Disclaimer: Crimson Peak is Guillermo Del Toro's property, Supernatural belongs to Eric Kripke, The Lodgers to Brian O'Malley. Emma, Constance and I are self-inserts. The old lady from Camden Market belongs to Chibimelodee.
Summary: Ghosts are real and everything happens for a reason. Is this why Marina and her friends find themselves trapped in Allerdale Hall a few days away from Christmas?
Author's note: This story was written for me by « Emma » and « Constance » from Chibimelodee as an Advent Calendar two years ago. Please note that all three of us are french and while we do know our way around English, we might still make some mistakes. Feel free to let us know! As the three girls are french and start to speak from this chapter, I'll put the translations of their sentences right next to them so you know what they say.
Second author's notes : These bonus scenes were written by me after discovering the full story my friends gifted me.
At the Candlelight
Bonus : Fashion !
"Marina, I promise you, I love him but I'm going to murder him! Can you please take him on vacation or something?"
Marina would have laughed if it hadn't been so bizarre. Because the person Constance was talking about wasn't a pet, a child, no, she was talking about her husband, Baronet Thomas Sharpe.
"Constance, my darling, my butterfly, I just want what's best for you and our baby!"
Constance looked at him with a murderous glare and Marina could only share a confused glance with Sean. Her friend had called her, at her wits' end, begging her to help her, to come over to Allerdale. When the young woman stated she would come but it'd take at least a day, the expecting mother reminded her of Sean's powers. Truth be told, Marina had not forgotten about his talents, she just didn't want to use them. She always felt weird asking him to teleport her somewhere, he wasn't a cab. Though he always said he didn't mind, she did and she did not want him to feel like an object. Sean had taken her by the waist and transported them at the main gate where he used the doorbell.
"You don't take us right inside?" His girlfriend had asked him
"Last time I did, Emma was mad and wanted to smack me. And Constance asked if your friend Justine had her brain in the right place."
She hadn't been able to stop a burst of laughter. They were welcomed in and Marina was in awe. Constance's belly was starting to get rounder.
"What's wrong?" She asked her friend
And here they stood, Constance explaining she was tired of Thomas babying her. Yes, it was nice he was so involved, that he cared, things were as they should be but he was taking it way too far! She was tired of always eating her greens, healthy things, completely bland. She craved greasy chicken wings, onion rings, truffle french fries! All she wanted was to be able to eat a Burger King from time to time.
"I can't leave you, my love! What if something happens to you while you're alone? I can't even bear the thought of losing you and our babe again!" Thomas pleaded
"Hey, I'm still here!" Emma pouted, crossing her arms.
Marina sighed. This wasn't how she had planned on living her first days in her new home. Ever since she had received that ridiculously huge amount of money, a gift from above for her good actions and the fact that she also was Sean's soulmate, she had bought a home. Well, technically, she had bought her parents a house, set them financially at ease until the end of their days. Then, she had been adamant about doing the same for an indian friend, a fellow writer, struggling with diabetes, fibromyalgia and other disabilities, allowing her to finally breathe financially speaking. She had given sums of money to charities she supported and even after all of that, she was still loaded. She still lived in Dunkirk, in a beautiful house near the sea with enough space to receive people. She still lived modestly, not wanting to waste money just because she had the means to do so. Sean and her had just finished moving and furnishing it, they had been excited to live there together and this was falling on them. Oh, Thomas wasn't a bother, not one bit, Marina liked him, he was a friend. But this wasn't how she had envisioned her firsts in her first house.
"Look at this under this angle!" She said, trying to sound cheerful. "If we go to Dunkirk, I can drive you to La Panne and we buy Constance cuberdons! She loves these!"
"Cuberdons?" Thomas repeated
"Sweets!"
Constance's gaze was adamant on Thomas not staying. Sean went upstairs with him to help with his luggage. Constance took Marina by the arm.
"I'm sorry. I wouldn't have asked, especially considering you just moved in, but he was getting impossible." She confessed
"It's alright."
It was half a lie. Marina didn't mind Thomas being with them for a few days but she could not deny she was disappointed.
"I'll try and make it up to you."
She smiled.
