Chapter Text
Maggie
“So there’s something I want to talk to you about, Aziraphale. It’s been such a rough couple of years between the lockdowns and the internet orders not coming. I’m going to be out of here in two weeks”
“Out of the record shop? Why? Don’t you like it anymore?”
“Oh Az, I love my shop. I’ve loved it since I was a baby. But I know how behind I am on rent… and you keep lending me money to help… and I still haven’t paid you back and you’ve never asked for it back and…” Maggie tears up.
“Well that’s entirely my fault for not asking. There. Now, I haven’t seen you in a while and…’”
“I can’t pay the rent and I can’t keep borrowing from you” Maggie cuts in “Aziraphale, I’m so sorry. I need to face the music. I need to tell the landlord I can be out of here next week. I just have to… pack it all up”
“Maggie, if you were out of here, where would I get my records? Finding the 78’s is much harder than the long players and frankly I wouldn’t know where to start”
“I don’t have the money”
“Maggie, what if I were to just take these Shostakovich records without paying for them?” Aziraphale chuckles and bats his eyelashes at her “and we’ll call it even?”
“I owe you thousands of pounds in borrowed rent! Those records would cost you eight pounds”
“Eight pounds and 75 pennies” Aziraphale corrects her.
“You can’t just forgive me eight months’ rent”
“Oh I can. I’m very good at forgiveness. It’s one of my favourite things. There. Now, you have paid me back…”
“Aziraphale. You can’t. I know we’re closer now than we ever have been…” Aziraphale nods and smiles but then falters when Maggie says “which makes it worse. That’s why you can’t do this. You can’t do me favours like this just because it’s me”
“Why? Mags I don’t know what you’re expecting me to say but I’m not going to see my best friend kicked out of her shop”
“Aziraphale, I don’t want to feel indebted to you” Maggie barks.
“Oh Mags, you’re being silly…” Aziraphale says frustratedly.
“Am I? This relationship of ours is weird enough as it is and you’ve been lending me money for ages”
“Yes I suppose it is” Aziraphale winces and toes the ground “Well to be honest, I’m not entirely comfortable discussing all this with you. The lending is fine, it’s just the awkward conversation after”
“Okay, good” Maggie smiles in relief and comes out from behind the till “So let’s come to an arrangement of some sort then so that I can pay you back for everything you’ve done for me. Some way I can help you out for all your troubles?”
“Really Maggie, it’s no trouble. I’m more concerned about you losing your shop” and he is, he truly is.
But then Maggie’s whole face lights up “Hang on. What about your shop?”
“W-what about my shop?”
“Well you barely open it these days…”
“Yes, Maggie, what are you getting at?”
“What about combining our shops again, like the old times? You rarely open up these days. I could run both of them for us on the days where you don’t feel like opening?”
“Combining them?... like the old times?”
“Yes I know it was before our time, when my great grandmother’s shop was a part of yours but what do you think? It’d be like bringing a part of our family’s history back to life?”
“Well it does sound rather lovely, actually” Aziraphale raises an eyebrow “Oh I don’t know Mags. Do you know much about books?”
“I’ve given you plenty of good recommendations over the years” Maggie chides.
“Hmmm, you have, but with new and upcoming books. What about my collectibles? My bible misprints… my first edition Jane Austens? What do you know about those?” Aziraphale looks at her and shakes his head fondly.
“Enough not to sell any” Maggie grins.
“Combining the shops?” Aziraphale muses and turns his head away sighing deeply. He closes his hands behind his back and patters around the record shop, deep in thought.
“What do you think? Would it help you?”
“Yes, it would help me” Aziraphale nods slowly and then tacks on “...if it works out”
“Oh it’ll work out. It can be our new family business” Maggie asks with a little too much glee in her tone and then she reads Aziraphale’s face and rephrases herself. She knows he is averse to change.
“Or not ‘new’” Maggie corrects herself “Just reinventing the old times”
“I err, I like the idea. I-I suppose I’m just not very good with change though” Aziraphale reminds her like she doesn’t know.
“Aziraphale, come here, take my hands”
“Yes dear, what is it?” Aziraphale obliges, looking up into Maggie’s lovely blue eyes.
“You know what I’m going to say” Maggie says warmly.
“Do I?” Aziraphale gives her a squeeze.
