16

"How are you today?" I asked as Elly came into the map room. It felt like talking to a wild animal. This was the first time she had come out alone without anyone coaxing her. I stood up as she came around to my side of the table and pulled her into a hug. "It's good to see you."

"You saw me yesterday, weirdo." She muttered softly into my shoulder.

I pushed her back to look at her and found a small smile on her face. I pushed her hair behind her ear and placed a small kiss on her head. It had been a rough two weeks since we'd brought her home. Between finally ending the fairy and wraith monster lines, we had also still been trying to find Lucifer, with no luck yet.

"Ya, but I don't get to sleep so it feels like days since I have." I tapped her nose lightly.

"I'm ok," Elly said, responding to the earlier question. "I didn't sleep too well, and I don't feel like eating right now." She added the last part quickly, probably to stop me from insisting on getting her something.

"I'm sorry you couldn't sleep." I let go of her and sat at the table again. "You could've come out here. I was just sitting here all night."

Elly tipped her head to the side, a curious look on her face. "Why not just stay in your room? Or did Ketch kick you out?"

I shook my head. "I would usually. I mostly just study cases while he sleeps, but he's not home yet."

"Oh. Did he leave again? I feel like he was just out doing something." Elly furrowed her brows as she thought for a moment.

I nodded a little. She took the seat next to me and took my hand in hers, still smiling softly. I returned her smile.

"What has he been up to anyway?" She asked.

"He's had a few different leads on Lucifer." I winced a little as I said his name. I looked at her immediately after, she had stiffened at the name.

"Oh." She nodded, not meeting my gaze now. "Right."

"I'm sorry Elly. I should've thought…"

"It's fine. Who knows what horrible things he could be doing?" She cleared her throat. "It's best to find him before she gets out of control. He's insufferable enough with even a little grace. A real dick."

I laughed a little at her words. "I thought you'd beat that out of him."

"I could never really change him, Alex." Elly sighed. "He is and always will be the devil. He has been that way for thousands of years. I can't just change him." She shrugged. "Besides, powerful men are attractive."

"Are they now?" I said in a teasing tone, rubbing the back of her hand with my thumb. I had missed this brightness I could feel coming off of her. It was still nothing compared to when I'd first met her, but it was still here. I had missed it so much. "So, the whole 'Prince of Darkness' thing did it for you?"

"I was his before he even knew I existed." She sighed again.

I snorted, my free hand covering my mouth before I could laugh more. "You liked him on the TV show?"

"Oh absolutely." Elly nodded with her growing smile. "It destroyed me when Dean killed him in the end. I'm just so happy that didn't happen here. That you happened here."

I smiled at her. "I didn't do a lot. You helped more than I did, Elly."

Her smile fell a little. "I got you killed."

I lowered my hand from my mouth. "I shot you. I think that makes us even."

"Ya." Elly squeezed my hand.

"You know you're a badass right?" I commented.

"I am not." She rolled her eyes.

"You stood up to Micheal without a second thought for your safety." I reached for her and turned her face to look at me. "Not even my brothers would do that. Sam's still too afraid of what almost happened with Dean to reach out to Gabe."

"A better dick with power."

My smile came back. "Too true." I looked up the hallway and listened for a second, making sure no one else was coming before continuing. "How's Ally?"

Elly looked confused for a second before shrugging. "She seems to be fine. But she hasn't been talking to me. Lucifer would be the best person to find out how she's doing."

"About…about the other day…" I started. "I'm sorry I pulled my gun on her."

Elly shrugged again. "I honestly think she was okay with it. Besides, I know there are lessons she needs to learn before it's too late. I wasn't the best teacher."

"You had no reason to think she'd ever know," I said softly. Elly turned away from me again, so I pushed a little further. "Did you see her reaction when I did that to her?"

"I'm sure it was nothing," Elly said, her want to push the topic aside clear.

"I know you saw what I did, Elly." I let go of her hand. "She wasn't herself, and I'm worried about it."

