Chapter Ten : Hiding
Grace rolled her eyes as she noticed the sour look on Crowley's face as he walked along beside her through the wide store aisles. She picked up a box of blueberry poptarts tossing them into the full cart that she was pushing.
She walked forward moving towards the end of the breakfast food section before she stopped staring at the boxes of cereal. She frowned as she looked at the selection of cereals trying to decide between fruit loops or captain crunch.
She silently wondered what kind of breakfast cereal Crowley would be willing to eat, Somehow she pictured him being the type to choose something like Bran Flakes instead of a sugary kids cereal. Actually she pictured him as the type to not even bother with a real breakfast. She had the feeling he started his mornings out with a piece of dry toast and a glass of fine aged liquor and maybe a cigarette or two.
She raised an eyebrow looking over at Crowley as he let out a frustrated sounding sigh. He spoke up asking her the exact same thing he had asked her twice already. "Couldn't we have gone to another store ?"
"No. This place has everything we need. If we just went to a plain grocery store then we would've had to make a bunch of other stops to get everything else we need that isn't groceries." She explained. She was beginning to feel like she was talking to a fussy child instead of an over 300 year old demon.
Crowley frowned not satisfied with her answer. They were standing in a Wal-Mart in some crappy little town in Washington State.
He couldn't believe it, a Wal-Mart of all the places on the planet. He was the King of the Crossroads and the future King of Hell, or he would be King of Hell if they managed to find a way to work things out with this whole apocalypse business. A Walmart...this was so below his standards.
They had arrived in Washington State early this morning. It hadn't taken them long to find a decent cabin that was far up in the middle of the woods and wasn't occupied. He hoped that they would be able to stay in the cabin for a few weeks at least.
The cabin had decent furniture and Crowley had gotten the electricity to work, but the cabin was lacking in quite a few things. Food being the main thing, and blankets, sheets, and pillows, light bulbs, shampoo and soap, dishes and silverware. Not to mention that Crowley couldn't get the heater or the air to work, no matter how much he worked with the unit, it wouldn't come on.
So Grace and he had been forced to go into town and take a little shopping trip.
Honestly Crowley had never really had to shop for Groceries, not really. He usually had staff that he could force to go do his grocery shopping and run his errands. So he had to admit that he was thankful that Grace seemed to know what she was doing.
He stared at her noticing how nervous she seemed.
She was afraid and she was trying to hide it. She was trying so hard to be strong, to act as though she was okay. She looked at everyone around them with such a look of caution. If she dared to look at them at all. And if anyone dared to step too close towards her she subconsciously found herself scooting against Crowley.
Crowley wasn't sure how to help her cope. It wasn't as though she could seek some sort of therapy to help her sort through the trauma that Eli had caused.
She was alone in her fears. He was all she had and he knew it. Crowley just hoped that he was capable of fully taking on her pain.
He had been dealing with demons for so long now. Focusing only on the need for more power. On the act of deception and corruption. He feared that he may not be capable of being as consoling and as loving as she needed him to be.
Affection was a personality trait that he had shoved somewhere deep down inside of him and tried to forget about so long ago. There was no room for affection or kindness when it came to being what he was.
Grace finally settled on fruit loops as Crowley and she moved on to the next aisle. She rolled her eyes when she noticed Crowley giving a little old woman whom had been staring at them a curious look on her face, a dark look. She did her best to counteract Crowley's sour expressions by giving the old woman a polite smile.
Grace knew that Crowley and she were an odd pair in this store, compared to the more casual looking locals. Crowley in his obviously expensive suit and polished leather dress shoes, and her in the dark blue simple sleeveless dress and expensive beige suede flats Crowley had paid that personal shopper to get her back at the hotel in Minnesota.
Not to mention the fact that the lights above them would flicker every once in a while as they moved through the store. She couldn't help but to wonder why demons had such a strange effect on electricity.
