"Show me a hero and I will write you a tragedy."

-F. Scott Fitzgerald

Vicki Ashworth stood under the glow of a streetlamp, body illuminated in the yellow light. She resembled a murder victim, clothes tattered and stained with blood, but Vicki was not dead. By all rights she certainly should have been- she knew it, her savior knew it, and yet there she stood. Her hero was an angel, one she knew as well as she knew herself, but he was as of yet still unaware.

Overhead, the light flickered…

"You look ridiculous…" She mused aloud, lips curling as she turned to face her companion. "Honestly, it's impossible to take you seriously in that get up." Crowley chuckled, having learned to never take offense at the things his little lady said.

"Well not all of us can look as ravishing as you love." He crooned, picking up her hand to plant a kiss on the back of her palm. "You should wear that more often." His accompanying smirk was less than innocent, and she yanked her hand back with a bemused expression; something about this situation just seemed wrong. "What can I say? I've developed a bit of an Oedipal Complex."

The woman shook her head, managing a soft laugh despite the demon's inappropriate conduct. He always could make her smile, even after all this time it seemed.

"It's nice to see you smile again…" His words were sincere and his face strangely thoughtful, so much so that she was forced to smack his arm to settle herself.

"I smile all the time!" But her words rang hollow, even in her own ears, and he shot her an "oh really?" sort of glance that she didn't appreciate. "Ga-"

"I can count on one hand the times I've seen you do it. You can't lie to me darlin'." His interruption was calm, managing to speak over her without even raising his voice; it was infuriating. She also didn't exactly appreciate being accused of lying, but she knew it was the truth and thus pointless to argue with him.

"I just don't have many things to smile about these days, can you blame me? The whole world is going to Hell… literally…"

"None of which is your fault."

"Isn't it though? I'm the catalyst, the cause behind it all, and even now I sit back and do nothing." While it was true that she had a good reason, it didn't make it any easier to stomach. A mother couldn't intervene every time her child stumbled or he'd never learn to walk, Vicki knew this, and still she hated herself for it. "I'm surprised you don't all hate me…"

Crowley squeezed her shoulder encouragingly and she looked up into his smirking face, knowing she wouldn't like his reply even before it left his snotty lips.

"I did. For a long time." Her exasperated expression made him laugh, and he gave her another squeeze to settle her before he continued. "I think we all did, but that's all just part of growing up innit?" What was he implying? That this was all some act of teenage rebellion? She shrugged off his hand and put some distance between them, wrapping her arms around herself.

"You're terrible at this." But in all honesty she didn't think that anything he said could make her feel any better anyways. She was thoroughly immersed in feeling sorry for herself with no end in sight; she was quite skilled at moping about. "But if you were aiming to make me feel even worse, congratulations, you succeeded." Her whole body stiffened as he slipped his arms around her waist, shooting a glare over her shoulder; if looks could kill…

"Alright, alright, I'll keep my hands to myself… Can't blame me for trying though, can ya?" True to his word he released her, looking over her to watch the trench coated figure still kneeling in the middle of the street. "If it helps, I don't think that nutter over there hates you."

She followed his gaze and sighed heavily as her eyes lingered on her rescuer , the same person who was one of the main causes of her discord. He had passed the test! And yet why do I still feel so unsettled?

"I feel his pain as surely as if it were my own, trust me, he hates me." He was so lonely, so hopeless; how did he manage to contain it so well? He managed to continue, as if the world weren't falling down around his shoulders, and she couldn't help to wonder where his unending faith came from.

"Nah, he might not be your biggest fan at the moment, but you don't spend that much time worrying about someone you hate." Perhaps Crowley had a point, but still… "And don't you keep frettin' over the sorry state of the world, our boy here has got that covered." Vicki whipped around to reply, shock evident on her smooth features.

"How can you be so certain? He isn't even certain himself!" The lad was indecisive, insecure, and though Vicki knew her actions were for the best, even she wasn't so sure about him anymore. "He doesn't even know what he's doing, for all you know we could be doomed…" Crowley shook his head in clear disappointment, clucking his tongue and earning a glare for his trouble.

"Where's your faith?" Vicki laughed aloud at that, covering her mouth with her hand to stem the tide of her giggles.

"You're lecturing me on faith? The irony is almost too much to bear!"

"You know what I mean." The demon scolded with a furrowing of his brows, the expression immediately putting an end to the snickering. "You trust him, right?"

"Yes!"

"Love him?"

"Of course!"

"Then you need to believe in him." He stated as if it were so simple, to put her faith in such a young tormented thing. "Because someone sure as hell has to." She knew then, that she would have faith in Castiel because he had faith in her, because he needed someone to return the favor for once.

"You shame me…" How on Earth could she have even been considering abandoning him when he needed her most? He would succeed! She knew that he would. He has to…

"Don't be so hard on yourself! You're good lookin' too!" His lazy smirk told her that all was well between them, and she found herself returning the gesture. Her hand was caught up in his, and she squeezed it gratefully, appreciative of the support he offered her.

"What would I have done without you?" Her head fell against his shoulder as Castiel disappeared from the middle of the street, having apparently spent enough time in contemplation.

"Oh you would have died, surely!" A soft chuckle was allowed before his voice became serious again, turning the conversation back to more important topics. "Are you ever going to tell him?" He felt her tense up, but she didn't pull away from him this time, always a good sign.

"I don't know… maybe? Is now really the time to be talking about this?" She would reveal herself when she was ready, and what did it matter at the moment?

"I know you're reluctant-" Reluctant wasn't quite a strong enough word for it… "But just think about it, I know he'd be happy to see you." She doubted that. But maybe, maybe after all the chaos was over and done with… maybe she could bear to face him after all that. She would make no promises to that effect however. "Anyways, it's time for me to blow this popsicle stand. I'll catch you later, right?"

She nodded and pulled her hand back so she could cup his cheek fondly, brushing her lips across the bit of stubble that rested there.

"Thank you for everything Gabriel, really." The demon Crowley faded away as she stepped back and dropped her hand, revealing features that she could have recognized with her eyes closed. That smug little face grinning from ear to ear, it was contagious, and she found herself smiling.

"No problemo! See you around mama-papa, don't be a stranger now!" With a pop he was gone, and Vicki Ashworth's lips continued to grin long after his presence had faded.

Keep believing in me Castiel, and I'll keep believing in you… And with that, the girl that was not quite Victoria Ashworth was gone, prepared to sit back and watch her son prove himself to her, the Winchester's, the world, and himself.

I have faith.