"What do you want me to do about it? She barely talks to me as is. And I don't know enough about Nephilims to know what to do. I barely know enough about angels to keep dickbag in line. I don't know how to keep tabs on my daughter. I know that sounds stupid…and probably a little horrible but…what am I supposed to do? I can't even take care of myself…" Elly trailed off, tears brimming her blue eyes.

I hushed quietly. "I'm sorry. I wasn't trying to…I'm sorry Elly."

But her smile didn't return. Her hand reached up to brush tears away as they rolled down her cheeks. I bit my lip. What the fuck was I supposed to do? I had broken her again.

Footsteps came from the landing above and I felt some relief as I looked up to see Ketch as he entered the bunker. He looked exhausted as if he had been working hard all night without a break. Maybe it was just my mind playing tricks on me…but it almost looked like there were specks of blood on his grey t-shirt. Where had it come from?

"Good morning, love." He said once he'd come down the stairs. He kissed my cheek. "Pet." He placed a kiss on the top of her head before kneeling on the other side of her. "How are you feeling today?"

Elly sniffled, avoiding his eyes as she wiped at her cheek again. "I'm fine."

"Bullshit." He clicked his tongue like a parent chiding a child. "What can we do to stop those tears?" He took her chin gently in his hand and tipped her face down so she had to look at him. "Let's see. We could have a dance party? I'm sure Alex has good music on her phone." Elly shook her head. "Right then. We can cook. I can teach you how to make a tart."

"You can bake?" Elly sounded as surprised as I felt.

"I am better at creme brulees and pastries." Ketch gently wiped a tear from her cheek with his thumb. "How about it? Want to make a mess of the kitchen with me?"

Elly shook her head again, but a small smile had returned to her lips.

Ketch sighed. "Unfortunately that only leaves the last option and I'm afraid it is not one you can recover from."

Elly looked confused. And then he was reaching for her, his hands shooting out for her sides to tickle her. She jolted and her laughter filled the room as she tried to fight against him.

"Stop!" She got out between giggles. She tried to shove and kick at him, but he stood his ground. I laughed along with her as I watched the display. It was contagious. "Ketch, stop!"

"Oh? What's the magic word then?" He asked, chuckling now as he dodged another kick.

"I'm going to shoot you!" Elly said as she gasped for air. "Ketch!"

"That's not very nice." He smiled at her. "What's the magic word, pet?"

"Please!" 

Ketch stood up and took a step back, leaving Elly still laughing lightly as she breathed heavily. But there was an amazingly bright smile on her face now. One to rival the sun itself.

"There it is." He said softly. "What a charming smile."

"Oh, Shut up. Asshole." Elly giggled now, still breathless as she swatted at him. He stepped back towards me in response.

I slipped my hand into his and smiled more. It was so good to hear her laugh again. It made me feel like everything was normal again. As if nothing had ever happened to her. Like I had never brought her here in the first place.

The smile fell from my face as I felt the darkness creep back in. This had been my fault. All of it. Everything that had happened to her. The strong connection I knew was there between an archangel and their perfect vessel. The greed I felt for taking him. The disloyalty of those first words to him. The obsession I had developed of having a perfect world and needing their help to get there. If I had never brought her here in the first place, they would still be happily together in their world. A perfect family, like they should be.

"I should be dead…" I whispered to myself, low enough for no one else to hear. It was true, and saying it made it all the more real.

I dropped Ketch' hand and got from my seat. I took a step towards the hall and our shared room.

"I'm going to try calling…him again," I said. "Think you can keep her entertained for a bit?"

Ketch nodded. "I'll tell you what I found out later then."

I nodded back and started down the hall.

"Thank you, Alex," Elly called after me.

I smiled weakly as I walked away, pulling my phone from my pocket. I had meant to try Lucifer again, I really did, but instead, I found myself dialing a number I hadn't talked to since I'd woken up a demon. It was going to take more luck to get him to answer than it would with Lucifer. He hadn't picked up a call since I'd called to let him know what I was. I put the phone to my ear and let it ring out. It rang and rang before going straight to voicemail like I thought it would. I sighed.

