This is the first Supernatural story I've ever written, so if OOC-ness occurs, I apologize beforehand. I only very recently got into the show and I'm writing with a mix of my own interpretation of certain characters as well as how they're portrayed on the show. What you'll need to know for this story is it follows an original character as she navigates through her life and her relationship with an SPN character (you'll figure out nearly right away who it is and I'm a believer that not all relationships have to be romantic to be interesting). I can only hope you give this a chance and enjoy. I write for both of our enjoyment and the unexpected love I've come to develop for this special show.

Prologue

June 9, 1999

Julie was picking thoughtfully at a heavily bandaged wrist, enjoying the soft tickle of a warm breeze playfully lifting the hairs from the nape of her neck, when a voice suddenly broke through the quiet air.

"My, aren't you a broody one? You lot are normally more excited to see me."

Gazing up at the voice, Julie regarded the newly materialized figure with an analytical squint.

"You're wearing a suit," was the first thing she said.

"Businessman, have to look the part – that whole bit. Find it makes the customer more agreeable if they believe it's a transaction going on rather than auctioning their soul off to a demon just to get their jollies. Plus," he added, straightening his cuffs, "I look damned good."

She surprised herself by smiling. Even if the weight of it physically exhausted her.

"Now, what is it that I can do for you on this lovely June afternoon?"

He definitely wasn't what she expected.

"You're a demon?" she confirmed.

"In the flesh," he agreed, casually approaching her sitting form.

They were at a dusty crossroads in the Midwest, the sediment and gravel nearly untouched from indentation of shoes or tires. Almost complete isolation, if one wanted to be specific, save for Julie's white 95' Chevy Corsica parked in the grass.

"And it's true what's been said about deals being made on crossroads. That you'll grant a human whatever they want provided you get their soul in ten years?"

"Someone's been doing her homework," he congratulated, offering her a mock round of applause.

"Sorry. Up until now, I thought you were just a rumor."

"How insulting. I hoped to at least advance from a rumor to gossip," he mused, shifting back on his heels. "Ah, well. Market's not what it used to be these days. Less desperation. Which'll change, mind you. You lot are expecting the world to end in six months."

"I don't believe it will," Julie offered, shaking her head. "Just another year to mark off the calendar. But I know people who are buying into the Y2K hysteria."

"More business for me," he approved, clasping his hands behind him. "As engaging as this conversation has been, I'd much prefer to hear your bargain. I may enjoy conversing, but I'm here for a reason, after all.

At her prolonged silence, the demon knelt next to her, making sure his dress pants didn't touch the dusty road.

"Need to know if Clinton actually had sexual relations with that woman?" he gauged, attempting to mimic a southern accent.

Again, a smile tugged at her lips.

Maybe this could work.

"What's your name?"

"Crowley."

"I'm Julie."

"Didn't figure you for a Julie. But it's better than Britney. Daft girl made the deal just before her sixteenth birthday. Maybe it's for the best. Wasn't much behind the pretty face."

"Are you implying what I think you are?"

He studied her subtle awe with a dubious grin.

"Ah, don't be harsh on her. Her loneliness really is killing her."

Julie fought back the chuckle tingling in her throat, hand positioning itself beneath her chin.

Crowley's eyes traveled down to the limb, eyes focusing on the white bandage wrapped tightly around her wrist.

"Had an accident, then? Need the scars to disappear?"

Her mirth drained instantly.

The demon noticed this, throwing her a decisive look.

"Right then. Here at your behest. You didn't call on me just for a chat, though I'm flattered if that's the case. But you request it and it's yours for ten years. Money, love, a cure, vengeance, power...even shoes, I don't bloody care."

She stared past him, mind willing her tongue to work. He was right. She hadn't summoned him just to have a chat. And the amazement of him actually showing up, confirming the fact that demons were indeed real, was already beginning to fade.

"I want...company," Julie announced carefully.

It was clear he didn't understand.

"A boyfriend, then?"

There was no response.

"Oh," Crowley murmured, nodding knowingly. "Girlfriend?"

"I think I'm straight," she answered calmly. "Besides, I don't want either. I want..."

The words were lodged in the back of her throat, unwilling to leave the sanctuary of ambiguity.

"Out with it," he expressed, though not unkindly. "You've already got me interested."

