First off I own NOTHING, and don't claim to- Constantine and Hellblazer belong to their prospective companies. I make NO money off this once so ever. I'm just writing this story for fun and nothing else.

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I wrote this story to help shed light on Chas and Ariela's friendship BEFORE Constantine came into the picture (aka before Chas knew him-though he may make a cameo. ;) )

A/N: Just a warning. This chapter has some strong thematic elements, and some cursing. I have censored them a bit, but they're still technically there. As always please R&R.

Chapter Two: A hope deferred…

A few days later, it was Christmas Eve. The air was cooler than the day Ariela had been shopping with Chas, and Neela, with a light breeze

grazing his skin. It left him oddly chilled, and he wrapped his arms around himself. He was walking home from his work at the local copy shop.

He was walking because his dad needed the car for some errand early that morning .It was now evening, and he found himself without a ride,

so he decided to walk home. His father seemed a bit strange, but he thought it better not to question him. He guessed it was just a nerve-

wracking last minute trip for eggnog or a gift for his mom. He kept reminding himself that it was a holiday, and that sort of thing was normal.

That's why when a cold chill ran through him, why he questioned his own judgment. The sound of footsteps close to him made him look up from

the pavement, and turn his head to look behind him. His mood lifted when he saw who walked behind him. She had her hair swept to one side

gracefully, and more makeup than he had seen her wear in the longest time. She sure knew how to be dramatic in a classy way. No one would

ever assume she was otherwise. She was carrying a few festively decorated gift bags on her hands, and was juggling her cell phone into her

palm from her purse.

"Air!" Chas breathed into the air. He must have startled her because she almost dropped her phone out of her hand. It fell into a bag she

was carrying, and Chas looked down to see her wearing athletic shoes. Chas laughed abruptly, but before he could ask why she was wearing

athletic shoes Ariela answered his question.

"Chas, you didn't expect me to walk all this way in these, did you?" Ariela said gesturing the one lone grocery bag she held with red satin Mary

Jane's in it. He chuckled as he looked in.

"Nice to see you too." Chas said, working up a small smile for her. She flashed him one back, and her eyes smiled as well. The lights hanging

from the nearby balconies reflected lightly in them, making them look greener than her normal hazel.

"I just thought I'd stop by to drop off a few things at your folks, and have Neela pick me up from there." Ariela explained as she gestured for

Chas to keep walking in the direction of his apartment.

"Let me guess, a Christmas party?" Chas said, examining her festive ware again.

"Yeah, it's a Ravenscar, doctors and families get together. I would have invited you, but you're obviously not family."

"No, no, it's ok. After the day I've had I want to be home now."

"Hmm, trouble at work?"

" Nah, just nothing a nosy dressed up girl needs to know about." Chas said playfully nudging her arm.

"Touché." Ariela said with a grin, as they made the last few strides it took to get to Chas's building. Chas looked over his shoulder as he always

did when he came home. This area of town wasn't as safe as Ariela's, and he knew how shifty people could be around the holidays. With some

just waiting to steal gifts from unprepared citizens. He quickly unlocked the front entrance and saw the inside door chained open. He found it

odd, but proceeded down the hall where his parents had a ground level apartment. His building was one that looked better on the inside than

the outside, as his mother and neighbors prided themselves with doing as much as they could with what they had. It made living in the rougher

parts of LA more bearable. His neighbors hadn't skimped on the seasonal decor either. Their doors and window were all adorned in lights, red,

green, and gold. He could even smell the scent of cookies baking as it wafted out of someone's apartment. He then heard someone talking from

inside his apartment, as his house keys jingled in his hand. He opened the door, and the voices ended abruptly. All he could hear were

footsteps from himself, and Ariela, and one other person. He motioned for Ariela to stay still, and he crept forward a step.

"Oh, Chas!" his mother, Karen suddenly exclaimed with her hand on her heart. Chas's mother was a pretty slim woman, taller than her son. Her

hair was curly but darker than Chas's. She looked a bit flustered and surprised. She stepped forward and kissed her son on the cheek before

noticing Ariela.

"Hey Mom," Chas said, rubbing the back of his neck, helpless to do anything to stop his mom. He had learned a while back to pick his battles,

and he didn't want her greetings to be one of them.

