Hours later she still found herself skulking around town. Her clothes were damp from snow and she was certain her nose was on the verge of being frost bitten. As the sun sank she made her way to the nearest park. It was the first time since leaving the library that she'd had a destination.

A little girl in a pink coat ran past her from the direction of the playground. She tripped over her clunky snow boots and fell face first into the snow. Grace rushed forward a few paces and helped the girl to her knees.

"Are you okay?" Grace asked, brushing the snow from the girl's red face.

"Yeah," The girl said in a tight voice. It was clear she was trying not to cry.

"Good," Grace replied with a genuine smile and helped her the rest of the way to her feet. The girl took off again in the direction she'd been going. Once reaching her mother she turned back and waved at Grace.

"Thank you!" She called.

"You're welcome," Grace waved back before continuing on her way. The smile lingered on her lips for a moment before fading as the bitterness rushed back into her heart. Any occasion when she got to help a stranger was a little spark of light in the darkness, but those pinpricks weren't enough to convince her she should keep living this life.

She settled herself on a bench, finding no more comfort in sitting than she had in standing. Her eyes lingered on the setting sun, finding little beauty in the colors streaking across the sky. So, instead, she watched the trees, bare and unmoving. Their darkness against the fading light was more comforting.

"Hello, love," The voice came from behind her the second the sun had dipped below the horizon and the sky had darkened to night. Grace stood from the bench and turned around. Standing a few feet away was the crossroads demon, the King of Hell.

"Sorry to keep you waiting. I ran into some unexpected business with the Winchesters," He brushed a bit of snow off his shoulder as he approached. Something about his voice had set Grace's heart alight. It was just like his smile, dangerous and laid back at the same time.

"Sit, please. Don't stand on my account," He said, waving a hand at her as he was suddenly standing right next to her. She sat, eyes still trailing on him. As he walked past her the wind caught his scent and suddenly she was filled with it. His cologne was rich and musky and, for being as on edge as she was, made her want to grab his coat, sink her face into it, and sleep forever.

"Sam and Dean, they were looking for you." Grace wasn't sure why she said it. It was the first thing that came to mind when the demon sat next to her. He was so close she could feel the impossible warmth radiating off his body.

"Ah, so you're acquainted," Grace could hear the irritation ebbing into his voice.

"Barely," Grace said, shaking her head as she stared at her gloved hands.

They were silent for a moment, staring at the scenery. Grace wasn't sure what was supposed to happen now. She hadn't even been certain Crowley was going to find her or what would happen when he did. Maybe he would kill her, drag her to hell, strike a deal. It didn't matter much to her what happened as long as something happened. She couldn't continue living in this purposeless monotony.

"Tell me, love. Do you know who I am?" Grace could feel his eyes boring into her, but she didn't look at him.

"Crowley; a crossroads demon, the King of Hell," Grace responded, the words feeling unreal as they rolled off her tongue.

"Very good. And do you know what it is crossroads demon's do?" He spoke to her as if she were a child, which she didn't appreciate. She didn't care that he was likely hundreds or even thousands of years older than her. She was no child. She wasn't sure she ever really had been.

Finally, she found the courage to look up at him. He stared at her with the same blank expression all the other demons had, but there was something different in his currently human eyes. Still, there was no warning there, just curiosity and intelligence, like he expected her to do something spectacular.