"I want someone to keep me company," she blurted, boldly meeting his eyes. "Someone to talk to me. Even if it's the last thing I want."

"How's that different than a boyfriend?"

"It wouldn't be real," she explained, having expected this questioning. "If it takes me giving away my soul to a demon just to make a guy listen to what I have to say, then there's something desperately wrong with me."

"Honorable point," he agreed. "A bit of elaboration can go a long way, though."

It took a moment to realize he wanted more detail from her.

"I don't want it to be just someone off the street. It wouldn't be fair for me to uproot their lives."

"A customer with a conscience? What's become of the world?"

She wasn't sure if he was genuinely upset, but his comment spiked her confidence just the tiniest bit. Enough to finally request what she'd been meaning to all along.

"I want you to keep me company," she clarified, watching him hesitantly, "for the next ten years."

Julie didn't know Crowley well. Hell, they'd only met each other not even a full ten minutes ago.

But from the fixed stare he sent her, she could tell he wasn't surprised all that often.

"I'm flattered, dear, truly I am. But-."

"Let me explain," she defended, voice never reaching anywhere remotely aggressive. "I don't want to obstruct someone else's life. You're supposed to be selfish at twenty, I get it. It's tempting to ask for someone's undivided attention. Does wonders for the ego. But it'd all be fake. I'd know what I did to gain that attention and it'd make me feel sick."

"People have bargained with me for far more with less morality," he input.

It was a neutral statement. He was neither in favor or opposed to her justification.

"I don't want more. I don't need more. Just this."

"Why me? Seems dangerous to make this pact in particular with a demon."

"You're not going to kill me," she pointed out. "You want my soul too much. And from what I understand, killing me would break the pact. Aren't pacts about the only thing demons take seriously?"

He observed her cautiously, as if her proposal was unheard of.

She wondered if it was. Surely someone as equally pathetic as her once wanted the company of a demon who was obliged by a deal to be there for companionship.

Anyone?

"How do you know your need to have a "chat" buddy won't burden me?"

"It's not like I'm threatening to exorcise you. You're a demon. If I really burdened you, I think we both know what you could make of me." She paused, unable to hold back a frown. "Would it...burden you?"

Crowley didn't bother holding back a throaty laugh, shoulders shaking from his amusement.

"You are precious, aren't you?" he taunted rhetorically. "Christ, I haven't been this entertained since the Nixon administration. And you can only imagine what sort of things people asked of me then."

"Do you agree, then?" she asked hopefully.

"Afraid not, sweetheart."

Abruptly, he stood, but Julie followed him up, dusting excess dirt off her torn jeans.

"Why?"

"I'm here to give morally corrupt humans the opportunity to eternally damn themselves. Agreeing to this...even I feel slightly guilty. And I'm a bloody demon."

His continuous laughter finally rekindled an emotion she hadn't felt in far too long a time. Though, in hindsight, she should have probably attempted to contain her reaction better.

With no warning, she slapped him solidly across the face with a force great enough to emit a surprised, "Ow!" from both of them, though she got the impression only hers was a result of genuine suffering.

Julie quickly brought her hand back, mumbling out a pained, "Sorry."

"Worth it to stop seeing you so damned apathetic," he returned, rubbing his cheek gingerly.

"If you don't agree, I'll only summon another."

"I'd highly advise against that."

"If that's your answer, then I guess I don't need anything from you."

He didn't move from his position, eyeing her considerately.

"Why the bleedin' hell would you want the company of a demon?" he finally asked.

His bantering demeanor was gone, leaving for a stark seriousness to claim his face.

"You're not all that bad. Which sounds naive to say. You're likely a horrific individual-."

"-please don't sugarcoat it-."

"-but you've gotten me to speak more in the past fifteen minutes than I have in a year. That's what I was looking for when you first appeared. And I did hope it was you. The same person I learned about the crossroads from...they made a deal with you as well. Said you were a snarky bastard who wouldn't shut up."

"Don't know if I should filet the man or thank him for bringing me more business," Crowley deliberated.

"For the time being, I couldn't care less what you are. I'm not asking for your constant presence in my life. Just-."

"-companionship," he finished, raising his brows. "Why not get a pet or if you really wanted to talk, hire a therapist?"