"Cael, it's me again. We need to talk." I pinched the bridge of my nose. "Elly and Lucifer are back in town," I stared as I opened the door to my bedroom and then leaned against it once it'd closed. "They brought their daughter, another Nephilim." I breathed deeply. "She sold her soul to me and I don't know what's going on but it's…not good. Her soul is draining away from her and I think she's…" I paused, trying to search for the right words. "I think she's in danger Cael. Please just call me or answer a text or just show up or something. We need your help." I hung up and slid my phone back into my pocket. I doubt he would even listen to it. He had been MIA since I'd woken up. Not even Cas seemed to know where he had gone.

"I need you Cael," I said softly, praying to him for the first time in five years. "We're in some deep shit and this was all your idea to begin with."

The soft woosh of angel wings flapping moved the air around me. "That was all you needed to say, little star."

I looked into his light eyes, a smirk there on his dark face. "You asshole. You were waiting for me to beg."

He looked good. His dark skin still stretched over his strong body like a statue made of smokey quartz. His howlite-colored eyes stared deep as they studied me. And that curly dirty blonde hair of his was clean and parted to one side. He was dressed in a nice white dress shirt, simple grey tie, blue vest, black dress pants, and nice black shoes as if he had just been in a work meeting. I wasn't sure what his vessel's name had been or what they had done for a living, but this casual business attire almost seemed unfitting for him. Or at least for the angel inhabiting the gorgeous vessel.

"It would only be proper to wait for the demon queen herself to beg for an angel's help." Cael was going to be smug about this now. "And it wasn't my idea."

"No, of course not." I huffed. "It was Chuck's."

"What do you need, Alexandria?" Cael folded his dark arms over his chest.

"Don't call me that." I poked a finger at his chest. "I don't need the sass."

"I thought that's why you like me." He smirked more. "You wouldn't keep calling me otherwise."

"I like you because you saved my life," I grumbled. "Not that it matters anymore."

"How shallow. Though I guess I shouldn't expect anything less from a demon." I jumped a little as he stepped forward and pulled me into a hug.

I wasn't sure what to do, or what even would be the appropriate response. But I didn't fight back as he held me. Instead, I slowly found myself relaxing into his touch and hugging him back.

"I missed you too," I said softly. "Answer your phone the next time."

"And what would be the fun in that?" Cael asked, his voice quiet before he finally released me. "You mentioned a Nephilim? Someone besides Jack."

"Yes. A girl named after me." I said, the mood serious again. "It was a very complicated and stressful situation. She sold me her soul to save Elly. And since then it's been…" It was still hard to describe it without just showing him. "Deteriorating I guess."

"I've never heard of that happening." He hummed softly, lost in thought for a moment. "Are you sure that's correct?"

"Pretty sure. Cas took a look and saw it happening." I nodded towards the door and he followed me back into the hall and down towards the front room. "She's been acting different, too. Harsher."

"Like how your brother was?"

"Ya…" I stopped a few feet before we entered the room. "How do you know about that?"

"You did and still do pray to me often. I can't answer them all or I'd never leave your side." Cael replied easily. "But I do always listen. I know when something is too much for you to handle and when you can handle and overcome it."

"That's why you ignored me for so long?" I questioned. "You were just waiting for things to get over my head?"

"This time around, yes." Cael nodded and continued to follow me down the hall. "The rest was because I didn't much care for you at first."

"Ya, ya. " I nodded. "You were just following orders."

I paused again as we started to hear more conversation come from before us. The rest of this conversation could wait until he met her face-to-face. And I didn't want to make Elly any more uncomfortable than I already had accidentally. 

"What's wrong?" Cael had always been able to pick up on my emotions. "I'm here to help, star."

"Now isn't a good time," I muttered, a hand going up to run through my hair. Maybe they wouldn't want him here. Maybe I didn't need his help right away. I could just keep him in my back pocket for now.

"Are you sure?" He raised an eyebrow at me. 

"Who are you talking to, Alex?" A small voice greeted us from behind.

We both turned to find Ally leaning against the door frame of her room. She was rubbing sleep from her eyes. She was wearing a rather large t-shirt that was falling off one of her shoulders. It looked like something Lucifer would wear. I sighed. Well, there was no escaping it now.

