man. He'd been quiet the whole time, not moving one bit or complaining in the least. Quite unlike anyone who's been arrested for a crime. Finally he nodded to the other cops to release him. Joan sighed in relief.

"You're sure about this Joan? Because if he's putting you up to this .."

"I swear to God dad, I'm telling the truth!"

"Okay, okay. I just want to be sure is all." He hugged his daughter and then walked over to the young boy, "If I find even the smallest shred of evidence, then God help you, because not even my daughter will stop me from coming after your ass." He said quietly before walking off to get a proper description of the man that held up the market. Once the police had left Joan leaned against the wall and sighed heavily. She glanced over at CuteBoy!God and rolled her eyes at him. He was standing there, much like Joan was with an amused look.

"Okay, I know you could of totally gotten out of that by yourself, but I freaked! I'm sorry! And I know I completely lied about you being with me all day because, again, I freaked. And .. sorry about the swearing to god thing." She said wincing a little. She gave him a hesitant smile "Forgive me? Please?"

CuteBoy!God chuckled and smirked, "Of course Joan. It was just an instinct. Not a bad one though."

"Okay, so what was the real reason you were-"

"Jane?"

Joan froze mid sentence when she heard his voice. 'Adam ..'. Cautiously she turns around and sees him standing there, with Iris clinging on to his arm. She inwardly cringed at the look on his face. It was a mixture of hurt and utter disbelief. Though it was quickly masked by the look of indifference. She hated that look, it was the same look he gave her after she smashed his artwork.

"Adam .."

"Jane .. why'd you lie?"

Joan couldn't answer. She couldn't just say 'Well you see, my dad was about to arrest God', it just wasn't believable. She opened her mouth, but closed it again. She knew his question wasn't just about what had happened moments ago. There was more to it than that. What he was really saying was 'Why did you lie to me about him. You said there was nothing going on' and she knew. But she also knew she couldn't tell him the truth. Not yet.

"I .. I had to." Was all she could come up with. She felt her heart break when he just nodded and walked away from them. She felt the tears well up as she saw the 'how could you' look Iris had cast at her the minute he turned his back. Just one more reason for Adam to hate her.

Joan turned around to face CuteBoy!God, who was standing in the same position as he'd been in when Adam showed up.

"You knew. You knew he'd be here. Why! Why didn't say something!" She screamed, tears running down her face. "He thinks I'm lying to him! And don't tell me that I am, you said I couldn't tell!" She yelled. "How could you do that! Now he hates me! Again!" She sobbed. She covered her face with her hands and cried. He hated her. Probably for good this time. And it was all His fault.

"I hate you." She whispered, but knowing he heard her.

"Hate's a strong word Joan."

"I don't care! I do! You don't understand what it's like ... to have him hate me!" She cried out.

"I understand Joan-"

"No! You don't. You might understand how I feel, but you don't know what it's like to feel like this" She said, her cries subsiding.

He stood there, watching her cry. He looked thoughtfully at her, as if contemplating something. Joan looked up when she noticed the silence. She regarded how he was looking at her. It was unnerving. Then finally he looked away, thought still not saying a word.

She sniffled a bit before speaking. "I'm sorry. I don't .. hate you. I was just mad." She said, looking down and feeling quite ashamed. "I'm sorry" She whispered.

She looked up when she felt him place his hand on her shoulder. He smiled at her and nodded. "I know Joan, it's okay."

She smiled back, feeling relieved at his words. She sighed. "I guess I should be going. Mom's probably waiting for me to come back from the market. And I know once dad gets home I'm going to get raked over the coals for what happened."

"It'll all work out Joan, don't worry."

"Thanks." She said, before walking past him and heading towards the market. She stopped and turned around to ask him something, but was surprised to find he wasn't there. She smiled to herself and continued on her way to the corner.

---------------------------

Joan yawned and rolled over in her bed, looking at the clock that sat on her nightstand. She moaned and rolled back over, throwing the covers back over her head. It was nine thirty in the morning, way too early for a Saturday. And yet she did anyways. Frustrated at not being able to fall back to sleep she threw the covers back, slid on her slippers and went down stairs.

She wanted to sleep in since she was up a little later than usual. She got a stern lecture from both her parents on being safe outside of the home and not talking (or sticking up) for strangers. She tried to reason with them that the boy she was with was a friend, but they were being too overprotective to hear her, so she just let them talk.

Pulling out a chair, Joan sat down on the end of the table as her mother was setting out breakfast. After a few minutes the rest of the family joined in and sat down. Midway through eating the doorbell rang. Helen excused herself to answer the door. When she returned she had a surprised look on her face.

"Joan, there's a young man at the front door asking for you." She said as she returned to her chair. "He's cute. Is he a friend of yours, because I've never seen him at school."

Will glanced at Joan before glaring suspiciously at Helen. She looked up and raised her brow at her husband. "What?"

As Joan got up from the table she glanced at her family, noticing the odd look they were giving her.

"What!? Like I can't have a cute boy ask for me?"

"Is it the Jehovah's Witness?" Kevin asked.

"Must be if he's asking for Joan." Luke said, glancing over at Joan as he tries not to laugh.

"They're not that desperate ... are they?"

She glared at them both before walking over to the door, still dressed in her pink pajamas. When she opened it she nearly fainted. Her mouth opened in utter surprise when she came face to face with CuteBoy!God.

"Oh my god .."

"Not quite, Joan."