[fic] One Christmas Eve
Title: One Christmas Eve.
Characters: Cassie Riddle, Castiel [sitherequietly], Robin, Kate and Elizabeth (Cassie's children). Also mentions of Cassie's friends and some people both Cassie and Cas know in Chicago.
Notes: Fifteen years since Cassie first came to Chicago, she's married and now has a family of her own. She's lost most of her friends that she knew in her first few years, but Castiel's still there. And one Christmas, she invites him to stay.
Word Count: 1531.
Prompt: Inspired by ' Birthday Party' written by Emily.
Sometimes, it still surprises Cassie how long she’s managed to survive in Chicago. She was twenty two when she first fell through the Rift, a scared little girl compared to how she is today. Next January she’s going to be thirty-seven, which these days, is the only thing that’s scaring her. She no longer lives in Kashtta, but in a house. She married when she was twenty seven and now finds herself as a mother to three children. They’re her source of stability in her life, as well as her students at Looney High of course. Sadly, over the last few years, she’s found her friends and family of the Wanderer and Supernatural communities are slowly beginning to disappear on her.
Spencer disappeared a long time ago. She cried for a full week afterwards. She’d loved him, she still loves him now - she never got the chance to say goodbye. And that hurt more than anything. Mio’s no longer around either, but when you work in Torchwood, what else could you expect? She lasted longer than most, though. She died two years ago. David and Anne left Chicago almost ten years ago. She hears from then every now and then, but she still misses them.
Martha was still around, though. There was no bringing her down. Every day she’d continue to fight for Wanderer rights, often taking trips around the world. She was famous, a spokesperson for an entire group of people. John was still going about down at the Crowbar too, Cassie would often visit when she had the chance. And even when she had her children with her, he didn’t mind in the slightest when they asked for piggyback rides. Saul was still here, but Cassie rarely saw him. As much as she tried to help, he struggled with balancing his rat side with his humanity and sometimes he would disappear for weeks, even months at a time. He came round for her youngest daughter’s birthday, but that had been three months ago.
Castiel was probably the most constant out of all her friends. He visited frequently, which went down well with her children as they laughed at the serious looks he still often had and his inability to say no to whatever games they could come up with. That Christmas, Cassie had offered him to stay. It was one of the years where Sam and Dean weren’t around. Sometimes there were there, sometimes they weren’t. She found it strange how they always seemed to fall through all the time and it was often frustrating that with each Sam and Dean that would fall through, they wouldn’t remember her any more. Still, they were there for Cas, which was the main thing. And even if they weren’t here right now, she guessed they’d be back again by the time spring would come around again.
Robin, her eldest - a skinny nine year old that often reminded him of a young version of Sam, spotted him first when Castiel appeared in their front room on Christmas Eve. “Mom! Cas is here!” he shouted up the stairs, turning round in his seat, leaving his videogame for a moment, “’sup, Cas. Merry Christmas,”
“Merry Christmas, Robin,”
Any further interaction with the boy was cut short. There was a scream of delight followed by the sound of furious feet running in the hallway. A girl of around six threw herself at the angel and wrapped herself tightly around his leg. He looked down curiously at the small girl to find her wearing a white dress, a headband of gold tinsel around her head that seemed to push her dark curls up at odd angels and two small cardboard wings painted silver fastened to her back with string.
“What are you supposed to be?” he asked.
“I’m Gabriel!” Kate told him brightly, flashing him a row of tiny white teeth as she smiled.
“Gabriel is not a small girl, though,” he said rather bluntly.
“See, I know that and that’s what I tried to tell them! But none of the boys wanted to play him! They said angels are for girls,”
“… Oh,”
“Don’t worry, Cas!” Kate added brightly, “I told them to get lost because you’re a boy and you’re an angel and a really strong one and stuff,”
“Well, thank you,” he’s not sure what else to say to that really, but he’s thankful that the young girl stuck up for him in front of her peers.