"Come here," I whispered, motioning to us. Ally slowly walked over and I took her shoulder gently, turning her to face the angel. "This is Cael. He's my guardian angel, like Cas is to Dean."

"Nice to meet you," Ally said, holding her hand out to him. He looked over her carefully, making her blush slightly before he finally shook her hand.

I watched for a second as his eyes continued to study her. "He's here to help you with your training and help us some more with some harder monster races," I stated. "He'll be staying for a little bit but will be on call otherwise."

"So I won't be training with Jack anymore?" She dropped Cael's hand and looked at me over her shoulder.

"You'll be training with both. Jack is good with simple things like healing and teleporting, but Cael is a fighter. He was one of the first angels made after the arch's."

"Oh." Ally smiled and turned back to him. "Well, I can say I'll enjoy spending more time with you."

My eyes widened a little at her blatant flirt and I looked between them. Cael hadn't seemed to notice the tone in her voice or the way she looked at him now. Probably for the best.

"Ally's very good with knives. But she's lacking in the gun department." I explained, eyes tight on her.

"Has anything been hunting you?" Cael asked the question bringing my attention back to him.

"Hunting me?" I asked. "Like what?"

"You have two Nephilim's around now." He huffed quietly. "I'm surprised this place isn't swarming."

"There are more people who want to kill me?" Ally spoke up, wrapping her arms around herself.

"As long as you're in this world, things are going to want ot hurt you." I nodded. "Learning everything you can to defend yourself is the only way to hold them off."

"I'm sure I can handle it." Her facial expression shifted to a cocky one. Something that would rival Lucifer's.

"Good." I nodded. "Cael, we can go meet everyone else now. They'll love to see you again."

He nodded. He had seen enough of her now to know what I had been talking about. Or he should at least have a good idea of it. I did think Elly would be happy to see him as I led our small group into the room. And there was no longer a point in hiding him from them since Ally had already seen him.

Elly got to her feet as her eyes settled on him. "Cael?"

His fluorite eyes studied her with a confused look. I wasn't sure if it was the age difference or if he could see just how broken she was on the inside. He almost looked like he was afraid to touch her as she walked over to him. He pulled her into a careful hug and she grinned.

"I never did get to thank you for everything," Elly said softly. "You saved me."

"It was my pleasure, lamb," Cael said just as softly.

A small blush came to her cheeks, giving them more color than I had seen them have in too long. Maybe she had needed to see him. Maybe seeing more old faces was going to be good for her after all. Maybe they held better memories.

"Has she been ringing your ear off?" Elly asked.

Cael's eyebrows furrowed together as he tried to understand what she had asked him. It took him a minute to decide on an answer, but once he had it was a simple nod. Elly smiled.

"Are you going to stick around a while?" 

"I am here to help your daughter with her abilities," Cael explained, shoving his hands in his pockets. "If that is alright with you."

"Of course." Elly nodded.

My attention pulled away from them as Ketch came to stand next to me and snaked his arm around my waist. "She's getting better." He whispered in my ear. I nodded slightly, leaning into him. He teasingly bit my ear, making me shiver a little. "And you shouldn't be dead."

My eyes widened as he said those words, and I suddenly felt like I needed to shrink away and hide. He had heard me. I hadn't needed him knowing I felt that way. That I wanted my destruction. That I was practically begging for it at this point.

"You seem troubled, Elizabeth." I found Cael saying, my attention coming back to him. "Is there anything I can help with?"

"I'm ok." She whispered.

Cael shook his head and reached a hand out to her, gently touching her forehead. Elly closed her eyes and I could only imagine what she was letting him see. There was a small spark of jealousy that threatened to surface as I watched his eyes glow blue. Because what if she was showing him more than she had shown me? But then again, I had been the reason she had been there in the first place. I had torn her marriage spark and taken her daughter's soul. It was only fair that she trusted anyone else more than me right now.

"I see," Cael said softly after a moment, lowering his hand. "Can I help in any way?" Elly shook her head again and this time he nodded. "Let me know if there is."