Three Men an Angel and a Teenager – Part 11
Haley walked slowly from the kitchen, her mind a whirl of thoughts and emotions as she processed what her brothers had just told her.
Mary was her daughter from the future; Castiel was her husband, Mary's father and a fully fledged, wings and all, angel of the Lord. One who rebelled against heaven and fought with her brothers in the Apocalypse.
They had told her that Mary had been ripped from her timeline and thrust into a world which was not her own, that in her timeline they should have been re-united eighteen months before. What did that mean? Was she her daughter or just an echo of a future which might have been?
Stopping at the doorway she stood quietly for a moment; unnoticed as she watched the man/angel talking softly to Mary, hand clasping the young girl's who sat by his side looking forlorn and dejected.
Mary felt her insides tighten as she looked at the young girl. She knew what it was like to be pulled away from everything and everyone that you loved, to fear that you would never see them again. In that moment Haley vowed that she would do all that she could to get the girl home to her family, to the mom and dad who loved her, raised her to be the young woman that she is, a remarkable young woman if Sam and Dean were to be believed.
Coughing softly, Haley stepped fully onto the porch, a smile spreading across her face as the two stood startled by her sudden appearance.
"Hi." Haley said raising a hand briefly in greeting. She walked down the steps, stopping as she reached the duo. "I never expected to find my brothers and a readymade family it's a bit overwhelming-"
"I'm sorry-" Mary began, her blue eyes luminous as she stared at her mom of this time. "I'm so sorry; this isn't how things were meant to be."
"Wait, Mary," Haley interrupted, placing a hand gently on Mary's arm. "You have nothing to apologise for. I'll do everything I can to help you... to get you home to your family."
Haley was stunned by the rush of warmth that flooded through her as Mary smiled, her eyes brightening as her expression turned from anxious to hopeful at Haley's words. This was her child; maybe not in this time, but that didn't matter in that brief moment Haley felt a connection pull tight between them, joining them together a bond which she knew would never be broken.
"Mom?" Mary asked eyes hopeful as she looked at the woman before her. It wasn't like it had been when she met her dad, this was different. It wasn't just that she knew that this woman would be her mom; it was like she already was – how could that be?
"No Mary, I'm sorry I'm not your mom." Haley said gently, refusing to acknowledge the connection she had felt moments before. She wasn't this child's mother; it was unfair of her to allow her to think otherwise. "Your mom is in another time, another place. I can't be her but I can be your friend."
Mary looked into the familiar chocolate brown eyes, her heart pounding. She understood that this wasn't her mother but her "mom" had felt it, that jolt of connection just as strongly she had, she was sure of it. She opened her mouth to argue, but stopped, noticing for the first time the fear and uncertainty in the eyes of the woman in front of her.
She nodded. "I'd like it if we could be friends."
Haley smiled and nodded in return, relief flowing through her as Mary accepted her words. Turning her attention to the Angel she reached out a hand in greeting.
"Hello, you must be Castiel? I'm Haley." She said simply, as she looked into the bright blue eyes of the angel before her. Eyes identical to the girl at his side, there was no mistaking the resemblance between the two. Just as there was no mistaking her own resemblance to Dean.
Taking the offered hand Castiel replied. "Hello Haley. It is nice to meet you. Mary has told me a lot about you."
Haley's eyes widened as the warmth of his touch as a jolt of recognition just as she had felt with Mary flowed through her. Strange she thought. We've never even met. Reluctantly she removed her hand from his and stepped back, her hand tingling from the contact.
"So, this is weird huh?"
"Yes, this is weird." Castiel replied. He was at a loss to respond to the woman before him. She was beautiful, heavenly grace no longer hidden by her human soul playing at the edges of her being. Its host unaware of its presence, but the power was there untapped and dormant.
"Yeah-" Haley struggled to find the words. With a sighed she shook her head in an attempt to clear her muddled thoughts. "Maybe we should just forget the weirdness and focus on getting Mary home."
Castiel stared intently into green eyes, confusion clouding their brightness. His head tilted thoughtfully as he experienced a flash, a memory of sparkling green eyes and soft laughter. A feeling of contentment and happiness flowed over him. Startled he stepped back and nodded. "That would be best."
"So... so?" Haley said, stuttering to a halt.
Castiel simply stared unspeaking. Unable to fathom the feelings he had experienced moments before, was continuing to experience. It was confusing but not entirely unpleasant.
Mary watched the exchange between the two with interest. There was clearly something there, but what? They were no longer the same people they had been when they met in her timeline. There were events which were crucial to her timeline which had not happened. Mom hadn't pulled Uncle Sammy from the cage, she hadn't been brutally tortured by the demon Alistair and she hadn't fought Mamoon after the re-awakening of her powers. Most importantly, her soul was gone, in Hell with Sam's. What did it all mean? Could they fix whatever had gone wrong? She hoped so.
"Cas, Haley?" Mary said questioningly. The two had stopped speaking and were staring at each other; both looked incredibly confused and spooked.
Castiel startled and turned to Mary. "I must go. There are things I must attend to in Heaven." He said, before simply disappearing.
xxOOxx
"It was so weird. You should have seen them Dean. It was like the already knew each other." Mary said excitedly.
"That's not possible Mary." Dean said softly. Mary was practically vibrating with excitement. He didn't want to dampen her enthusiasm but she was clearly seeing something that couldn't possibly be there. No matter how much she wanted it to.
"But Dean-"
"No Mary you need to let this go." Dean said firmly.
Cas had left suddenly following the exchange with Haley. Haley had then left to go to her motel to pick up her things, both of them leaving behind an excited teenager who thought that her parents had fallen instantly in love and that it was only a matter of time before everything fell into place and she could go home.
"But Dean-"
Dean softened as he stared at the girl who was for all intents and purposes his niece.
"Mary, it doesn't matter. We know that things are different now. Cas, Haley they're different people. You told us yourself that there was a lot your history that hadn't happened. You can't expect things just to fall into place, no matter how much you want them too." He said softly. Not wanting to shatter the young girl's dreams.
Son of a bitch! He swore internally as the light in her eyes dimmed at his words.
Mary's hear sank at Dean's words. She knew that there was something between her "parents" but maybe Dean was right and she was seeing what she wanted. She was so used to her mom and dad and the love the shared that she could see it in the two people who were strangers.
"You're right Dean, it was probably just my imagination." Mary sighed, "I just want it so bad. Even if I can't get back to my own time I want them to be together. Happy, just like I know they can be."
Dean drew the girl into a hug and ruffled her soft black hair. "I know Mary, just give it time."
Mary nodded into her "uncles" shoulder. "Aye." She said her soft Irish brogue more prominent in her distressed state.
tbc