The song here is "Penholder" by Flyleaf
Penholder
Crowley opened the door to his office and found Nikolai placing documents into empty spaces on the bookshelves. Once he slammed the door shut, not taking his eyes off of the Knight, Nikolai grinned and turned to meet his cold eyes.
"Hi, boss." He said and replaced his grin with a smile.
"Just what are you doing?" Crowley asked, but before Nikolai could answer, the door opened and Crowley could sense both of their essences. "Were you aware of this?" he asked and when she wrapped her arms around his, he glanced at her and met her beautiful eyes and that dark smile.
"Yes." Clara replied and remained silent for a couple of seconds. "We have to talk." She added and Crowley knew there was something she was doing other than resting. He searched her eyes and could tell that it bothered her, but not to an alarming point. Still, the fact that she didn't come to him immediately concerned him. What would she keep from him?
Even though he could tell she was now going to tell him everything, he couldn't understand why she kept whatever this is from him. He never thought she would.
Clara glanced at Nikolai and cleared her throat. He met her eyes and looked clueless. An act, of course.
"You told me to clean up." He said and she titled her head as Ginger, next to her, let out a soft growl. "I'll come back." he said, sounding defeated and left the office.
When Clara returned her gaze to Crowley, she grinned at his unimpressed expression.
"What's going on?" he asked her. "Why not tell me sooner?" he asked and couldn't contain his anger within. It rose to the surface and burned in his eyes. Clara smiled sweetly at him and although he was enraged that his pregnant Queen wasn't resting and was keeping something from him, he couldn't maintain that rage against her. Not with those eyes and that smile.
"Viviane Cromwell's deal is invalid." She said and he arched an eyebrow as she turned and walked towards his desk, sitting at the corner, waiting for him to take his seat. Once he did, he maintained that arched eyebrow and she continued.
"Zephyr has abused her deals. When Viviane asked to have her daughter back, Zephyr made the deal, knowing that Anne was already alive. It was Ezekiel who resurrected her." she said and grinned as Crowley chuckled darkly. She didn't quite understand why, but was about to continue, until he lifted up his hand, as if telling her to stop.
He knew she didn't get the irony, so he would gladly explain it to her. It was too good to not share.
"Gadreel was passing himself off as Ezekiel until Castiel spilled the beans, tore off the mask." Crowley said, chuckling darkly one last time. Clara smirked, but continued. It was ironic alright, but she had more important things to talk about.
"Zephyr ripped off many and Viviane is her only client untouched by Hell." She said and after a couple of seconds, Crowley understood what she was telling him.
"Well, we burn her contracts; get rid of any evidence before her recruits find out." Crowley said and narrowed his eyes, his powerful Kingly aura glowing. "Nikolai and Nerilla know?" he asked her. Clara nodded her head. "You certain we can trust her?" he asked her and she titled her head at him with a smirk.
"Nerilla is loyal." She replied.
"To you." He said, his eyes sharp and his tone cold. Clara let out a soft laugh and stroked his face. She loved it when he showed he was less than pleased. He was so handsome.
"She wouldn't betray you because that means betraying me." she said and he took her hand, bringing it to his lips. When he met her eyes, he could tell she wasn't finished just yet. There was something more.
He placed a quick kiss and released her hand.
"What else?" he asked her.
"I've spoken with Viviane and, as it turns out, we're related." She said and Crowley stared at her, expression blank and difficult to read. However, she knew he was thinking it over. "My grandmother was her great grandmother's sister." She added and only then did Crowley arch an eyebrow.
"Did not see that coming." He said and she grinned, getting to her feet and as Crowley pushed his chair back, she sat on his lap and wrapped her arms around his neck.
"Also," Clara began and there was a slight growl in Crowley's throat.
"You kept three important smidgens of information from me?" he asked and she smiled sweetly, knowing that he was angry. However, he let it go and waited for her to tell him.
"I have to honor two wishes; one from Viviane and one from my grandmother." She said and she watched the darkness brew in his eyes. He was very unhappy about this. "Nothing can happen to Viviane and Anne, at least from Hell. Then, I have to release my mother." She said and any anger that Crowley showed vanished.
He was silent for a couple of seconds, but he stroked her cheek and pushed her hair back: it had now grown passed her shoulders a little. His hand grazed her neck and then her shoulder, now going to her shoulder blade, then following her spine, resting in the small of her back. His warmth in her back made her want to melt in his arms.
"You're Queen. You don't have to honor anything if that is what you choose." He said and she kissed his temple and combed her fingers through his hair.
"Yes, I do." she said softly, as if she was drifting off to sleep. "Nevertheless, I trust you'll do what you do best: turn the tables and get something in return." She added and when he rubbed her legs, he could sense she was tired. "It's what I want to do. Just, not at the moment." She concluded, sounding exhausted.
"Well, enough excitement for one day." He said and slipped his arms under her, lifted her and holding her tightly against him. She let out a tired little laugh and tightened her arms around his neck.
"Will you stay with me?" she asked him.
"Of course." He replied and carried her out of the office with Ginger trotting behind him.