"Oh! I'm sorry Chas," she said brushing something off Chas's shirt. "Hello Ariela. It's nice to see you again. You look lovely."

"Oh, thanks," Ariela said, feeling slightly ill at ease at her nervous behavior, and something else that seemed to make the air in the apartment

heavy. "I just wanted to drop off a few things." She gestured to the bags in her hands.

"Oh, Air, you didn't have to…" her voice trailed off, and she watched as the woman push a few stray strands of hair behind her ear. Ariela also

saw Chas's entire body stiffen from behind him, and it sent a wave of fear through her. Before Chas's mother could muster the words to say,

another set of footsteps were heard, making the floor creak.

"What's going on out here?!" they heard him say in an oddly gruff way.

"Oh, Michael, Chas just got home, and Ariela stopped by to…" she stopped when she saw her husbands' eyebrow furrowed.

"Chas, this isn't the time for guests' right now." he said, his voice low.

"I can just leave these and go." Ariela said, feeling the man's gaze on her. It made her feel even more ill at ease. It wasn't a leer, but more of a

critique, like he was sizing her up.

"No, Air." Chas said firmly but gently, reaching for her arm to reassure her, and if it weren't for that, Ariela would have sprinted out the door.

She knew that she could be counted on to try to defend her friends if they needed it, and perhaps could say things she would feel horrible

about later. Michael looked at him disapprovingly, but sadness also shone in his eyes.

"Dad?" Chas squeaked out with a vulnerability that almost broke Ariela's heart when she heard it. Her heart began to beat harder as her gaze

jumped from face to face, searching for some kind of insight. She swallowed and silently asked the Lord to be with them.

"Chas…I need to talk with you. Now. Alone." Michael said, his jaw tightening. Chas's nostrils, as well as his temper flared at his dad's strange

behavior.

"Why does it have to be now, and why is everyone so fricken' edgy, Dad?"

"Don't start, Chas."

"I'm not the one starting anything, Dad, I think it's you that wants to take me into a room, and talk to me alone. Plus, you suddenly think its ok to

not even greet a guest on Christmas Eve."

"Chas! Don't make this harder than it already is!" his father finally said, giving one more clue, and one more mystery to the scene.

"Harder than what, Dad? I know I wasn't out being some, some… delinquent this week."

"Than what I'm trying to tell you. So please, just come with me." his father said firmly. Chas stiffened and his nostrils were still flared, but he

reluctantly followed his dad into his bedroom. They left Ariela, as his mother still in the entrance, near the kitchen. Ariela sighed, placed her bags

on the floor gently, and wrapped her arms around herself in an effort to shake the foreboding feeling that hung in the room. She looked over to

Karen, who stood with her hand resting on her cheek, her face lined with weariness and pain. Tears were rimming her brown eyes. She looked

over at Ariela absentmindedly and frowned.

"I'm sorry Airy." was all she could manage before swallowing back a lump in her throat.

"Don't be Mrs. Kramer." Ariela whispered back.

----

In his parents' bedroom, Chas sat on the edge of his parent's bed as his father leaned against their dresser drawers. His silence was more

deafening to Chas than any shouting match could be.

"Dad, please…"

"I'm leaving Chas." his father said at last. Chas looked at him with first a look of confusion, which quickly melted away into something that mixed

anger with sadness. His jaw tightened, and his hands clenched into fists.

"So, I'm guessing it's not for a business trip." Chas finally said after a few stunned moments. He couldn't believe it was happening. Could it

really be happening, now, on Christmas Eve of all times? Did his dad cheat? Did his mother have an affair? What the hell happened? "Or is that

what you want to go on now, Dad; a "business trip" with a lovely 20-year old bimbo on your arm!"

"Chas it's not like that. Believe me, I didn't ask for this to happen."

"What exactly did happen, dad? Do you not love mom anymore? Was it something I did? I know I'm not perfect dad, and I've messed s&^t up

plenty of times…" Chas rambled on before his father leaned forward, and grasped him by the shoulders to stop him.

"I'm not happy anymore Chas and nothing you or your mom could do will change that." his father responded with his head down, gazing at the

floor.

"Nothing you or your mom could do…" Chas repeated, his voice low, but still simmering with anger. "…isn't there anything you've tried, Dad? I

can't remember the last time you guys had a fight!"

