Disclaimer: I don't own Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Supernatural. All the characters belong to their respective owners, making no money here.

A/N: I'm using this to cover my Crowley/Crack!Character square, tentatively if approved, for spnpairingbingo.

It's Always about Family

With the box of odd items buried successfully in the middle of the dusty place where two dirt roads met, Hank Summers waited. He rubbed his hands together, as if he were cold, which was ridiculous, really. After all, it was November in California. What he found cold, people elsewhere in the world might find quite warm. But then again, he'd been born and raised in the Sunshine State, so he was dressed as if a bitter winter was approaching—thick khaki-colored slacks, a long-sleeved turquoise button-up, and a heavy suit-style jacket over it.

Thankfully, he was not left waiting long. From behind him, the person he awaited called his attention.

"Mr. Summers?" came a posh, English accent.

Hank turned, surveying the man who had appeared. He was dressed in a black business suit from head to toe, a gray tie doing little to stand out. His hair was dark and thinning—much like Hank's own. He had dark eyes and olive skin and a rounded face that boasted a jovial smile. And, consider that it was, indeed, a he, Hank felt confident in saying that everything about this moment caught him off-guard.

"I expected a woman," Hank blurted out, blinking and wishing he had just kept his mouth shut as soon as he'd said it.

The man smiled, taking a single step forward.

"Certain people get special treatment from Below, Mr. Summers. I'm Crowley, King of the Crossroads, at your service."

Hank blinked again. He wished he could stop doing that.

"So… a demon, right?"

"Well, that was the desired effect, wasn't it? Ta-da," Crowley said, holding his arms out wide.

Could he really go through with this? After all, Hank had done research into this. He knew how this deal would in, both now and in ten years' time. Could he really pay such a high price for what he wanted? He reached around to his back pocket, feeling his wallet bulging there. He thought of the pictures inside, and of one picture in particular. Yes, he could do this.

"I want to make a deal," Hank said, stepping closer to Crowley.

"I'd gathered. Would you care to elaborate?"

"It's… it's my daughter. Buffy. She's in high school, but… something's changed lately. She's been getting into trouble at lot. I think it's because me and her mom… we're not doing so well. I think she's lashing out."

Crowley laughed. Hank stared incredulously at him.

"What the hell's so funny?" he snapped.

Crowley held up a hand. "Nothing. Your daughter, you say, Buffy? That would be… Buffy Summers, then?"

Hank's brow furrowed. "Yeah…"

Crowley nodded once. "Right. Well, where do I come in?"

"I want to make sure that… well, actions like she's doing could really cause her to alienate herself. Have teachers and peers turn against her, ignore her, and even wish to do her harm. I don't want that for her. Especially if it's partly my fault in some way. So, I know what I have to pay—my soul, but I don't care. I want you to make sure that, in her life, she ends up happy. I want her to have true friends that love her and believe in her no matter what. That she gets to know what love is, no matter the outcome. I want her to feel like she always has someone she can count on, even if it's not me."

Crowley held up another hand. "Let me get this straight. Make sure you understand. You want to sell me your soul—that's ten years still on this earth before I send my pups after you—so that your daughter, Buffy Summers, can have true friends and love and the like?"

"Can you do it?"

Crowley grinned in a way that made Hank very uncomfortable. Like the demon knew something that Hank didn't. But the demon nodded.

"Sealed with a kiss, then we're both on our merry way."

Hank nodded now, stepping forward until he was within Crowley's reach. The demon gripped the back of his head with one hand, pulling him forward until their lips met. Hank tried to fight the impulse to pull away as Crowley kissed him, but the King of the Crossroads was much stronger than he looked. Crowley managed to hang on to Hank until the kiss was concluded. Hank promptly went about wiping his mouth and spluttering just a little bit while Crowley grinned like a cat with a mouse.

"See you in ten years, Mr. Summers."

Hank turned, stalking off until he'd reached his car and drove away.

#

Crowley watched as Hank drove away, chuckling to himself. The man had just soul his soul to ensure that… well, that his daughter's life would take the same course that it was always meant to take. Thank, well, whoever, since meddling with the slayer's life was strictly forbidden. At least, it was in this way. But since all that Hank had wanted for his daughter was meant to happen to her anyway… Crowley basically got a soul with no work required on his part.

"And that's why I'm the King," he laughed to himself.