"I can't care for an animal right now," she replied honestly. "And therapy wasn't working."

Again, his eyes swept up and down her form, seemingly determining something behind his large, brown eyes.

"Guess I should have asked this first. Why do you need the companionship? Not exactly bad on the eyes. With a bit o' makeup and an extra ten pounds, you'll be generating attention left and right."

Julie opened her mouth, then closed it, fingers instinctively curling around her wrist.

Crowley's eyes followed the gesture, only now remembering both of her wrists were wrapped in the white bandages.

A comprehending "ah" slipped past his lips seconds later.

"Complaining about desperation earlier, right?" she reminded, smiling weakly at him. "How much more desperate can I get then to request the presence of a demon so I don't..."

She trailed off, inhaling tiredly.

"I can barely take care of myself, much less an animal. After...the incident...I stopped going to therapy. It hadn't dissuaded me from attempting it. I don't want to worry my dad with what's on my mind. He's got enough on his plate. And I'm not sure if you're aware, but it's nearly impossible to make friends when you don't even want to get out of bed in the morning. I'm not asking for you to cure me. Or to help me. Or to...be some sort of crying shoulder. I just want...someone to fill in the constant silence in my head."

Her breaths were uneven, but she forced her body not to tremble. Granted, none of it had come out like she rehearsed, but it was out and that's what mattered.

"You couldn't have just asked for a ticket to one of those godawful boyband concerts? Or a lifetime supply of punchki's?" Crowley complained.

"Wouldn't it be ten years supply?"

"Oi, you get the point! Is there really nothing else that could make you just a tad bit happier? Because I'm telling you now that as desperate as you feel, it's not going to be worth it in ten years. Knowing you sold your soul for the companionship of a crossroads demon. Same crossroads demon that plans to take your soul to hell. I can get cranky. And homicidal. Not exactly a popular combination."

"This is the only thing to ask for that's crossed my mind and stuck," she admitted. "People will disappear from my life. Nothing really lasts forever, does it? But this...it's concrete. And you really aren't that bad of company."

"That is saying something about the nature of the people you befriend."

Julie didn't bother holding back a grin at this. It was weary, but there all the same.

"I hadn't anticipated being able to talk so freely with you. Hoped for it, but didn't think it'd happen."

"And if I was to say no?"

"I'd keep burying that box until I found a demon that said yes."

"I'm the king of these pacts. All I have to do is tell 'em all to avoid you and you're out of luck."

He was watching her expectantly, attempting to figure out her procession of thoughts.

"I'd still end up in hell anyway," Julie concluded.

"How's that, then?"

"Isn't suicide a sin?"

Crowley sighed with great exaggeration, beginning a pace around the girl.

"You've made me care. Not for or about you. But care about this interesting arrangement," he confessed, scratching at his chin. "So, let's walk through this. If I agree, I only need to...chat you up from time to time?"

"I understand you're busy..."

"No, don't retract on this," he maintained forcefully. "It's your deal. You set the terms."

Swallowing nervously, Julie nodded.

"Once a week. You don't have to say anything profound. A lot of times, you'll just be background noise. I took medicine just to get me motivated enough to drive here and work the ritual. Trust me when I say I won't be in much of a talking mood."

"Well, where's the fun in that?" he scoffed.

"Did you...want me to?"

"I'm not going to agree if I'm prattling on to what might as well be a brick wall. It'd be far less tedious if you talked back. I can only hold back my boredom for so long."

Honestly, she hadn't considered this. Actually talking back. Engaging in a conversation. She'd only wanted an end to the silence. The lingering doubt that clawed and clawed and clawed at her brain until she was something less than human and more than numb.

"I can...talk. I'll try," she accepted, strangely not discouraged from this negotiation. It made her feel more necessary than she'd been in a long while.

"So, we've got the chit chats once a week," he recalled. "Moving on. If I can't break the pact, neither can you."

Julie's eyebrows furrowed tightly. "I don't understand."

"Don't prematurely check out of the hotel you're staying at."

At her further confused state, Crowley exhaled forcefully.

"Don't bleedin' kill yourself before the ten years is up!"

She jumped from the aggressiveness in his tone, eyes wide.

"Understand?" he finished.

"I..."

Crowley planted himself not a full foot away from her, pinning her in place with his glare.