"Chas, calm down, I don't want this to be harder than it is," his father pleaded as he ran his hand anxiously through his curly hair.

"Then why did you pull this now, on Christmas Eve, Dad?" Chas exclaimed, as his voice cracked on the word "dad".

"Chas, you know how hard it is to fake like you're happy. I can't remember a time when you could do that easily. I don't feel I've found myself or

what…"

"Or What!? What your life would have been without us!?" Chas finished, finally standing up then, his fists clenched. He had been angry at his

father before, but there was never a time he could remember that he actually wanted to punch him.

His father straightened, but didn't recoil. He spoke a few words that Chas barely heard; as his heart was pounding so hard in his ears he could

hardly hear any voice of reason. His father looked at him with sadness his eyes, and shook his head.

"No, Chas, I need to find myself!" his father finally said, his sadness breaking into anger. It made Chas lunge forward, shoving him by the

shoulders against the dresser.

"You were never lost, Dad!" Chas had time to yell before the bedroom door opened suddenly. It was Chas's mom, who quickly separated Chas

from his father. Chas obeyed and left the room, almost running into Ariela in the process. He was surprised to see the alarm in her eyes, as for a

moment he almost forgot that he had indeed had a heated conversation with his father, and pushed him into a piece of furniture. Waves of heat

and cold ran through his body, making him tremble. It wasn't long before his mom and dad emerged from the bedroom, both with their arms

crossed. His mother looked so strange, so weak and quiet. He watched as his father looked over at Ariela, and grimaced. Chas's jaw clenched

as he saw Ariela take a step back.

"What's with the looks, Dad?" Chas asked as he crossed his arms and stood upright.

"Chas don't start again."

"Just please answer me, Dad. Why are you treating my friend like she intentionally intruded on your poorly timed breakdown?"

"It wasn't a poorly timed breakdown, Chas, and I just don't want any more trouble for you."

"Trouble?" Chas could hear Ariela repeat to herself in a whisper. Chas's neck grew hot again. It was one thing to disrespect some of his friends;

they deserved it sometimes, but not her.

"Hey! It's one thing for you to not even greet her, but to treat her, like, like…" Chas sputtered around for words. "…like she's some, some…"

Chas looked in Ariela direction, and saw her standing there, in her fine red dress, with her blond hair done just so. She just wanted to drop off

gifts, and bide time before going to a party. She didn't deserve the cold treatment she was getting now. Just because his father never really got

to know Ariela, didn't mean he had to be such a jackass.

"Like she's the whore that Asian friend of yours turned into," his father retorted boldly. Chas's body trembled so hard that he was scarcely

aware of the hot, angry tears that sprung to his eyes then.

"You have NO right to bring that up, like she's ANYTHING like her!" Chas shouted again. "Its f**&ed up that you would even mention that girl…"

"Chas!" his mother finally pleaded her voice cracking. She then turned to her distraught husband. "Michael, please, Ariela doesn't deserve this."

Ariela stood, silently watching, thinking about the words and phrases said like "whore", "no right", "doesn't deserve it". She knew that his

father was hurting immensely, the whole family was, but on the other hand there was no reason to lash out at her. Anyone who accused her of

being a whore would be quickly shot down. She hadn't even kissed anyone in all her 18 years of life. The comment his father made still stung

strangely in her heart. She wasn't aware that she was crying as she bent down to retrieve the gifts from the floor. She was acting on the urging

to just give the gifts to the family, and quietly walk out. She had mixed feelings about the whole situation, as she felt no one was truly right, or

innocent in the words spoken, and the dreams her new friend having a stable home was crushed. Storms were still raging in Chas's eyes, she

could feel the tension in the air, longing to escape, or be purged altogether. Something had to give. It was a harsh contrast to the holiday's

normal warmth and jovial cheer. She had tried so hard to make Chas feel like the holiday would go fine, despite the family's humble status. At

that thought, she suppressed a lump in her throat. She didn't want the joy to be sucked out of her, or the family's holiday. She fought against

resentment towards Mr. Kramer's actions. How could he be so selfish? She felt a battle within herself, to understand and feel compassion for

them. So she finally picked up the gift bags from the floor. When she looked up, she saw Chas's pretty hazel eyes in front of her looking at her

with concern. It was almost a puppy in the window look. The attention almost took her off guard, and then she felt someone tap her. It was

Karen, who motioned to her face, alluding to her eyes. Ariela reached up subtly, and felt her face was damp from tears, that she was scarcely

aware of before. She took a breath, and looked for Mr. Kramer, who was now sitting in an easy chair by the living room window. She watched

his look of surprise when she walked up to him, and extended a red and green bag, with neatly arranged gold tissue paper to him.

