For a long while neither Rowena or Crowley spoke. They were enjoying their time together, but they were also trying to figure out what the next step in this process would be. Of course they had each given their consent and voiced their desires to one another, but actually acting on them was an entirely different story. It seemed a step too far. It wasn't like they would both suddenly lose their inhibitions and just go for it. The process would take time and trust. Before it had been easy- magic had been involved and Fergus had had no choice in the matter. But this kind of behavior and relationship was a completely deliberate choice, and therefore realms away from the easy life they had known.

The silence stretched on for minutes until Rowena finally figured out something to say.

"Fergus?" She asked quietly, so as not to startle him. He looked up at her.

"Yes?"

"Are you hearing the voice right now?"

The profuse blushing gave her the answer she needed, but she didn't miss the very slight nod of his head.

For a second or two, Rowena wasn't sure of what to do. She wanted this so badly for herself and her son, but at the same time she didn't want to do anything that would make him uncomfortable. It was a fine line she had to walk, and she wasn't sure how to toe it properly. Then, like magic, she knew what to do. She got up from the chair and knelt in front of her boy.

"When you were a wee lad, You had a blanket you took everywhere with you. You had it since you were just a bairn. You'd run around the village with it tied around your neck like a cape."

In his mind he thought he could see what she described happening, but it was a very foggy and distorted memory. Still, he nodded, unsure of where she was going with this.

With a bit of magic, she conjured the blanket into her hands and offered it to him. Perhaps this was the best way to begin this new relationship.

When he saw the blanket, a storm of hazy memories funneled into his mind. Memories he thought he didn't have. Running through green fields with the blanket flapping through the breeze, holding it under his nose to smell it for comfort if he'd had a particularly bad day, and rubbing it against his face while he sucked his thumb as a very small child. Before his mind could process what he was seeing, his body reacted for him and he reached out for the blanket. It looked ratty and dirty, but it was the same one. He knew it the instant he touched the soft fabric. Without really thinking about what he was doing, he took a deep sniff of the blanket and for a moment was in another world, where everything was utterly and completely blissful.

Rowena couldn't help but grin at the look on her son's face. She hadn't seen him look so peaceful in a long time. It gave her hope that maybe this was the right way to start things off. Small gestures that spoke volumes. Her thoughts were confirmed when her son's thumb slipped into his mouth. She didn't even think he realized he was doing it. She found himself smiling at him wistfully. It reminded her of easier times.

When Crowley opened his eyes after sniffing his blanket, he saw his mother staring at him with a kind of softness that he could barely remember her having before. He was about to ask her what she was looking at when he felt his thumb in his mouth. His face flushed deep red and he moved to take it out out of embarrassment, when his mother gently took his hand and stopped him.

"It's alright." She soothed, smiling at him. "That's what I'm here for." She guided his thumb back into his mouth and then stood up and stroked his hair, softly humming a tune she'd forgotten the words to long ago.

The sound of his mother's humming and the feel of her fingers running through his hair relaxed him even further. For the first time since his transformation was over he felt the safe, warm, loving feeling that he had sought after for so long. He felt elation cover his mind and his thoughts as he drifted into a place that wasn't sleeping, but wasn't awake either.

Rowena, completely happy and content with the moment, pressed a gentle kiss to her son's forehead. His face turned brilliant red, but she could tell that the gesture was not an unwelcome one. She knelt back down in front of him.

"Fergus." She said, but it was closer to a coo than a simple calling of his name. Crowley was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he almost didn't hear her. But some obscure sense told him to open up his eyes. Reluctantly, his eyes fluttered open and he was once again looking at the soft, smiling face of his mother. He took his thumb from his mouth, but kept a death grip on his blanket.

"Yes, Mummy?" He blinked a few times, trying to reorient himself with his surroundings.

"Listen to Mummy, please." She said, and waited until she had his full attention to speak again. "How do you feel right now, dearie?"

"Good…"

"That's good. Is the voice gone now?"

He had to stop and think about it for a minute before he nodded. The voice seemed to have been quieted.

"That's very good. I'm very happy to hear that. But I want you to listen to me very carefully, okay sweetheart?" He nodded, and she continued. "Any time the voice talks to you I want you to come and tell me. We can do this whenever you need to or want to. And if you want something or want to try something new, don't be afraid to ask me. I will do as much of this as you want. I am very proud of you for asking for what you need." She swallowed the lump that was beginning to form in her throat as she added, "And I love you very much." It was the first time she'd ever said it to him where he could remember it.

Crowley's eyebrows shot up in surprise at the declaration, but inside he was joyful. He had finally gotten his mother's love. He felt himself smile and reply quietly,

"I love you too, Mummy."

The two of them smiled at one another, and then shared a happy embrace.

This day was perfect.