“Change is a part of life”
“I know but…”
“Nothing lasts forever”
~~~
5 months earlier
Angel, why'd you leave?
Where are you?
Come back
Just got on the train. I want to give Mags and your family a little time to breathe… big day. Thought it was for the best.
For the best? Are you mad?
You're so clever. How can someone as clever as you be so stupid?
Yes, I think I’m definitely mad. I’m also a bit panicky. I was too much back there. That was a lot to lay on you all. I was A LOT.
Too much honesty for one day.
Gosh I’m sorry, I was so ridiculous back there! Especially when the emphasis should be on Mags.
Shut up.
1x missed call from Crowley
Answer your phone!
Angel…
UGH
Sorry
Quit taking things the wrong way
4.23pm
Angel?
I’m sorry, I apologise
Whatever I said to you earlier, I didn’t mean it
Work with me, I'm apologising here
Yes?
Good
I forgive you
Alright
If you need time, then you need time…
But for the record, you should have told me you were leaving
If I’d have told you, you’d have come with me and you need to be there for Mags. All of you. Together.
~~~
Aziraphale
“Morning, darling” Aziraphale says sheepishly waiting for the trial to start. He can’t look Maggie in the eye. Ugh . Being Aziraphale is exhausting sometimes. He was so sure that leaving was the right thing to do at the time. So very sure. But Maggie’s face and persistent notes slipped under his door are matching Crowley’s response too. He thought he was being responsible, letting them have time to process Maggie’s news without any further complications from him. He’d already said too much that day .
He could go and just call Crowley and apologise and the more he re-reads those frantic text messages he realises he should. It would put his mind at rest, wouldn’t it?
But that would be too simple wouldn’t it? And he deserted Crowley in a car park. Silly, silly man. Would Crowley want to speak to him anyway? He never replied.
Oh, he really doesn’t know why he’s sat here in Give Me Coffee or Give Me Death, but Maggie has refused to drop him a coffee off today, telling him ‘he needs to put on some big boy pants and get out of the shop and talk to her’. She’s right, of course she’s right , but it doesn’t make things any easier.
“Aziraphale, did anyone ever tell you laughter is the best medicine?” Mags hands Aziraphale his favourite coffee and sits down with him.
“If you’ll forgive me Mags I'm not sure I'm ready to laugh about the whole situation yet”
“Hey, if you don’t laugh, you’ll cry” Maggie prompts “There’s an extra dash of almond syrup in there, because you look like you’re having a bad day today, but I’ve no idea why…?”
“Yeah, why are we moping again?” Nina calls over from the till “From what Mags told me about the other meal, it went well for the most part? You ‘got the guy’ didn't you?”
Aziraphale’s eyes dart to Nina and then back to the floor. How does one answer that? He hasn’t spoken to Crowley since that day. Since he told Crowley he loved him and then abandoned him “Yes? N-no. I don't know. I'm not sure?” He stammers.
“For fuck’s sake, Aziraphale, how can you not be sure?” Nina throws her towel down on the counter and then turns to the last customer taking her by surprise “Anybody wants anything, I’ll be back in five minutes”
To Aziraphale’s dismay, Nina’s customers seem to stand there and accept her swearing and the way she trounces over to his and Maggie’s table like they’re used to it. She shrugs, Aziraphale blushes, then Nina takes off her apron and wipes her hands haughtily, sitting down next to Maggie.
They’re both facing Aziraphale, squaring their shoulders and all of a sudden it feels like the Spanish Inquisition. Aziraphale gulps.
“We need to talk to you” Nina glowers at him.
“Ugh, Nina this isn’t a good time” Aziraphale looks between the faces of customers in her queue, waiting.
“I wasn’t asking” she replies matter of factly “You need to listen. You too, Mags. Both of you. There are things you need to hear“ Nina points at Maggie taking her by surprise.
“You and your ‘partner’ here” She gestures to Aziraphale “Have been messing about in our lives”
“What?” Maggie replies unexpectedly, but Nina continues.
“We’re not in a game. Crowley and I” She looks between Maggie and him “We’re real people. You can’t just rope us in for your amusement”
“B-but…” Aziraphale looks at Maggie with wide eyes. Is he receiving a talking to, or are both of them?