Cassie finally appeared a few moments later, her youngest child Elizabeth balanced carefully on her hip. Castiel always noted just how much she looked like her mother that one time she was turned into a child for the week. She clung to her mother, sleepily sucking on her knuckle.
“’ello, stranger!” she gave him a careful side hug, having to avoid knocking into and possibly hurting two small children, “Merry Christmas,”
“Merry Christmas, Cassie. You look well,” he tilted his head to look at the little girl in her arms, a small smile on his lips, “Hello, Elizabeth,”
The girl smiled from behind her knuckle, but shyly nuzzled herself into her mother’s shoulder and said nothing. Cassie tilted her head to the side and raised her eyebrows slightly.
“Hey, what’s the matter? Not gonna say ‘hi’ to Cas?” she asked her. “Eh?”
The girl let out a muffled ‘hello’ and buried her face again.
“I think Lili-bit’s still a little sleepy, she gets shy when she’s tired,” Cassie explained to him, “Got all tired watching your big sister in the play today, didn’t you?”
The girl smiled again and nodded.
--
They spent the most part of the afternoon preparing for the next day and as they evening drew in, they started baking. Well, all five of them managed at first. But Robin soon got bored and wanted to go back to his video games and Kate got distracted and left with a bowl of gingerbread mixture to sit and watch her brother.
“Mom,” Elizabeth whispered to her mother as they began decorating. She waved her hand, motioning for her to come closer.
“What?” Cassie whispered back.
The girl pointed to two carefully decorated biscuits. “The red and green one’s for Daddy and the blue and yellow one’s for Cas. Okay?”
“Oh, okay,” Cassie nodded in understanding, “Want me to tell him now?”
“Not yet, it’ll be a surprise,”
Castiel pretended he hadn’t heard her, looking down and smiling quietly to himself.
--
Just before Cassie put her children to bed, they spent the later part of the evening wrapping gifts for others they would see over the holiday period. Robin had gone next door to play with a friend whilst the two girls remained home. Elizabeth sat on Castiel’s knee, talking excitedly about all the things she’d asked for Christmas. Kate decided it would be a good idea to try and wrap his leg up in wrapping paper. Cassie had told her off, but he didn’t mind, he was confused as to why the elder girl had decided to do it, but he allowed her if it amused her.
Althought content with the evening, he found himself feel tired for the first time ever in his existence. Angels didn’t feel tired, but he couldn’t help but feel weary.
Elizabeth looked at him with concern before gently prodding his face, “You okay?”
He nodded, but the girl still looked worried. “You need a nap?”
Kate looked up, tilting her head quizzically before attempting to climb up into his knee. “Moooom, Cas needs a nap!” she declared.
Cassie turned her head and frowned slightly, “Cas? You alright?”
“I feel tired,”
“But I thought…” she was confused, she knew he didn’t sleep. Hearing he was tired surprised her.
“I can make up the bed in the guest room if you want to lie down,” her husband offered.
Castiel didn’t want to be a bother, but he felt the need to lie down. “Thank you,”
“Girls, get off him. Please? Go help your Dad,”
Whining and pouting, they reluctantly agreed. When they were alone, Cassie looked at her friend, still confused. “Is there something the matter?” she asked him. “You don’t get tired, I know that. But…”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shake of his head, “Sometimes I don’t feel right,”
“What do you mean?”
“My abilities seem to be losing their power. I can’t really say what exactly, I’m not sure. Sometimes it takes more effort to kill monsters or to heal others,” he confessed, frowning to himself.
“Is that the Rift’s doing?” Cassie asked him.
“I’m not sure,” he answered, “Perhaps my ties with Heaven in my own world are beginning to weaken,”
There was a short silence as Cassie processed that last sentence. She felt wary, what would happen to him if he lost his abilities? Essentially, he would be human, right? She wasn’t sure and the uncertainty made her worry for him. Getting up, she sat down on the arm of his chair and hugged him gently.
“It’ll be alright, Cas,” she told him, “I’m sure of it,”
As he hugged her back, awkwardly, although he did try, he hoped she was right.