Crowley frowned looking down at the cart as he spotted the clothing Grace had chosen to replace the wardrobe she had lost in the fire. He was unimpressed with how cheap her choices had been. Three pairs of dark jeans, plain cotton t-shirts, a few nightgowns, some pajama pants, two camis, a pink cotton zip up jacket, a pair of canvas ked sneakers, a couple of bras, and a bag of cotton panties. Crowley wasn't even aware you could buy a bag of undergarments.
He silently reminded himself to improve the quality of her wardrobe when he had the time to do so. The future queen of hell couldn't be wandering around in three dollar clearance t-shirts and cheap jeans.
Grace gave Crowley a look of confusion as she stared down at two cans of soup. "So I get the sodium free one right ?"
"Yes. No salt Gracie. Just try to buy things that say they are heart healthy or sodium free. Always read the ingredients. A little bit of sodium wont really hurt too much, but you want to avoid things that are clearly loaded with salt...like potato chips." Crowley explained spotting the disappointed look on her face when he mentioned no potato chips.
Grace had always been a junk food lover. She was more than a little annoyed that she could never have things like potato chips, or popcorn, or pretzels, or french fries loaded with salt, ever again.
Crowley reached over for a bag of chocolates as it hit him what was annoying her. He tossed the bag in the grocery cart as he spoke. "You can still have candy."
She couldn't help but to smile at this realization. At least there were still sweets.
Crowley widened his eyes as he noticed that Grace was walking towards the feminine hygiene section.
She rolled her eyes as she spotted the look on his face. She spoke up completely mortified that she was having to have this conversation with him. "I don't know if I can still get my...monthly visitor. I mean everything else in my body still works so..."
She paused for a moment feeling so awkward about having to explain this to him. Demon or not Crowley was still a male and he was having the same reaction most men had when they were forced to think about a woman's time of the month.
She frowned wanting to end this one-sided conversation quickly as she spoke up again. "I refuse to be stuck hiding out in some cabin or abandoned house without any tampons. So deal with it, okay."
Crowley frowned reluctantly following her down the aisle. He shoved his hands into the pockets of his coat as he tried to avoid watching her pick up a box of tampons. He was tempted to take his flask out and take a swig of craig.
He couldn't help but to hope that this shopping trip would be over soon.
Grace sat up in the dimly lit bedroom unable to fall asleep. She pulled the soft black comforter that Crowley and she had purchased today, up around her body as she tried to keep warm.
The small space heater that they had bought wasn't quite heating the room up enough for her.
She glanced over at the floor-lamp beside the bed frowning as the light bulb flickered.
She could admit that she felt so pathetic needing a light on to sleep, being so frightened of the dark.
The dark made her think of what it felt like to be stuck in that box that Eli had forced into every night at that factory.
She couldn't even sit in a dark room during the day without going into a full on panic attack.
Grace laid back on the bed not helping but to scoot closer to Crowley. Her slight movement caused him to wake up. He murmured against the pillow that he had his face pressed against. "What time is it?"
"Late." She responded her voice barely above a whisper.
He moved his face away from the pillow as he stared at the exhausted woman beside him. "Why aren't you asleep ? You cannot keep forcing yourself to stay awake all night Gracie."
She let out a sigh as she spoke up reluctant to tell him the reason. "Nightmares."
He reached out gently caressing the side of her face before he moved his hand down her body resting it against her side. "Do you want to talk about it darling ?"
She swallowed the lump that was beginning to form in the back of her throat as she spoke. "What's there to talk about. It's just the same thing over and over again...being back in that factory..the torture...the fear...It all feels so real. I'm always afraid I'm going to wake up in the morning and find out that I'm not safe, that I'm back at the factory."
She paused shaking her head. "It isn't like I can get help to deal with all of this...I mean I can't just go see a shrink. What would I tell them ? That I was kidnapped and tortured by some sick fuck of a demon...I mean telling someone that... that's the kind of stuff that gets you locked up in a mental hospital...I just don't know what to do anymore."