“Listen. When you two started all this, my relationship had just ended. I wasn’t ready to start another one yet. I’d have just been a rebound mess. And because of your… ‘fakery’... things got very serious, very fast, and I remember almost ruining things several times. Especially when we got drunk that night…” Nina puts an arm around Maggie “I said to you that ‘I can’t start getting serious just yet and that when I’m ready, I hope you’ll be there but there isn’t any guarantee…’”
“There is” Maggie’s expression shifts from concern to one of understanding. Aziraphale thinks about how mature she seems lately. But then she rolls her eyes and winks at Aziraphale “There always was”
“You’re not helping, angel” Nina smiles at her and then turns back to Aziraphale “The point is…look at you two, you’re the hard-bitten one, the ‘can’t trust anyone ever again’ and Mr. Wherever-He-Is is the soft one who still believes in magic and people being basically good and all that…”
“Why are you telling me all this? I don’t understand” Aziraphale gripes.
“That’s why she’s telling you” Maggie smiles and splays her hands out on the table with a sigh. Nina throws an arm back around Maggie's shoulder. They’re a united front “because you don’t understand. Because you and Anthony, don’t ever talk to each other”
“We talk all the time” Aziraphale reasons.
“You never say what you’re really thinking” She pulls her hands together “That was all we needed. It’s what you two need as well”
~~~
Morning darling.
I’m so sorry
I’ve been such an idiot.
You’ll be happy to know that Nina and Maggie think we’re terrible communicators
Well not happy but…
I’m sorry. This is all my fault Crowley.
We should talk
It’s fine, angel.
And yes, let's talk
Tonight?
Tonight?
Yes tonight x
Good I’ll call you x
Incoming call - 5hrs 2m
~~~
Hello darling. Our chat last night was wonderful. I'm so glad we talked. I was thinking about coming to the South Downs to apologise for leaving so abruptly. Can I call you?
Hi, angel. Stop worrying about it. Mum's fine. Actually I’m taking Muriel out this morning. Speak later?
Absolutely. Speak later x
~~~
Crowley, would you like to make plans today?
I miss you x
Sorry I haven’t been in touch I’ve just been busy
Busy?
Yes. Nothing to worry about. I’ve just been spending time with mum you know? I think you were right about family time.
Oh, absolutely.
In fact I've been thinking about a lot of things since our last call.
All good I hope?
Yes. I've been thinking about what I want. Oh and can you tell Mags to pick up her damn phone?
Yes of course x
~~~
“Morning, darling” Aziraphale furrows his brow and stares blankly at the coffee shop floor. He doesn’t know why he’s here to be honest. He’d much rather be at home in his bookshop where he can fret in peace.
He’s been frantically checking his signal to make sure he’s within range and he hasn’t missed any calls. He’s kept his charger with him. Crowley said he's thinking about what he wants .
Why does that sound scary and cryptic? What does that mean? Why will Aziraphale's brain never switch off?
Because Crowley's been acting a bit distant. Or is he acting distant? Is Aziraphale overthinking things as usual? After all, Aziraphale was the one who deserted him, effectively telling him to spend time with his family. He really doesn’t have a right to be cross, does he?
“So, what’s new, Aziraphale? Spoken to him yet?”
“Yes, I did. We had a good long chat and it was lovely. Crowley told me off for leaving you all that day…”
“As he should!” Maggie grins and turns to Nina “Did I tell you Aziraphale walked off that day? He was being ridiculous again”
“I’m still here, you know” Aziraphale says with a sigh but Nina ignores him.
“When is he ever not being ridiculous?” Nina snickers.
“I know, babe”
“We’re ‘babe’ now, are we?” Aziraphale chuckles.
“Don’t try to change the subject. Now tell me, what’s happened”
“Well…” Aziraphale’s face crinkles in frustration “like I said, everything feels hunky-dory but I need to see him. I’ve been trying to reach him. I thought maybe you could call and find out…”
“You have nothing to worry about” Maggie chimes in. She must be able to tell where Aziraphale is going. He goes quiet and rings his hands, twisting his pinky ring around and around.
“...but I’m not sure what's happened today Mags. He’s just been a bit busy with family time. Which is fine… it’s lovely. We’ve texted a little bit. But he's acting a bit odd. A bit distant now”
“How so?”
“I feel like he's avoiding me. I brought up the subject of going to the South Downs to apologise and chat to his mother, but he told me she’s busy…”
“Really?” Maggie asks and Aziraphale grabs onto her hand attempting to read her expression.