Marina was out, for a reason Sean didn't know. She just told him she'd be back before dinner. Sitting at her computer, he was looking at the fan page she had for Eugene Simon and the character he had portrayed in Game of Thrones. He looked at his style, comparing it to his own. Truth be told, he didn't really care about his clothes and it didn't seem to bother people around them. He had heard some of them calling him a hipster. He did not know what it meant or if it was a good thing. It didn't matter. But as soon as he had started to build a life with Marina, he had slowly begun to worry about how he looked. Yes, he knew Marina loved him past his appearance, he could get disfigured, she'd love him still. But the fact was that the clothes he had on his back were the clothes we wore when he died. His zing knew nothing of it but he did. And while he did not want to throw them away, because they were still in very good shape, he felt it was time for a change. Rachel was long gone. A change of wardrobe for a new chapter of his life. Besides, from a more pragmatic point of view, he didn't want people to assume Marina was living with someone filthy as he never changed clothes.
"I still don't understand why she is so upset..." Thomas sighed
"She isn't mad at you." Sean smiled at him. "I'm sure Constance really loves the fact that you care so much, as it should be. But you are slightly overprotective."
"Wouldn't you be if Marina was pregnant?"
The angel's eyes gazed at his shoes, his smile fading somewhat. The baronet froze, worried he had been insensitive.
"I cannot have biological children." The irishman admitted
"I do apologize, it was rude of me..."
"Well, to be honest, technically, I can father children." He slowly explained. "But it's forbidden for many reasons. A child born from an angel and a human being is called a Nephilim. A very powerful being but also very unstable mentally. Every time a Nephilim walked the earth, the world was in danger. Besides... Such a pregnancy is always lethal. Marina would die in childbirth if I got her pregnant and if she carried to term."
The atmosphere around them had gone from neutral to absolutely gloomy.
"Is there no way?" Thomas carefully asked
"We can always adopt." He shrugged
"Yes, true, and that's a marvellous thing but, is there no way for you to have a child of your own blood with Marina?"
"There is one. Every angel has something in him called grace. It's the source of our powers. I could remove my grace, father a child with Marina as a human being and put it back when she has given birth. But the process is pure torture. It's literally ripping your soul from your body. Also... As strange as it may sound to you, Marina doesn't want to become a mother."
"Yes, for now."
"No, not for now. Forever."
The englishman looked at him, puzzled.
"Then, why is she with you? If she wants to be childless, she has to be a spinster!"
Sean laughed.
"Don't say that to her, you'd get an earful on women's rights! As she says, if it happens, she'd be grateful. If it doesn't, she'd be even more grateful. It's just that she won't do anything in her power to get pregnant and mope if she doesn't give birth. She's more on the adoption side. Pregnancy scares her."
"Truth be told, it scares me too. That's why I am so careful around Constance. I'm a bit upset she doesn't seem to understand why I am so adamant on her being well, on eating healthy, on..."
"Your heart is in a good place, Thomas." The angel eased him. "But you are overprotective and overcontrolling. You cannot predict everything. Besides, where's the harm in eating fast food once or twice if you live a rather healthy lifestyle?"
"It only takes one time for things to go bad! You know it better than anyone else! Constance knows that too! I just... I just don't understand why she seems to forget about it! I don't want to lose her or our child again! It... It kinda gets on my nerves, actually."
The angel didn't reply, not really knowing if there was a proper response, to be honest.
"Am I just supposed to say yes to everything even when she is wrong?" He pursued
If he had to be honest, Sean was getting quite uncomfortable with the conversation and somewhat annoyed. He could understand Thomas being worried, but right now, he was downright snobbish. Constance had been alive in the modern world for far longer and he was the one who knew better? He kept scrolling down. The baronet sighed when he realized his friend wasn't listening anymore. He came closer and looked over his shoulder.
"Isn't he the man from the play Marina likes so much?" He inquired
"Yes, Eugene Michael Simon. My sister Kay's great-grandson..."
His voice got lost in his throat for a moment. Of course, when he had become an angel, he had understood he'd live on under a new form while his sister and his mother would die. When they both passed away, his father had told him both had a good life, went to Heaven but the two had spent their lives praying for him, hoping to see him again. He hadn't even been allowed to attend the funerals. He had missed his sister marrying the man she loved, her children... He hadn't even visited their graves yet, now that he could, he felt something holding him back.
"He plays well."
"He does."
He had that hint of pride in his voice and that didn't go unnoticed as Thomas smirked.
"Why are you looking at his pictures?"
"You'll tell me I'm stupid."
"I won't! Have I ever insulted you?"
Sean's glare made him step back.
"Yes, yes I did... And I broke your face."
"You had legitimate reasons."