Characters: Cassie Riddle, Castiel [sitherequietly], Robin, Kate and Elizabeth (Cassie's children). Also mentions of Cassie's friends and some people both Cassie and Cas know in Chicago.
Notes: Fifteen years since Cassie first came to Chicago, she's married and now has a family of her own. She's lost most of her friends that she knew in her first few years, but Castiel's still there. And one Christmas, she invites him to stay.
Word Count: 1531.
Prompt: Inspired by ' Birthday Party' written by Emily.
Sometimes, it still surprises Cassie how long she’s managed to survive in Chicago. She was twenty two when she first fell through the Rift, a scared little girl compared to how she is today. Next January she’s going to be thirty-seven, which these days, is the only thing that’s scaring her. She no longer lives in Kashtta, but in a house. She married when she was twenty seven and now finds herself as a mother to three children. They’re her source of stability in her life, as well as her students at Looney High of course. Sadly, over the last few years, she’s found her friends and family of the Wanderer and Supernatural communities are slowly beginning to disappear on her.
Spencer disappeared a long time ago. She cried for a full week afterwards. She’d loved him, she still loves him now - she never got the chance to say goodbye. And that hurt more than anything. Mio’s no longer around either, but when you work in Torchwood, what else could you expect? She lasted longer than most, though. She died two years ago. David and Anne left Chicago almost ten years ago. She hears from then every now and then, but she still misses them.
Martha was still around, though. There was no bringing her down. Every day she’d continue to fight for Wanderer rights, often taking trips around the world. She was famous, a spokesperson for an entire group of people. John was still going about down at the Crowbar too, Cassie would often visit when she had the chance. And even when she had her children with her, he didn’t mind in the slightest when they asked for piggyback rides. Saul was still here, but Cassie rarely saw him. As much as she tried to help, he struggled with balancing his rat side with his humanity and sometimes he would disappear for weeks, even months at a time. He came round for her youngest daughter’s birthday, but that had been three months ago.
Castiel was probably the most constant out of all her friends. He visited frequently, which went down well with her children as they laughed at the serious looks he still often had and his inability to say no to whatever games they could come up with. That Christmas, Cassie had offered him to stay. It was one of the years where Sam and Dean weren’t around. Sometimes there were there, sometimes they weren’t. She found it strange how they always seemed to fall through all the time and it was often frustrating that with each Sam and Dean that would fall through, they wouldn’t remember her any more. Still, they were there for Cas, which was the main thing. And even if they weren’t here right now, she guessed they’d be back again by the time spring would come around again.
Robin, her eldest - a skinny nine year old that often reminded him of a young version of Sam, spotted him first when Castiel appeared in their front room on Christmas Eve. “Mom! Cas is here!” he shouted up the stairs, turning round in his seat, leaving his videogame for a moment, “’sup, Cas. Merry Christmas,”
“Merry Christmas, Robin,”
Any further interaction with the boy was cut short. There was a scream of delight followed by the sound of furious feet running in the hallway. A girl of around six threw herself at the angel and wrapped herself tightly around his leg. He looked down curiously at the small girl to find her wearing a white dress, a headband of gold tinsel around her head that seemed to push her dark curls up at odd angels and two small cardboard wings painted silver fastened to her back with string.
“What are you supposed to be?” he asked.
“I’m Gabriel!” Kate told him brightly, flashing him a row of tiny white teeth as she smiled.
“Gabriel is not a small girl, though,” he said rather bluntly.
“See, I know that and that’s what I tried to tell them! But none of the boys wanted to play him! They said angels are for girls,”
“… Oh,”
“Don’t worry, Cas!” Kate added brightly, “I told them to get lost because you’re a boy and you’re an angel and a really strong one and stuff,”
“Well, thank you,” he’s not sure what else to say to that really, but he’s thankful that the young girl stuck up for him in front of her peers.
Cassie finally appeared a few moments later, her youngest child Elizabeth balanced carefully on her hip. Castiel always noted just how much she looked like her mother that one time she was turned into a child for the week. She clung to her mother, sleepily sucking on her knuckle.