The truth is, he’s desperately wanted to know Maggie’s take on the whole situation for a few days now but all she does is hold him. She looks nervous. He doesn’t know if that’s a good or bad sign
“That doesn’t sound like my aunt” Maggie replies with a hint of concern and Aziraphale gulps.
“And it's like he's forgotten all about today. He isn't picking up his phone. You haven’t heard anything then? I don’t want to pry”
“No, I haven’t heard anything at all but I'm sure it's nothing” Maggie gulps her coffee. Aziraphale copies her. The sweet coffee is helping to take the bitter taste of doubt out of his mouth.
But it's not nothing , Aziraphale thinks. Today's the day Aziraphale has been waiting for, for a long time. And he pictured taking Crowley for a picnic or something else romantic. He didn't picture this… distance.
“I want to believe you, Mags” Aziraphale stares out the window “W-wait did he call you? He said he was trying to call you?”
“Um, yeah. You need to stop worrying, Az” Maggie stammers.
“What's today then?” Nina asks and Maggie shoots a glance at her but Aziraphale doesn't have the wherewithal to take it in. He feels a lump rise in his throat and he wraps a shaking hand around his coffee. Thank God Maggie ordered him a ‘to-go’ cup, he just wants to go back to the shop and hibernate for a while. And wait for Crowley’s call. Or ring him, or not ring him. He's not sure. How could Crowley forget?
And he can't stop the words from spoiling out “Do you think he’s… Maybe now he’s had time to think, he’s changed his mind about me?”
“That’s ridiculous” Nina half shouts as she wanders over to wipe down the table and ‘not eavesdrop’.
“Is it? Today should be quite special to us, so I’m getting a little confused”
“Why? What’s so special about today other than the eclipse?” Nina asks.
Ugh , there’s that word again ‘eclipse’. Why? Why does that word sting so much when you hear it? Aziraphale thinks. It’s just a word really. It’s nothing. Just an event where a planet gets in the way of the Sun’s light. He wishes he hadn’t brought it up. But it means something to him.
Aziraphale bows his head and sucks in a long breath between his teeth “I should probably go home and try him again” he says solemnly.
The eclipse happens today, apparently after 3pm sometime. That day has been ingrained in Aziraphale’s mind since he found out about it and it should be in Crowley’s too.
It stings that Crowley seems to have forgotten. It certainly DOESN’T remind Aziraphale of his first date with Crowley, when Crowley said all those vulnerable things…
Alright so maybe Crowley doesn’t want to remember that moment. But they’ve come a long way in a short amount of time and it was their first date and... it’s special. It is. It was the first time they truly opened up to one another. The first time they held hands and walked through the park together. The first time they were truly happy just being together, spending the day in the park and the night talking and drinking.
“Az, I’m sure you’re overreacting” Maggie chuckles, snapping Aziraphale out of his reverie “He said he’d ring you later, so just talk to him then and straighten this all out”
Aziraphale blinks rapidly “I’m sure you’re right…”
“I am right, Aziraphale” Maggie puts a hand on his shoulder “Do you know why I got you a ‘to-go’ cup today anyway?” Maggie smiles “It’s because I think we need a break ourselves. We should just go out for a bit, yeah? Just me and you. Let’s take the load off. We’ll go to the pub and then I’ll take you to watch the eclipse myself. It’ll be fun”
“Erm…” Aziraphale tries to edge in and explain how it's not the same thing but Maggie cuts him off.
“I think BOTH of us have been putting far too much pressure on ourselves. Can we just spend the afternoon together?... and worry about all this tomorrow?”
“The whole afternoon? Where's this coming from Mags?”
“Nowhere, I just want to hang out, like we used to”
“Ahh, err, actually… that sounds like a lovely idea” Aziraphale can’t help but smile back. Is Maggie acting a bit odd today? Everyone seems to be acting a bit odd, don’t they? Or maybe Aziraphale is just going mental now. He really needs to talk to Crowley.. but this could be good for him too. He and Maggie haven’t spent time together in a long time anyway. Maybe this is exactly what he needs.
“Oh really? Good! I thought I’d have to do some more convincing than that”
“I’m sorry to disappoint you dear” Aziraphale chuckles. Casual banter with his best friend? Yes, this is definitely what he needs.