She paused again as her eyes began to water. "I'm scared...I mean I was scared before...having to take on all of this, but it's worst now. Now I know how bad the pain will be if we get caught. We can't hide forever Crowley. We have to find a way to stop the end...the world can't end."
Crowley frowned as he realized he had no idea what he could say to make any of this better. There was nothing he could say to really truly soothe her and he knew it.
He reached over wiping the tears from her eyes as he spoke up wanting to say anything to make her feel better. "How about...you can write a letter to your family...tell them that you're okay, let them know not to worry about you."
"What am I going to tell them huh ? That I sold my soul to you to save Holly from dying...that I have to be queen of hell...and that's only if the world doesn't end. Oh yeah that will go over well. I'm sure it'll make things just peachy for my family." She spat out sounding harsher than she meant to.
How was she supposed to write her mother a letter and explain everything that had happened to her, without just making things worse. Her mother wouldn't even believe the truth. It would just make everything way worse than it already was.
Crowley let out a sigh knowing that she had the right to be angry with him. He deserved all the rage and bitterness she had to throw his way.
He sighed as an idea suddenly entered his mind. Something that may help ease her pain. Though it was risky. And it was something he would of never dreamed of letting her even try to attempt until now.
He was desperate though for anything that he may be able to give her. Anything to give her comfort.
He spoke up hoping that this suggestion would bring her some joy. "Tell your mum and your sister a story...not a complete lie..just a story to make them feel better. Say that you met me in Atlanta...that we fell in love and decided to elope...tell them that we're moving to Scotland...say I'm in sells, you don't have to go into too much detail, just say that you're okay."
He paused for a moment before speaking again. "We can even take a picture of the two of us together. Let her see that you're fine."
She bit her bottom lip knowing that he had a point and it was a good lie. It would explain her disappearance. Her mother would be upset with her but the lie would answer all her questions.
"Okay." She gave in to him. He was right, and it would make her feel a little better. Knowing that her family would have answers about why she had suddenly disappeared without a word. Even if it wasn't the truth at least it would comfort them.
She spoke up again. "Thanks...I mean for letting me do this. I just don't want them to worry...and I can never see them again...I just want them to stay safe."
Crowley frowned realizing that she was about to start crying even more than she had already been. He leaned over pressing a kiss to her lips hoping that he could distract her from her sorrow and her worries.
He moved his kisses to the side of her neck as she reached over running a hand through his short hair. He moved his kisses down to the area where her neck met her shoulder not helping but to move over on top of her. He ran his hands down her sides resting them against her thighs. He pulled her legs up letting them wrap around him as he pressed against her. He began to nibble along the side of her neck as he started to rock his hips against hers.
She wrapped her arms around his waist as she let out a sharp gasp a little overwhelmed by the friction that their hips were slowly building up. He smirked against her neck happy to hear the pleased little sounds she was making. He couldn't help but to let a low groan out as she began to grind her hips against his with just as much enthusiasm.
He felt her tense up as he moved his hands up her sides pushing her tank top up and almost completely off. He pulled away from her neck giving her a questioning look.
She spoke up beginning to ramble as she tried to ignore the fact that her body was practically aching for him. "I'm not ready...I mean not right now...I just want the first time...I...or, we...are together, I want it to be when I'm not such a mess...I just..."
He nodded his head he spoke up interrupting her as he tried to put a stop her frantic rambling. "Okay. I understand love."
He reluctantly moved off of her settling down in the bed beside her. He opened his arms pulling her against him trying to hold her in a protective embrace and ignore his need for her.
She spoke up her voice small and worried. "You aren't upset with me ?"
"Of course not darling. I already told you that I'm not going to force you into something you aren't ready for and I meant it." He reassured her.
She nodded her head not saying anything in response as her eyes began to grow heavy. She felt herself slip into a deep and hopefully nightmare free sleep.
