Rowena poured herself a cup of tea from the pot her son had brewed and sat down on the couch.
"Can I get you some more tea, Fergus?"
"No. I'm fine." He hesitated before continuing, "But I have a question I need to ask you."
"Oh? What's that?" She asked, taking a drink of her tea."
"Why could you love Oskar and not me?"
Rowena paused and looked at him before setting her cup on the table and sighing.
"You have to understand Fergus, this was a very difficult time for me. You were eight years old when I was forced to leave. When I found Oskar's family, and I saw him... he was eight just like you were. his hair was the same color as yours had once been. His eyes were the same color too. When I looked at him it was like I was looking at you. I only gave him the love that I had in my heart for you because I knew there was no danger there. If I loved you, you could have gotten hurt, and I would have lost everything. But with Oskar I had nothing to fear. It wasn't that I didn't love you. It's that I did- too much. I once heard a woman say that you can't replace children, but you can replace the effect they give you. I think that's what I was going for."
He nodded mutely. He wasn't quite sure what to make of her answer.
"I admit I wish I'd done it differently now, though."
"Really? What would you have changed?"
"If I had known then what I know now, I would have found you and taken you with me. I wouldn't have ignored my instincts. I would have tried to have been a better Mum to you."
Crowley was quiet after that, so Rowena changed the subject.
"So Fergus, tell me, what became of your mortal life?" She asked, picking up her tea cup. Crowley shrugged.
"Not much to tell. Became a tailor, had a kid, sold my soul, and that was it."
Rowena nearly spat out her tea. "You had a child and you never told me?!"
"Yes." Came the flat reply.
"Why?"
"Because I hated the bastard. He was always a little brat. Whining and complaining all day long. What a pain."
"Like father like son." Rowena said, laughing.
"I was nothing like that in my youth." He said.
"Oh don't be so dramatic, Fergus. When you were two years old you threw a fit every single time I didn't let you have something you wanted. And even then if you wanted it bad enough you'd take it anyways and try to hide it from me. One time you tried to hide a load of sweeties from me by eating them before I got home, and hiding the leftovers under your bed. You made yourself sick and threw up all night long."
"Mum, I was two. He was twenty six." And then suddenly he paused, brought back to reality by the thought that he was actually having a normal conversation with his Mother. Rowena didn't notice.
"Well, I can't believe I'm a grandmother. I look too young for it. What did you name him?"
"Gavin." She considered the name for a moment.
"I like it. Very strong. Where is the lad now?"
"He died in a shipwreck on his way to America."
For a moment Rowena looked disappointed. To appease her, he added:
"Don't worry. You wouldn't have liked the bastard anyways."
She thought about that a minute and then a grin stretched across her face.
"Alright Fergus, I believe you. But tell me then, what about the lass who mothered him?"
"I don't remember who she was. I was drunk out of my mind half the time. She left a screaming baby on my doorstep. That's all I know."
"What a skank."
"Took the words right out of my mouth."
They spoke about other things for a while. Crowley turned to look at the clock and found that somehow two hours had passed by without his noticing. He got up from his seat, dusting himself off slightly.
"Well mother, as fun as it's been chatting with you, I have some matters to attend to in hell."
"Alright. So you'll be going then?" She asked. He nodded. She walked over to him. "This was... surprisingly pleasant. Would you like to do this again sometime, Fergus?"
"Fine." He said dismissively. Despite this, Crowley rolled his eyes at his mother. "And It's Crowley, mum. I don't know any fool named Fergus!"
"Well I don't know a fool named Crowley." She countered.
The two stared at each other a beat, eyes locked. Rowena smiled just a bit, and her son, for the tiniest instant, echoed her.
Then, with a snap of the fingers, he was gone.
In the silent moments that followed her son's exit, Rowena felt a sense of peace growing inside of her. She was finally making some of her mistakes right again, and leaving her regrets behind her. For so long she had struggled and grappled with her relationship with her son, and now she finally felt like things were beginning to go her way. She would repent of her sins and try and do right by her boy for once. She went over to his chair and moved to clean up his China cup along with her own. When the glassware was tucked away safe in the cupboards, she found herself wandering back to the living room with a small smile on her face. Staring over at the place where her son once sat, she looked up and said aloud,
"One day, Fergus, I'll prove to you that I can be a better mother."
Unbeknownst to her, Crowley was still listening when the words were spoken, and he smiled. He wasn't quite sure if his mother had gained any of his trust yet, but he was content to watch as she tried to earn it.