"You as well... With time, I came to realize you had a mission to accomplish and with your pure heart, it must have been agonizing for you to go ahead. You had the world to save."
"For all it's worth, I truly am sorry."
Thomas gently patted his shoulder.
"Constance forgave you. So, I have no reason not to do so."
The angel felt relieved of a heavy burden.
"So, why the pictures?"
"I thought of changing my style... Also, I could take advice from my great grand-nephew. Marina loves his style. She's never mad at him, so if I dress like him, she will never be mad at me. You should try that with Constance."
"Constance doesn't love him as Marina does." The englishman smiled. "But why are you worried you'll argue with Marina?"
He shrugged.
"Everyone around us does. They say it's a proof of love. I can't see why. There's nothing romantic or bonding about arguments. I hate conflicts and so does Marina. We just want to live out our days in a corner of the world, minding our own business."
Thomas looked at Eugene and he had to admit that, while it definitely was quite different from his own outfits, it remained stylish and elegant. He had never thought of changing his wardrobe, he liked his outfits, they fit him still and Constance had shown him, on that Youtube site, a fellow englishman who still dressed as a victorian man and no one bothered him. But he wondered. Marina loved Eugene Simon and never was mad at him. He was her favourite actor. And following Sean's logic, if he dressed like Eugene, Marina would never be mad at him. If he dressed like Tom Hiddleston, which had a striking resemblance to him, to be honest, maybe Constance would never be mad at him again? Also, he'd ask Sean to take him to La Panne, not wanting to bother his wife's friend. He'd buy her the entire stock of cuberdons the whole city had! Besides, a new look couldn't hurt, right? He smiled at his companion.
"So, how do we do that? Do we have to call a tailor?"
Sean looked at him, puzzled, before having a heartfelt burst of laughter.
"No, we go to the mall. That's how youngsters do it nowadays."
Ohhh ohhh
La la la
I am, I'm too fabu-lous
I'm so fierce that it's so nuts
I live, to be model thin
Dress me, I'm your manne-quin
J'adore Vivienne I really want. Gucci, Fendi, and Prada. Valentino, Armani too. Madame love them Jimmy Choo
The pair went downtown, deciding on walking. Dunkirk wasn't a huge city in the first place and while the angel could have teleported them, they wanted to enjoy the city and the sunny weather. Sean felt some eyes on them and could hear people wonder if a new series or a new movie was being filmed. He thanked his Father for this town, its folk and his habits regarding costumes.
"This is outrageous! Just look at these trousers! They are so damaged! You can see the skin behind the fabric if you put this on! And they sell it for thirty euros?! This is a scam, a complete scam!"
Sean had to admit that he did not understand the logic behind damaged clothes being expensive either. Selling them for a small price for seamstresses to enjoy, repair or use for spare parts? Why not? His own mother used to do that when money was running low. But these days, people paid more bucks for a ruined pair of jeans than a perfectly brand new one. Still, he tried to find his size, he thanked his Father once more for television and Netflix providing him with all the necessary pieces of information for life in 2020. He didn't particularly like them but Marina did. She actually loved these looks. She had never dared to try on herself though, while he was sure she would rock it, like the goddess she was in his eyes.
Fashion put it all on me
Don't you want to see these clothes on me
Fashion put it all on me
I am anyone you want me to be
Meanwhile, Thomas had gone into a changing cabin and went out, seeking Sean's approval. He was wearing a black hoodie which seemed super comfy, with a lavender t-shirt underneath but his trousers looked too big and the legs too long. Truth be told, in the irishman's eyes, while the top part was nice, the rest made him look like a potato bag.
"I fear you might have gotten the wrong size for the trousers." He diplomatically told him
"This is on purpose." The baronet scoffed. "Those modern trousers fit the calves too much! You can see their form! That's absolutely lewd."
"This isn't lewd anymore."
"You think I should wear shorts instead?"
"Why not? I can't rock them, people would stare at my fake leg."
Thomas decided on buying the hoodie as it was warm. Something seemed to catch his attention as he smirked, took some items and went back into the cabin. Sean found a few things as well and decided to try them on. A white shirt, black trousers, just plain and simple. He felt a bit lost when it came to modern fashion and he couldn't really count on Marina for help. Knowing her, she'd love him even dressed in a garbage bag. Or, maybe he could just copy Sam and Dean. Sean had noticed his girlfriend had a love for flannels, even owning a few in her wardrobe before donating some because they didn't fit her anymore. Would the brothers be mad at him for copying though? It was their style, not his and he didn't want them to dislike him even more, especially Dean. He decided to at least try the look on, so he could leave with no regret.