"How close were you to doing it?" he demanded. "Say I never popped up when you summoned me. How long would it have been before you tried again?"

"Wouldn't have lived to see Y2K," she confided, feeling peacefully shameless in divulging this. She'd accepted it quickly after the first attempt failed.

"You go through with it and I promise to make your time in hell extra crispy," he promised, no room for debate in his voice. "If you're insistent I hold up on my end, I'm expecting the same out of you."

"Why? Don't you get my soul anyway if I...check out?"

"Breaking a pact will not make you a friend in my eyes," he assured sincerely. "Plus, isn't it obvious what you're looking for in this?"

Again, he was met with a blank stare.

"Unbelievably simple at times, aren't you?" he quipped, eyes flying up to the sky. "Need someone to cancel out that silence for a reason. Why might that be?"

It took her a moment to comprehend his meaning.

"You think I want to live?"

"Darling, I know you want to," he guaranteed. "Could have ended it today, if you'd wanted to. Instead, you force yourself to come here and make a deal. With a demon, of all things. Desperate you may be, but there's a part of you fighting to still breathe. You're hoping I'll knock you out of it."

She felt a strange mixture of displeasure and hope at his revelation. While she was faintly attracted to the idea of eventually overcoming this...emptiness, allowing herself to imagine that there was an end in sight, a day where the silence was no longer an enemy...well, that was just about the most terrifying thing in the world to believe in.

Julie knew a thing or two about expectations. She was well equipped with the consequences of putting too much faith in people. Her mistakes were clear and abundant, seemingly infinite until she learned to deactivate what made her such an easy target for manipulation and selfishness. Allowing herself to trust Crowley's own conviction, while lovely in theory, was a mistake waiting to happen. Every part of her knew this.

So, to clear out the air of uncertainty, Julie submerged any emotion other than indifference, into an abysmal part of her she had no intention of ever revisiting again.

"I won't check out," she assured, not quite believing herself.

"Good. I'll personally handle you myself if you do," he warned.

Their eyes stayed locked for a good ten seconds before Julie looked away.

"So, got the chit chats, got a promise neither of us will break our side of the pact...now, you sure you can handle your ever faithful companion being a big bad demon?"

"Don't bring up work," she hastily requested.

"Then how could you possibly expect me to pass the time?" he grumbled (it sounded faintly like a whine). "Surely, you don't expect me to talk about mundane things like sunshine and puppies and...boys?"

"No, of course not," she reassured, unable to help find amusement in such a clean range of topics. "You were doing fine earlier when we met. Just don't tell me about torture. Or what hell is like. Those are the only two conditions."

"I suppose that's doable. I won't always be in a fanciful mood, mind you. Job gets a bit stressful."

"I understand."

Her acceptance made Crowley retreat a bit, crossing his arms.

"You've really got no one to turn to for this, do you?"

It no longer stung to hear the pity. The part of her that once cared wasn't exactly in the mood to continue doing so anymore.

Instead, she only allowed herself a somber smile.

"This is the last option before the only option."

"So it is," he agreed, internally debating something. "I trust this will remain a pact of confidentiality."

"Telling people I converse with a demon would probably land me in a place worse than hell."

"Agree with you on that one," he nodded, inhaling deeply. "Well, despite the pact not being all that bad, I still find myself unwilling to seal it."

"Why?" she politely argued. "I mean...am I such bad company that even demons don't want anything do with me?"

"On the contrary, you're a good person. I can practically taste it on your soul. Which makes it deliciously valuable. Quite often, my customers have a bit of tarnish on theirs," Crowley related, fingers back to tapping at his chin. "Make no mistake that I want it. There's something near blissful about corrupting one with such few blemishes. But, I find myself conflicted with your nature."

"Isn't it better that I'm naive and compliant?"

"It's not in your nature to be. Just your circumstances making you believe you are. Once you get better, and you will - I have full faith in my charm and dashingly influential presence - you'll then see the error of yours ways and forever spend your remaining years begging me to sever the contract. Have you thought about that yet? What will happen when you finally get better? It's like getting the carpet yanked out from beneath you. Your days are numbered despite not being such a mess anymore."

Julie couldn't be sure if Crowley took the initiative to inform all his customers of the cons in their dealings, but she appreciated it all the same.