Grace settled against Crowley as tilted the disposable camera up. She spoke up scolding him a tiny bit. "Could you please at least smile like you mean it."
"How else am I supposed to smile darling ?" He asked frustrating her even more.
She shook her head handing him the camera. "Like you aren't forcing a smile. Here you hold it your arm is longer than mine. I don't think I'm getting both of us in the shot. I wish I had a digital camera, so I could at least see the pictures after I take them."
He rolled his eyes hearing this. He thought about telling her that he lived for years without the existence of a camera even being a thought, but he was sure telling her that would just annoy her more. And as much as he usually enjoyed annoying her, she was under enough stress as it was.
He pulled her closer to him wrapping an arm around her waist as she rested her head against his chest. He held the camera up with his free hand hoping that they were both in the shot.
He smiled trying to look like he was actually enjoying himself being forced to sit through this photo session, as he took the picture.
She huffed as he lowered the camera. They had spent the past two hours trying to take some pictures that Grace felt were good enough to send to her family.
She had already written the note that was going to be sent to her mother and sister. She had done her best to tell an elaborate story about how she had met Crowley in Atlanta and fallen madly in love with him. Tried to explain how she had eloped with him. How they were planning to move to Scotland . How Crowley worked in sells. How he owned his own business. How he was going to take care of her. How she had never been so happy. How they had to live in Scotland permanently to care for Crowley's aging aunt. How they couldn't visit because his aunt was so gravely ill that she needed them. How she would try to keep in contact. How her mother and sister shouldn't worry.
She just hoped that she sounded sincere in the letter and most importantly truthful. She had always been such a rotten liar. She couldn't tell the truth though, the truth sounded like a lie, a completely insane lie.
After taking a few more pictures the couple made their way to town, or actually Crowley teleported them to town.
Grace was still so annoyed with his little habit of teleporting them all over creation without giving her some sort of warning before he did it.
He was planning on teaching her how to teleport herself, it was an important skill to learn. He had been slowly trying to teach her how to adjust to her new life, trying to teach her the ins and outs of being a demon.
She was a decent student though she did have a hard time remembering every single detail of what he was trying to teach her. And details were very important. Details were what would keep her alive. Crowley was beginning to wonder if he should start forcing her to take notes.
Grace and Crowley left the photo place holding a plastic bag of their developed pictures. Grace could admit the pictures looked pretty good, she couldn't help but to be tempted to keep one of two of the photos for herself.
The realization that she wouldn't mind having a picture of the two of them together surprised her. Then again most of the emotions that she felt towards Crowley surprised her. She found herself honestly adoring him and needing him, even though most of the time he drove her insane. She knew that Crowley knew how to push her buttons and he enjoyed it.
She just hoped that her mother and sister wouldn't notice the fact that Crowley and she weren't wearing wedding rings in the two photos they had decided to send along with the letter.
Grace frowned as Crowley placed a firm hand on her upper arm and spoke up his voice low and cautious. "Demons up ahead. Two of them"
She looked at the couple that he was nodding towards, a couple of teenagers. One dark-haired tall muscular boy wearing a letter jacket, a t-shirt, jeans, and Nike running shoes, and a blonde thin girl in a knee-length casual dress, and knee-high flat boots. They looked so normal.
At least the demons hadn't spotted them yet, and Crowley knew that they needed to keep it that way.
Crowley snapped his fingers causing he and Grace to appear back in the living room of the cabin. He looked around the room at the home they had made for themselves here knowing that they couldn't stay any longer.
At least they wouldn't have to pack, he could cause all of their belonging to appear in their new hideout as soon as they found one, with just a simple snap of his fingers.
He grabbed the letter meant for Grace's mother and sister knowing that they didn't need the wrong person to get a hold of it considering it had her mother's address on the envelope.
Grace gave him a clearly worried look as he spoke up. "Let's go."