"This is not what I was thinking of but this looks amazing!" Thomas cheered.
Ohhhh ohhhhh
La la la
We love designer
I need, some new stile-ttos
Can't walk, down the street in those
You are, who you wear it's true
A girl's just as hot as the shoes she chooses
J'adore Weitzman I really want. Louis, Dolce & Gabbana, Alexander Mcqueen, eh ou. madame love those Manolo
Fashion put it all on me
Don't you want to see these clothes on me
Fashion put it all on me
I am anyone you want me to be
Sean stepped out of his cabin, waiting for Thomas to go out.
"Sean?" A feminine voice called out
He turned around and paled. Marina was there, a parcel in hand because the store also did a thing called Mondial Relay he didn't know a thing about. And standing near her was Sam. He had a small smile for him and offered his hand to shake.
"I heard Marina and you moved in together. That's great!" He congratulated him
"Were you... Trying things on? I didn't know you needed clothes." Marina told him
"Actually, I'm here with Thomas... Though it was my idea."
"Is Miss Marina here?" Thomas asked, still inside. "I'd love to have her opinion, women have a better touch when it comes to fashion."
She rolled her eyes. She hated fashion. But when he came out, Sam and her exchanged a glance before looking back at him in shock. Thomas was wearing tight-fitting purple trousers whose material seemed to be faux leather, a shirt with a leopard pattern, high white socks because there was no way in Hell he'd show his ankles to anyone but his wife.
"That's... that's a look." The american simply said. "Very 70's."
"Do you think Constance will like it?"
Lost for words, Marina managed to stutter that Constance would love him no matter what he wore, he just had to be comfortable in what he was wearing and actually liking it.
"I don't like it, I love it!"
He proudly posed as Marina snapped a picture to send it to Constance and Emma. Their reply was almost immediate. According to Constance, her sister was laughing hysterically to the point of tears. As for her, it was very colourful, quite daring, she would have never tried it but she was proud of her husband stepping out of his comfort zone and trying something new.
"Please send it to Dean and Bobby." Sam whispered in her ear. "They need a good laugh."
She smirked and did it only after he promised this wouldn't be used for mean purposes. Sean had remained silent the entire time, feeling out of place. Marina had gone out, without telling where she went. He didn't have an issue with that. But here she was, with Sam. Why would she keep her visit to Sam a secret? Even the fact that he was in Dunkirk? It was true the pair had grown close. They regularly chat on Facebook, she tried to teach him french and they seemed to have a genuine bond. He didn't like to think that he, an angel of the Lord, could feel jealousy and imagine his zing to be unfaithful when she had been nothing but marvellous to him. He tried to avoid looking at them too much but Sam quickly spotted him, a habit of being a hunter he assumed. To the man's credit, he waited for Marina helping Thomas in finding less flashy outfits to approach him.
"Something wrong?" He asked
"I had no idea she had a meeting with you." The angel replied, slightly bitter
Sam stared at him in confusion.
"We didn't have a meeting together! Why on Earth would you think that?"
Before he could actually reply, Sam continued.
"Oh... I get it. You fear I'm gonna steal your girl away."
"Marina isn't an object, she can't be stolen." Sean answered
"You are jealous. Don't try and hide it, you're turning green, Zelena."
"My name's not Zelena!"
The hunter tried not to laugh when Castiel's brother checked himself to try and see if any green was growing on his skin.
"The Wizard of Oz. Marina should have you watch it, it's a classic."
"I'm not jealous. I'm an angel. Angels are above jealousy."
"Then, you definitely weren't taught Lucifer's story properly. Dude, it's okay. You don't have to be ashamed. It's normal to be a bit jealous when your girlfriend enjoys being with another guy, even if this is pure friendship on her part."
"Marina isn't jealous and she's a human being. I'm quite a crappy angel... But... If you weren't having a meeting or a date, why were you here?"
Sam smiled.
"Dean and I had to investigate the story of the haunted house in Dunkirk. Emma told him about it. We laid the souls to rest. Dean went straight to Allerdale while I remained behind. After all, Marina was kind enough to lend me her copy of Hamp and it was the perfect occasion to return it. I saw her in this store for her parcel."
Sean looked at his shoes, ashamed and defeated. How could he have even begun to doubt that Marina was faithful to him?
"Hey, don't start crying!"
