Author's Note: I want to thank anyone who reads and reviews, but especially squidgy78, who has reviewed on every chapter. Thank you! And thank you to all who read. I hope you enjoy. Love you guys bunches.
Closing his eyes, Crowley sighs and states, "Hello, Kira. Nice to see you again as always. Now, like usual you are sticking your nose in things that absolutely none of your business, so if you could kindly go I have business to take care of."
Kira laughs. Her teal eyes are filled with vengeance. "Crowley, Crowley, Crowley, I do believe that you know that things won't be that simple. Who do you think you are? I mean really-"she replies, but gets cut off by Crowley snapping his fingers to pin her against the bleak office wall.
"NOW, let's get one thing straight. I make the rules, and you better bloody follow them! You are a mere human. I AM THE KING OF HELL! Now, I'll take this gun, and you get out of here before I send my little acquaintance, Haillie, to eat you!" Crowley yells at Kira. Her black hair flies back as she falls to the ground. Easily, Crowley picks up the Colt and stores it in his safe. He watches grinning as Kira scuttles out of the door.
"Daddy!" Haillie pleads tugging on Crowley's suit pants. "Juice! Juice!" Haillie whines still holding Crowley's leg. He submissively picks her up and carries her into the kitchen. His eyes scour the cabinets and fridge looking for something, but he finds nothing for a little girl. Finally, his eyes spot a box of cereal on the counter.
Crowley places Haillie on the faux leather sofa, and he hands her a plastic plate. Carefully, he shakes the box making the round oats fall onto the plate. Crowley sighs with relief and plops onto the couch beside of her. Haillie joyfully begins to eat.
"Could my life get any more stressful? I am watching a child, I almost got shot, and my cat is magically back from the grave. Sometimes, I wish I could just disappear," Crowley murmurs to himself as he flicks on the television to a children's channel. Crowley then responds to himself, "Yeah it can because now I am watching a talking sponge."
Haillie stares intently at the television, understanding only bits and pieces. Crowley watches as she grins every once and a while when one of the characters would fall down or do something stupid. "Daddy," she whispers and crawls up into Crowley's lap.
"Haillie, I'm not your father. Please –"Crowley starts to fight, but he gives up on trying to get through to the bright eyed little girl. He begins to stroke her shoulder length blonde hair. Quickly, Haillie falls into a deep sleep on Crowley's lap. He smiles at her. "Goodnight, Haillie. Sleep well," Crowley whispers to her as he places her on the couch beside of him.
Crowley stands up and secures Haillie's position with groups of pillows to ensure her safety. As he starts to wash Haillie's plates old memories drift into his head. They captivate him.
"Sara, we can never have kids. You know what I am. They would be like me and like you, and that situation is very dangerous. I can't do that. I am evil, Sara, don't you realize this?" Crowley had argued.
Sara stood there with tears in her eyes and retorted, "Crowley, I've seen a side of you that is nice and caring! You aren't all evil! There is a shell that you put up because you have to for what you do! You've told me you hate being a demon! You admitted that you wish-"
Crowley cut her off, "I lie! That's what I do! Now, I wish you can understand that because I love you! Sara, I love you more than anyone I have ever loved before, but I have slaughtered whole nurseries to make a point! There is a side of me that you deny!"
"Crowley," Sara said calmly, "there is a side of yourself that you deny. The side that loves. A side that cares what other people do. Crowley, there is a side of you that feels like I do."
As he blinks, Crowley comes back into reality. He quickly shuts off the water and laces the dish on the drying rack. Without another thought, Crowley pours himself a drink into his favorite glass and gulps it down. For now it'll numb the pain.
Under the sunlight the room is filled with sparkle from the chandelier. "She must feel like she's in a princess's castle right now," Crowley states smiling. With a snap of his fingers the television turns off. "Maybe, I can- no, Crowley, pull yourself together. You are the King of Hell. You are mighty and will not fall for a child's cuteness," he must tell himself in order to not think of Haillie as anything more than a bargaining chip.
Before he knows it, Crowley is asleep in his chair. He is awakened by a tugging on his leg. As he blinks his eyes open it is dark, and Haillie is gabbing for him. Slowly, he picks her up. "Daddy," she says scared.
"Haillie, don't be scared it's okay," Crowley reassures the little girl in his arms. She snuggles into him. Her arms are freezing like it's the middle of winter. With Haillie in one arm he slides off his jacket and places it over her. It covers her whole little body.
He watches as she grins. Crowley snaps his fingers and a white teddy bear with a red bow on its neck appears in his hands. "Teddy!" Haillie squeals in excitement. Crowley makes it look like it walks in the air over to her.
Crowley horribly ventriloquizes, "Hi, Haillie. I'm Teddy. I want to be your friend. The house might be dark, but there is nothing to fear. Teddy is here to save the day!" Crowley makes it swoop down into her arms. She grabs it and squeezes it tight.
Suddenly, Crowley remembers to check the time. Looking at his watch he realizes they have exceeded twelve and no one is here. In a panic, Crowley dials the number. As soon as no one picks up, Crowley realizes the truth: Mrs. St. John didn't make it, and now, he has a baby to figure out what to do with. The phone clatters on the floor.