"Ten years to turn my life around isn't the worst thing I could have asked for," she reasoned. "And everyone who makes these deals ultimately count down the days until the pact is over."

When this failed to elicit a response, Julie chose her next words carefully.

"I need motivation to change and the struggle that comes along with it. Trust me when I say that at this point, you are the only thing keeping me from jumping off the balcony of my hotel room. Figuratively and literally."

"Don't think I should take that as a compliment, but I'll do so anyway."

"Please, Crowley," she urged, uncaring as to how much she was willing to beg at that moment, "I'm not asking for the world. I don't want the world. I only want background noise to help me get through the ten years I have left."

He watched her for a full minute, never giving away an answer physically, but making it obvious he was debating an answer.

Julie couldn't help it. Ever so briefly, her disposition brightened. It was minimal and not enough to produce a legitimate smile, but strong enough to make her curious about the prospect of having someone to talk with. Someone who understood her situation and wouldn't berate her for it. An abatement to the harsh silence in her head. Someone who wouldn't walk away just because she isolated herself so thoroughly that nothing got through anymore.

She had friends before who tried to steer her out of the darkness. They were good friends too who put in anywhere from a month to a year to help her fight. But they couldn't stick around forever. Life had plans for them. Their paths branched out, diverging from the plummet hers was taking. She let them go without much of a fuss. And she prided herself for being understanding. There's nothing worse than a loser who tries to cling to the people departing from their life.

If she was honest with herself now, Julie didn't mind Crowley that much. So long as she didn't think too obsessively over him being a demon, of course. He'd gotten her to spill far more than she imagined she could. And had a sense of humor she wouldn't mind hearing play in the background. Definitely not the worst thing she envisioned meeting from hell.

He also had a point she was hesitant to acknowledge for aforementioned reasons. It would be nice to get better one day.

"Alright," he finally agreed. "It's a deal."

Julie exhaled thankfully, aiming another smile at him with a squint. Not until then did she realize just how brightly the sun shone above them. He'd been right in calling it a beautiful June afternoon.

"Course it's not officially sealed yet. Not by my standards, anyway," he informed. "Sealed with a kiss I believe is the popular expression."

"Demons seal deals with a kiss?"

"Oh, don't look so forlorn. So long as you don't bite, I'll behave."

"It's not what I expected," she specified.

"You should see the men. They're all so squeamish. If kissing someone of the same gender does that to them, I can't wait to see them getting comfy in hell," he smirked, approaching her.

Julie felt faint relief at noting they were about the same height. No leaning down or straining up. Her favorite position to kiss from.

"After this, it'll be official?"

"Unless you want to back out," he suggested.

The fact that he was still offering her an option out only convinced her that much more to accept it.

She didn't think twice about leaning forward, curling one arm around the back of his neck and pressing her lips firmly to his, partially surprised when he opened his mouth just the tiniest bit and reciprocated.

Seconds later and she broke away, cheeks a lighter hue of red.

"And all this time I thought you were innocent," he teased, wiping suggestively at his lips.

Her blush only grew hotter. She wasn't sure what he deemed a kiss, so to play it safe, she put a little soul behind her tongue. Not like it'd be there in ten years anyway. Might as well make the most of it.

"Well, congratulations, Julie. You've officially won yourself a demon companion for the next ten years," Crowley announced, sounding like a game show contestant.

"Thank you," she gratefully responded.

I enjoy Crowley's character immensely, even if he does get me angry at him frequently, usually because of who he tortures (Kevin, Samandriel, etc). Despite all that, I feel like his character is more layered than the average demon and he has the potential to very, very subtly experience not just strictly negative emotions. Plus, he's got a great sense of humor. I hope I didn't slaughter his characterization too much and that you don't wholeheartedly hate Julie. From personal experience, I know that depression can lead people to act without thinking everything through. She was desperate enough to sell her soul for companionship. Call it stupid, but what's done is done. This story will be primarily told in her POV and if she doesn't check out, there's a chance for her to run into other SPN characters as she lives out her ten years. Which is another great thing about the show. There are so many characters to love and to love to hate. And if I didn't make it clear, Julie had previously attempted suicide - hence her bandaged wrists. Otherwise, let me know your thoughts in a review.