“’ello, stranger!” she gave him a careful side hug, having to avoid knocking into and possibly hurting two small children, “Merry Christmas,”
“Merry Christmas, Cassie. You look well,” he tilted his head to look at the little girl in her arms, a small smile on his lips, “Hello, Elizabeth,”
The girl smiled from behind her knuckle, but shyly nuzzled herself into her mother’s shoulder and said nothing. Cassie tilted her head to the side and raised her eyebrows slightly.
“Hey, what’s the matter? Not gonna say ‘hi’ to Cas?” she asked her. “Eh?”
The girl let out a muffled ‘hello’ and buried her face again.
“I think Lili-bit’s still a little sleepy, she gets shy when she’s tired,” Cassie explained to him, “Got all tired watching your big sister in the play today, didn’t you?”
The girl smiled again and nodded.
--
They spent the most part of the afternoon preparing for the next day and as they evening drew in, they started baking. Well, all five of them managed at first. But Robin soon got bored and wanted to go back to his video games and Kate got distracted and left with a bowl of gingerbread mixture to sit and watch her brother.
“Mom,” Elizabeth whispered to her mother as they began decorating. She waved her hand, motioning for her to come closer.
“What?” Cassie whispered back.
The girl pointed to two carefully decorated biscuits. “The red and green one’s for Daddy and the blue and yellow one’s for Cas. Okay?”
“Oh, okay,” Cassie nodded in understanding, “Want me to tell him now?”
“Not yet, it’ll be a surprise,”
Castiel pretended he hadn’t heard her, looking down and smiling quietly to himself.
--
Just before Cassie put her children to bed, they spent the later part of the evening wrapping gifts for others they would see over the holiday period. Robin had gone next door to play with a friend whilst the two girls remained home. Elizabeth sat on Castiel’s knee, talking excitedly about all the things she’d asked for Christmas. Kate decided it would be a good idea to try and wrap his leg up in wrapping paper. Cassie had told her off, but he didn’t mind, he was confused as to why the elder girl had decided to do it, but he allowed her if it amused her.
Althought content with the evening, he found himself feel tired for the first time ever in his existence. Angels didn’t feel tired, but he couldn’t help but feel weary.
Elizabeth looked at him with concern before gently prodding his face, “You okay?”
He nodded, but the girl still looked worried. “You need a nap?”
Kate looked up, tilting her head quizzically before attempting to climb up into his knee. “Moooom, Cas needs a nap!” she declared.
Cassie turned her head and frowned slightly, “Cas? You alright?”
“I feel tired,”
“But I thought…” she was confused, she knew he didn’t sleep. Hearing he was tired surprised her.
“I can make up the bed in the guest room if you want to lie down,” her husband offered.
Castiel didn’t want to be a bother, but he felt the need to lie down. “Thank you,”
“Girls, get off him. Please? Go help your Dad,”
Whining and pouting, they reluctantly agreed. When they were alone, Cassie looked at her friend, still confused. “Is there something the matter?” she asked him. “You don’t get tired, I know that. But…”
“I don’t know,” he said with a shake of his head, “Sometimes I don’t feel right,”
“What do you mean?”
“My abilities seem to be losing their power. I can’t really say what exactly, I’m not sure. Sometimes it takes more effort to kill monsters or to heal others,” he confessed, frowning to himself.
“Is that the Rift’s doing?” Cassie asked him.
“I’m not sure,” he answered, “Perhaps my ties with Heaven in my own world are beginning to weaken,”
There was a short silence as Cassie processed that last sentence. She felt wary, what would happen to him if he lost his abilities? Essentially, he would be human, right? She wasn’t sure and the uncertainty made her worry for him. Getting up, she sat down on the arm of his chair and hugged him gently.
“It’ll be alright, Cas,” she told him, “I’m sure of it,”
As he hugged her back, awkwardly, although he did try, he hoped she was right.