"I'm not crying... I'm mortified."
"I'll make this clear. There is nothing romantic between your girlfriend and me. We are friends, nothing more. She isn't my type anyway and to be honest, I've grown to see her as a younger sister. And I'm definitely not into Lucille's kinks. You have nothing to be afraid of."
Their conversation was stopped by Thomas showing a new look, one quite more casual and modern: navy blue trousers with a thin faux black leather belt, a sky blue shirt and some brown shoes.
"You look amazing!" Marina complimented. "Didn't you have another outfit, Sean? I saw something in your cabin."
"I don't... I don't want to steal Sam and Dean's look."
"Sean..." Sam sighed. "Just as women can't be stolen, fashion looks can't be stolen either. Dean and I couldn't care less if you wear flannels."
While she was puzzled, Marina didn't say anything, feeling she didn't have to meddle into what wasn't her business. When Sean came out with the outfit he had picked, her heart skipped a beat and she felt herself falling in love all over again. Dark trousers, a blue woodcutter shirt opened on a white t-shirt, black shoes... He simply was perfect. And seeing her eyes sparkling when she was looking at him was all the reassurance he needed to understand that their bond was a real zing, not what he had shared with Rachel, no matter how strong it could have been.
He was hers and she was his until the end of time.
If you were the popcorn, I would be the movie
If you were strawberries then I would be the smoothie
If you were October, I'd be apple cider
And if you were the waffles fries then I would be the slider
Cause you and me, we make each other better
We may not be perfect, but we're perfect together
You and me, we'll make it through whatever
We may not be perfect, but we're perfect together
If you were Sunday brunch, I'd be eggs and bacon
If you were hot chocolate, I'd be the winter night you stay in
If you were a candy, I would be the wrapper
And if you were marshmallows then I'd be the graham cracker
Cause you and me, we make each other better
We may not be perfect, but we're perfect together
You and me, we'll make it through whatever
We may not be perfect, but we're perfect together
What's the point of apple pie
Without the ice cream on the side?
That'd be like not having you tonight
And what's the point of a fondue
Without the chocolate too?
That'd be like me not having you
Cause you and me, we make each other better
We may not be perfect, but we're perfect together
You and me, we'll make it through whatever
We may not be perfect, but we're perfect together
Sean had teleported them inside Allerdale Hall but outside of the room Constance was in, not wanting to scare her, especially in her condition.
"I smell bacon!" They could hear Emma cheering behind the door.
She ran and opened, seeing Marina, her brother-in-law, Sean and her future brother-in-law together. She looked at Thomas in shock, gasping.
"Who are you and what did you do to Sir-Thomas-Sharpe-Miss?"
Dean was just as surprised before his face lit up.
"Upping your game I see, man! Good for you! And how, did Lucky Charms get a makeover as well?! He looks every inch a Winchester!"
"Don't start, Dean." Sam gently scolded him
"Why? You always say Marina's like a sister to you, so he kinda is family now."
"Est-ce que quelqu'un peut me traduire ce qu'il se passe? Non seulement, je ne vois pas ce qu'il se passe comme vous bloquez la porte mais en plus, je ne suis pas encore Netfix, je n'ai pas les sous-titres intégrés!" Constance told them.
"Désolée, Ninie! On se pousse!" Emma apologized
Constance froze when she was her husband walking in. He looked so young, so modern, so alive, so dashing, so... So perfect! She smiled at him.
"I must be Snow White, my husband is Prince Charming." She told him as she kissed his lips.
He eagerly returned her caress before cupping her face between his hands.
"Constance, my darling, I want to apologize for my behaviour. I completely went overboard. I hope you can forgive me."
"You're already forgiven." She said. "I know you are worried and just want everything to be okay. I'm just glad you understand what I meant."
"Here's a peace offering."
He handed her a small bag. She opened it and smiled excitingly. It was filled with cuberdons.
"Also... A little miss right over here..." He continued, pointing at Marina. " told me you loved truffles french fries so we went to a man who called himself the king of the burger realm?"
Sean showed her the several bags from Burger King, Marina having insisted on bringing dinner for everybody.
"Oh man, I'm hungry now!" Dean exclaimed
Constance kissed Thomas again and vowed to find a way to thank Marina even more properly. She also promised herself to send her husband back to Dunkirk every time he misbehaved. Apparently, for someone who felt she wouldn't be a good mom, Marina seemed to perfectly manage to correct the petulant child Sir Thomas Sharpe could be.
The End