Name: Aria
Form: Human
Age: 23
Brief Description: long brown hair, bright blue eyes, 5'7, cute, happy, hopeful, innocent, loving, caring

Word Count: 1136

Season 7

(Aria slowly falls for her patient, Castiel. When she learns that all of his stories are true, she decides to run away with the angel.)

It was her first real nursing job, working at Northern Indiana State Hospital. She was the personal psychiatric nurse to those who needed "extra care." One man that she was in charge of, however, especially struck her interest; a new patient who seemingly took his friend's place. She knocked gently on the door before opening it.

Inside, a man stood with his back to her. He peered out the window at the grassy field behind the hospital. Aria took a place at his information clipboard to get his name. "Castiel," she called for his attention with a smile.

The man turned around to meet her eyes across the room, and for a moment he felt his world slow down. In the doorway stood a young lady, just barely a woman. The blue nurses-wear matched and reflected in her bright eyes. The long chocolate brown hair that framed her soft face fell over her shoulders in beautiful waves. He felt a smile of his own tug at his lips.

After a minute of awkward staring, Aria laughed lightly and took a few steps toward Castiel. "It's an interesting name," she stated.

"So I am told," he replied with a soft grin, "you may call me Cas."

"Well, Cas," she responded, "I'm Aria. I'll be taking care of you when it comes to meals and meds. And if you ever want to talk, I'm happy to make conversation."

Cas smiled a warm smile that made Aria's heart leap; for a moment she didn't see him as a patient, but a handsome gentleman.

"Aria," he repeated as if testing how it sounded on his tongue. His eye shifted to looking back outside, the nurse following his gaze. "An Italian form of song that portrays a striking one man, or woman, performance; an aria."

A look of astonishment on her face, Aria found herself staring at the angel's face in wonder. "Did you study music?" She asked with a curious half-grin.

"No," Cas replied, obviously not planning on elaborating. Instead, the subject was changed abruptly and immediately, "what is your favorite insect, Aria?"

Aria, who was just beginning to wonder why this man was admitted, found her question quickly answered. With an amused grin she replied, "favorite insect, hmm..well, I like butterflies."

"They are beautiful, aren't they," he remarked, "I must say I favor the bees."

Castiel and Aria continued to converse about the wide variety of random topics Cas found interesting. But once her shift was up, Aria went home. Oddly enough, she couldn't get that man out of her thoughts. And when she slept, his image and words invaded her dreams as well.

But she didn't mind.

• • •

Days went by, and eventually weeks passed. Everyday Aria found herself fascinated once again by Castiel. He told her crazy stories of he and his friends fighting monsters, making mistakes, saving the world. He'd even explained his own life of being an angel of the Lord. But of course, Aria didn't believe any of it.

At least, not until one fateful night that would change her life forever.

It was almost 11 pm when two men came to the hospital, desperate to speak with the patient Cas. Aria recognized them from his stories; this was Sam and Dean. Being one of the only people on a night shift, and unable to contain her curiosity, Aria led the brothers to Castiel.

Dean immediately launched into his story, and Sam as well. Aria, who stood in the doorway, grew more and more concerned as they went on. These two men were just as insane as Castiel.

Finally she stopped them. "I'm sorry, Sam and Dean," she spoke assertively, "I'm going to have to ask you to leave. This is a place of healing, I can't have you two feeding into Cas's illness."

But before anything could be said, a woman appeared in the room out of nowhere. Her eyes were as black as her thick hair. Aria's breath caught in her throat as she realized all at once, everything Cas had said was true.

Within the hour, the hospital turned into a war zone. Angels had come to take something called The Word of God, an Asian boy named Kevin found out he was a prophet. Aria found herself being teleported to an old cabin at some point, then witnessed the murder of an angel. Needless to say, Aria had had quite a night.

After everything had settled down, Aria sat silently on a military cot staring into space. She was only ripped from her thoughts when she felt the pressure of someone sit beside her. "Are you alright?" Castiel's familiar voice questioned.

Aria looked up into his gorgeous eyes; boy had she been wrong about him. "Considering what just went down?" She began hesitantly, "I feel like I'm the one who belongs in a mental facility."

She was shocked when she felt a warm arm wrap around her back. Unable to move, Aria just stared up at Cas in wonder. "You really are an angel.." she trailed off.

Cas smiled, "I know it is a lot to take in." Then a frown crossed his face. He quickly looked away from her and removed his comforting arm. "I suppose you'll need to be getting back to the hospital," he stated.

It was true. That was her job. Her friends, her family, everyone she knew and loved where back in Indiana. So why was it so hard to say yes?

"Honestly.." Aria began, scratching her neck, "I don't think I can ever go back. My life before was so blind, and I didn't even know. I can't go back to that."

Cas gave Aria a hopeful look and asked politely, "does that mean, you want to stay?" Hesitantly, Aria gave a slow nod. Then a smile strung across the angel's mouth so brilliant it could light up the room. "Sam and Dean, and I, of course-we'll take care of you," he explained excitedly, "I can show you everything about the world, Aria."

She couldn't help but let a joyous laugh erupt from her chest. "I'd like that, Castiel," Aria said with a dreamy smile. Then, before she even processed what she was doing, she leaning forward and pressed a careful kiss on his cheek. But the growing grin on the angel's face refused to let her feel embarrassed. She could already tell that she was going to love this new life, and the angel that gave it to her.