"This is for you, from my family, and I." Ariela said, backing away as he took the bag from her slowly. His eyes weren't exactly jovial, but she

could see his eyes light with a surprise, and a flash of shame at his actions stream across his features. She then turned around, and handed

Mrs. Kramer another bag, and then Chas. His eyes gleamed with unshed tears, and he sighed to suppress those that surfaced when he took

the bag from Ariela's hand. He opened his mouth to speak, but Ariela waved her hand to stop him.

She then promptly turned, retrieved her things off the floor, and exited the apartment. Part of her wanted to leave, and part of her wanted to

stick around, for Chas, and his mother. The hallway's bare interior made the recent events catch up with her, and she choked back a sob. She

had never been good at handling other people's issues. It was so much easier when she was involved in a fight or disagreement, for she could

take responsibility for her part in it. She had no part in this, and her mind was reeling as to find a way to resolve something, or at least enjoy

the rest of her night. It seemed so selfish to leave them like this, but, then again, their problems were none of her business. She felt a wave of

grief spread through her, causing the held back tears in her eyes to finally escape, and flow down her cheeks. Soon she could taste the salt of

her tears on her lips, and wiped her face a bit frantically, and searched for her makeup mirror in her small clutch bag. She found it, and flipped it

open to see that besides the tear trails down her face, her makeup was intact. She wiped away the water trails on her face, and took breathed

deeply to suppress the urge to let tears escape again.

She was interrupted by a door squeaking open, and looked up from her work. It was Chas, just standing in the doorway, looking shell-shocked,

for the lack of a better word. Before either of them could saw a word, Ariela's cell phone rang, playing "O' Holy Night" as it did. She scoffed, and

quickly answered the phone.

"Yes?" she said, trying not to sound like she was on the edge of tears again.

"Air? This is Neela. I was waiting for your call, and when I didn't hear from you, I got worried. You at Chas's place?" her friend said, sounding as

concerned as she had said.

"Yeah, Neel, I just got…" she paused, looking for the right words, while suppressing the lump in her throat that stubbornly wouldn't go away.

"…sidetracked here." Her voice must have cracked, because of what Neela said next.

"Did something happen over there, Air?" Neela asked.

"Umm, well…" Ariela fumbled.

"Oh, blimey, something did happen, didn't it?"

"You could say that." Ariela finally ground out, glancing over at Chas, who was politely waiting for her to be finished.

"Do you still want me to pick you up?" Neela asked. Ariela gave a sad chuckle.

"Yes and no."

"Hmmm, well who says we have to go to some boring party with a bunch of snobby doctors anyway?" Neela asked.

"Hmmm," Ariela said, copying her friend's statement. "Maybe it's because of our wonderful parents who would be sorely disappointed if we

canceled on them, or just didn't show."

"Well, let's see." Neela said, not being satisfied with assuming instead on investigating. Ariela listened a bit nervously as she heard her friend

inquire with someone in the background, her (Neela's) parents she guessed. She tried to make out their words, but they spoke only half the

time in English, and the other in an Indian language she didn't know.

When Neela got back on the phone she told her to play by ear, and if Chas's folks somehow allowed her to stay to be with Chas, they would call

her folks and explain. If they didn't, they would proceed with their previous plan, to go to the party.

"So…" Chas said wearily. Ariela's head snapped up at his voice.

"Well, we were thinking that if your folks don't mind I can…"

"No, No, Air, you didn't let me finish." Chas said, interrupting her with a wave of his hand. She shot him a puzzled look, crossed her arms, and

motioned for him to go on.

"How are you holding up after all that?" he asked.

"I, I'm ok." Ariela said, biting her lip. She wasn't really ok, but she didn't want to add any more drama.

"No, you're not." Chas said with a sigh.

Ariela felt her resistances break, letting her brave face, turn downcast. "So what do we do now?