Chapter 113

"Good morning, Angel."

Thor was waiting for us when Loki brought us back from the beach.

"Good morning, Thor."

I went up the steps and gave Thor a big hug. He spun me around laughing, delighted that I was back. Loki stood laughing at the scene we made. I could feel what he was thinking. He had never seen his brother this carefree. Odin had placed a large burden on Thor's shoulders at an early age and it never really let him be happy and so relaxed.

"Well Brother, I can only assume you are here to steal Ariane away?"

Thor grinned. "Yes."

I smiled at Loki then looked up at Thor. These men had completely stolen my heart and I wouldn't have it any other way. "Um Thor, can we have breakfast first? We woke up early to get back at a decent hour and I'm starving."

"Of course, Angel. Anything you want."

"Yay!"

I rushed up the stairs as both men laughed at my enthusiasm. I ran into the kitchen and bumped into Tony as he was heading to the table with a plate of bacon. 

"Oops! Sorry Dad." I gave him a big smile and a hug. 

"I take it the night went well?"

"Oh yes! It was perfect. I'm looking forward to my next two. They're all so different it's fun to see what they think of."

"I'm glad, Kiddo. Now go sit for breakfast."

"Don't have to tell me twice." 

I snagged a piece of bacon from the plate and Tony playfully swatted at me as I moved to my chair. Nat gave me a knowing look. 

"You know after these dates are all done, I want another girls night, right? I plan on living through you. Who knows, maybe even Robin Hood there will get inspired."

I laughed. "Alright Maid Marion. I wanna check with them first as these dates are super special and they may not want to share details. But if it's ok, then you know you're on! You might want a fan and something cold to drink though."

"You can't drop hints like that and leave a girl hanging!"

"Sure I can. I've learned suspense makes it so much better."

With a wink, I reached for food and we all happily started eating. I took Loki's hand and looked over at Bucky and Thor and felt my heart fill with love. They had saved me more than they'll ever know.

My guys caught some of what I was feeling, and I felt their love surround me.

Breakfast was interrupted by a knock on the door. We all looked at each other puzzled. 

"Anyone expecting someone?" Tony looked around.

There murmurs of dissent. Tony got up and went to the door. He came back a few moments later with someone I never thought to see again. I choked on my bacon.

"Crowley. What the hell are you doing here?" My eyes widened and I started to panic, and I backed away from the table and away from him. "No! I'm not going back. You can't take me back. I refuse." My tone turned pleading. "I want to stay here. Please don't take me back…"

"As if we would let him, pet."

I looked at Loki with fear in my eyes. "He has power even over this realm. You wouldn't be able to stop him anymore than you could stop him from bringing me."

I looked at Crowley. I saw he was smiling and that chilled me to the bone. It's never good when the King of Hell smiles.

"Take it easy, Ariane. I'm not here to take you back. I knew you were supposed to be here. That's why I brought you here. Believe it or not, I'm not really the full bastard everyone thinks I am. I do have some soft moments. And I have a fondness for you. I know how much you suffered, and you still never backed down after it. It caught my attention. You have a coldness in you when needed, but I saw you let some demons go before, on purpose. It made me watch you. You have compassion, even for demons. This made you special, so I looked more into your life, past and future. And I saw you were meant to be here. And believe it or not, I wanted you to have happiness.

When Dean sent you away, I knew this was the best time to take you here without having you fighting against it. I am a bit of a bastard to drop you like that but hey, what do you expect from the King of Hell?"

"Ok. I didn't know that. So, you aren't here to take me back then?"

"As if we would let him, Kiddo."

I smiled. "Thanks Dad."

Crowley grinned as he heard me call Tony Dad. "Perfect." He looked at Loki, Bucky, and Thor crowding around me to keep me away from him. "I'm assuming you four are together?"

Loki gave a curt nod.

"Then all is as it should be. If you hadn't found them yet," he gestured to my guys, "I was going to give you a helpful push in that direction."

I smiled as I realized just how much Crowley actually liked me. I even went so far as to think he cared about me like Cas said. I moved forward and my guys moved for me, watching as I walked up to Crowley. I eyed him for a moment and then managed to startle the shit out of him when I gave him a big hug and a kiss on his cheek. I felt a moment of pride. It's not every day you get to startle Crowley.

My arms were still at his waist from when I had hugged him as I looked up at him. "Thank you. More than you will ever know." I grinned impishly. "I promise to keep quiet to the other Demons that the King has a soft spot." I hugged him again and I felt him hug me back. 

"Only for you. Believe it or not, I do care about you too. You are like a daughter to me too. It's why you were never seriously injured when you fought my Demons. I couldn't just tell them to leave you alone as that would undermine me and leave me open for those that want my throne. But I kept you as safe as I could."

I reached up and gave him one more kiss on his cheek and stepped back. "Thank you for that." 

I stepped back and joined my loves. "So why are you here then?"

"Cas told me some of what happened with Dean. He will have a very… warm… welcome once he comes to visit Hell again. Little does he know that even Lucifer likes you, so he basically fucked himself in that realm. And because I just wanted to check on you and make sure things were as they were meant to be. I wanted to make sure you were happy. And now that I see you are, I'll be heading back." He leaned down and kissed my forehead. "Be happy with your new family and your loves. You deserve them and much more." With a smile he slowly disappeared.

I looked back at everyone. "Well… that was certainly a surprise. And not an unpleasant one like I thought it was going to be." I shook my head. "The King of Hell has a soft spot for me and cares. I'm not sure what to make of it but oddly it makes me happy."

Bucky wrapped his arms around me and gave a big hug. "Then that's all that matters Dollface."

I gave him a hard kiss. "Thanks Buck." I looked over at Thor. "So Kokoro no Negai, when do we go on our date?"

"OOHH a new nickname! What's it mean? What's it mean?"

I rolled my eyes at Nat. Thor answered before I could. 

"It means heart's wish. Because she wished for me… and I wished for her."

"AWWWWW that is just so damn cute!!!" 

I laughed as I heard Nat and Wanda squealing. Thor gave me a huge grin. He came over and stole me from Bucky and spun me around, kissing me deeply. 

"And she is my wish come true."

"Ok ok I can't take all this lovey dovey stuff anymore this morning." Sam's voice rang out.