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 : Childless and childfree

Sitting in her new home, enjoying some peace and quiet, Marina was watching by the windows some people walking, children running around happily as school had just ended. However, as happy as she felt, her joy couldn't be complete. Sean had to go to another country where incest was threatening to destroy lives again and it seemed to be quite the tricky case to solve. He had been gone for a week already and while she definitely wasn't the clingy type, she missed him, his presence, the way she'd wake up in his arms every morning, his delicate scent, the softness and warmth of his skin. It actually scared her. She usually was able to be all alone without actual and physical interactions for days, she didn't mind being all alone, solitude was a blessed friend but she felt lonely. This was also part of the reason why Love scared her. She had always thought that loving someone always meant losing or sacrificing something away to adapt to your new mate, a thing that was the most important treasure in the world for her: her freedom. But she kept in mind that Sean wasn't just a fling, someone who'd pass by. He was her zing, her soulmate, and the way love happened to them just seemed so natural for them, she hadn't even had time to think about it. It had flowed easily, like a river in its bed. And weirdly enough, it was whenever Sean was with her that she felt she was the freest. With him, she didn't have to pretend, she couldn't pretend, she was loved and accepted so completely, so strongly, that it made her head spin sometimes, even wondering if she even deserved such a pure and blessed love. Her thoughts were cut when she heard a familiar flap of wings behind her. But it wasn't Sean. His wings didn't make such a sharp sound.

"Hi, Castiel!" She said without even turning her head

"How did you know it was me?" He asked, puzzled

She smiled at him.

"Your wings make a way different sound than Sean's. Is there anything I can help you with? Did... Did something happen?"

Castiel rarely visited them and she assumed it was because, as an angel, he had more interesting and important things to do than to play the friendly brother-in-law, even if Sean and her weren't married.

"Sean is fine, as far as I know. Besides, angels are hard to kill."

"It's not his body I'm worried about."

To her surprise, he actually smiled at her.

"Sean's angel heart is young and quite pure, it's true. But he didn't lose his human memories. He's used to seeing horrible things happening in the world."

"Doesn't it take a toll on you all, seeing these things?"

"It can. But we ease ourselves knowing we act for the greater good."

She nodded.

"Would you like something to drink?" She offered. "I talk and talk and I am lacking in my hostess duties. I don't have coffee but I can make you tea?"

"I'm not here for long. I had wanted to talk to you for a while but never had the occasion before."

The angel sat before her.

"My people's skills are rusty." He started. "So, sorry if I sound harsh."

"I'm used to it by now, you know." She smirked

He took a breath, it was clear that he was about to drop a bomb, a hard topic to discuss.

"What are your intentions with Sean?"

She looked at him, confused.

"I love Sean." Marina told him, somewhat offended he could think otherwise. "If possible, I'd like to spend the rest of my days by his side. Yes, I know he's an angel, he has duties and I'll never prevent him from doing them or blackmailing him into choosing you all or me. Not only is that a dick move, but he also has little choice in that regard."

Castiel seemed taken aback and apologetic.

"I'm sorry, this isn't what I meant." He said. "I know your love for Sean is real. Soulmates even. What I meant was... How to put it in a delicate manner that won't shock a woman?"

"Sean and I never had sex if that's what you mean."

His jaw dropping, he looked at her, his eyes widening and he actually paled.

"Well... That's a relief!"

Marina raised an eyebrow.

"Castiel, whatever it is, you can ask me. I know that, technically, I should have waited to be married to live with a man. Isn't it the way to go according to your father?"

"Oh no! True, he prefers when people are married but it's not that! It's..."

"Just shoot. I'm not someone easily set off by topics."

He looked at her in the eyes.

"Do you consider having children with Sean?"

He felt kind of worried to see how calm she was, not even phased by the idea of him asking such a personal question.

"I know about the Nephilim and their dangers." She simply shrugged

"Wait, you do?" He exclaimed

"Sean and I talked about children shortly before we moved in together." She revealed. "We want to be together, we want to build a life together, maybe even an afterlife together if the Lord is kind enough to allow it. Sean asked me the same question and explained to me what a Nephilim was, the way we could have a child but that I'll never ask of him because there is no way I'm torturing him by removing his grace just so I can produce another soul on this earth. I'll never bear his children, end of the story."

"But aren't you... Isn't it something you'll regret?"

"Oh, Castiel... I don't even want kids in the first place!"

I'm childless Livin' while we're limitless Love while we're lovin' like No tomorrows I'm childless Livin' while we're limitless Love while we're lovin' like No tomorrows ('morrows) These are the days of our golden youth (WO-oo-oh, oh) These are the moments of our truth (WO-oo-oh, oh) We're runnin' naked in the dark (WO-oo-oh, oh) Why so serious? I don't wanna get serious

Her revelation came as a shock to him as he blinked several times.

"You don't... Want children?" He carefully repeated.

"I don't. Pregnancy scares the shit out of me. I didn't want kids before I met Sean, why would it change now that we are together ?"

"Because, as a soulmate, maybe you could feel the yearn to have his child."

"If that happens, we can always adopt. That way, we complete the family we already are and also allow a boy or a girl to grow in a loving home. It's a win on either side."

Castiel nodded.

"Also, be at peace, we both know what to do to avoid the birth of a Nephilim."

"I am now. Thank you for being so understanding. I usually wouldn't have meddled into this but..."

"Castiel. You are an angel, you have to protect people. I really don't mind."

He got up, offered his hand to shake.

"Say hi to Sam, Dean and Bobby if you see them." She asked him.

He left and Marina's phone rang.

"Hi!" Emma's cheerful voice echoed "What's up?"

"Nothing much. Just my future brother-in-law coming over for sex ed."

The End