Fostered

Chapter 2: Orleans

I must have nodded off at some point because auburn hair had fallen asleep holding me. When I turned to face her she blinked a few times and smiled. 
“Good morning sunshine” she said through a yawn. Some how the bedhead look worked for her. 
“Good morning auburn hair” She looked at me confused, before she realized she never told me her name. 
“Emma, my names Emma. Its nice to meet you”
“After a night together id hope youd say that” I smirk at her, repaying for the teasing last night, though she was blushing this time. Theres a coughing in the doorway, and I turn to see John there, holding my bag. 
“Fast friends huh?” he pointed between us 
“Its not like that, she stayed with me last night because of what hap-
“Because I was scared and needed someone who could protect me” she cut me off. 
“I know they got Dylan but.. I was shaken up. I needed someone.” She explained quicker than I could have

                “Well, good for you Grey, but we have to go, I got us a day earlier” Damn. Already? 
“Youre leaving already? Emma looked disappointed, and I felt a pang in my chest. I was just starting to make friends. 
“I guess so..” I look at John for confirmation and he nods. Emma hugs me, and proimses shell find me again, and I hug her back, for a few minutes until John decided it was time. Skimming over the car ride, and truckstop diner dinners, we got to New Orleans, and we pulled to a smaller, brick house, and a tall dark man with close cropped hair, dressed in a black shirt and penstriped slacks met us. He smelled of sage, and smoke, but I couldnt read him, at all. 
    “Welcome, C’mon in, youre home now kid, and were gonna love you here. Im Crawley, and thats my lovin’ wife Portia.” He leaned in and swept an arm in a grand gesture, making me laugh a bit, and his wife roll her eyes. 
    “Well, Grey?” John asked, ready to grab me this time.
“Well see” I say, smiling at the shock on his face. Crawley just smiled and showed me to my room, a small, dark red room, with a black dresser, a fake(?) skull, with several gemstones surrounding it, and a few unlit white candles decorate it, the bedsheets are black, and a navy blanket is folded at the foot.The room didnt have any windows, but i didnt really care when an amazing smell drew me out of the room into the kitchen, where John and Crawley were at a table talking, and Portia was stirring a pot of something decadant. She noticed me first, and motioned me over, holding up two spices. 
“Which one hun’?” She asked, I pointed to the cajun, and she smiled, and added it in, then Crawley appeared. 
“Ever had gumbo, kid?” he asked wafting the scent to his nose, and eyeing me. 
“No sir” Johns jaw droped to the table, and I laughed. Crawley waved his hand dismissively 
“No sir, or ma’am shit in here kid. Crawley, Portia.” He made sure to point to each, smiling. He seemed nice but not being able to read them was odd. 
“Ive gotta go to the store, pick up a few things for dinner, you wanna come kid?” Crawley asked, pulling on a suit jacket. I nodded and followed him out, as we walked a few blocks to a near corner store. A couple of men were hanging around the outside near an alley on the side of the building. Going in Crawley greeted the cashier with a joke and we got what he needed and were on our way out. Walking outside, a man yelled a rather rude slur at Crawley, and his face contorted but he said to keep walking, or that was until the guy stepped in fornt of him and pushed him, and one stepped behind to grab him. The first man spat at Crawley, as he told me to get out of there and get help. I did not do that. Instead I jumped up tp punch the first man in the face, and the second mans grip must have loosened because Crawley pulled free and elbowed him in the face before taking a fighting stance. 
“Kid youve gotta learn to listen when a man speaks” 
“And youve gotta learn my name” I say as the first man rushes toward us, and Crawley moves out of the punch, to jab at his ribs and I uppercut him as he was tripping over his feet, letting him fall to the ground as the other man grabs me, Crawley hits him in the face from the side, and I headbutt him from the front, he dropped me, and Crawley and I grabbed our bags and rounded the corner as red and blue lights started to flash and Crawley let out a big laugh, leaning on my shoulder. I laughed too. 
“Kid, whats your name?” 
“Grey, wha-
“Grey youve got to show me where you learned to fight, and why you stood up for me, becuase now, were friends, you and me” He said making grand gestures and smiling big. I couldnt help but smile too. Going back into the house John and Portia wernet happy to hear about the two men being beaten and the attackers “vanishing” around the corner, I hadnt even realized we got there 10 minutes quicker than it took to get to the store. Crawley just winked with a smile and said 
“Couldnt have been us, takes 25 minutese to get there, and 25 to get back, we made it just in time, anything like that woulda set us back. Right Grey?” I just looked from John to Portia and laughed, John looked angry, but smiled and reminded me that I had his number. After dinner, Crawley gave me a tour, and explained a little about what he and his wife do, both officially and religiously. Voodoo, the Occult, and things of the like. Over the next few months we had bonded quite a bit and honestly, I may have slipped and called them mom and dad once or twice. But, as always the day came to transfer however this time was different...