“Alright, go get ready. I’ll meet you out front in ten”
~~~
“So darling, how are things going with you and Nina?” Aziraphale asks over a half drunk glass of sherry.
“I thought we were going to talk like we used to? Have some ‘us’ time, you know? Not talk about the last few months of our love lives…”
“Oh my dear, do you really think you’ve only been talking about Nina for the last few months? This is us talking like we used to”
“Well when you put it that way…” Maggie laughs and then claps the pub table excitedly “Everything is going great. She’s wonderful”
“Oh good. I’m so glad to hear it, you’re both great together”
“I know!” Maggie beams “We’re having fun”
“So are you officially in a relationship? I hate to ask but I also don't want to put my foot in it”
“Yes, well after we talked she introduced me as her girlfriend last week and also…also, we’re planning a trip to Paris in Autumn” Maggie practically squeaks.
“Paris?” Aziraphale puts his hands over his heart “How romantic. It sounds to me like there are no doubts there at all”
Maggie answers him with a squeal of delight “It was her idea too. I’m so excited. You’re the King of romance. Where can I take her when I’m there?”
“King of romance? Hardly. But OH, you can take her to the Louvre of course, then there’s the Palace of Versailles and it’s beautifully flamboyant gardens. There’s also the Wall of love… they talk about love in 250 languages, you’ll love it”
“Eek, thanks” Maggie smiles and whips her phone out.
“Expecting a call?” Aziraphale asks.
“W-what? Nope. Just making a quick note of it in my phone”
Maggie frowns at her phone and Aziraphale notices “Is there something wrong?”
“No, just checking the time. Shall we head off?”
“Head off? Already?”
“I mean to watch the eclipse”
“Oh” Aziraphale falters “I’m quite happy to stay here, actually”
“Oh come on. What is it with you and eclipses?”
“It’s nothing…” Aziraphale lies “Well you’re the one who called me a romantic. It’s a Crowley thing”
“How can an eclipse be a Crowley thing?”
“Never mind”
“Come on. I asked Nina to come with me to see it this afternoon but she needs to run the shop. Be my chaperone please?”
“Really Mags I’m quite happy to stay…”
“Pleeeeassssse Az. We can come back later?”
“Oh alright” Aziraphale concedes. He always softens around Mags “Where are we off to then?”
“Outside” Maggie smiles.
“Yes I know outside, but where?”
“Fancy a walk to St James Park?”
“Er” Aziraphale’s breath catches in his throat “I think not. Maybe another day but not today. Let’s just stand outside the pub”
“What’s wrong with St. James Park?”
“Well it’s just that Crowley and I… well we’ve had some lovely moments there and I don't want anything to set me off. I’ll worry about him later. I just want to take my mind off things like you said”
“Yes but, b-but it’s the best place to see it” Maggie fumbles “Besides isn’t outside this pub a reminder for you too?”
“How’d you mean?”
“Remember the horse?”
“The horse” Aziraphale looks down. The horse outside the pub, when Crowley pulled him in tight. The first time he got close enough to not quite kiss. Yes of course, another Crowley reminder. He swallows and Maggie looks at him and raises her eyebrows.
There’s no escape from his feelings, he thinks. Not today anyway. Aziraphale rolls his eyes, downing the rest of his drink. Ugh, the bloody eclipse. Why did it have to be today? It shouldn’t make his heart rise in his mouth like this, but it does. He has the sudden urge to call Crowley, but no. Just pull yourself together and get it over with, Aziraphale. When will this self torment end?
“I’ll buy you a cone when we’re there. It’s getting a bit warmer now, isn’t it?” Maggie smiles warmly and Aziraphale is reminded they’re talking about St James Park again.
“Mags…?” Aziraphale whines.
“Come on… you can’t say no to ice cream, Az. Can I tempt you to your first strawberry split of the year?”
“Alright, fine. Temptation accomplished” Aziraphale grunts “But we’re coming straight back and then you can listen to me moan about your handsome infuriating cousin for the rest of the afternoon, alright?”
“Deal” Maggie beams and Aziraphale scowls at her.
He pulls his coat around himself like a safety blanket and thinks about how quickly things can change. Spring on the way, already? When did it get warm enough for the ice cream cart to come back to St. James Park?
Something told him that something was coming to an end. Not the world exactly, just the Winter. There would be other Winter’s, but there would never be one like this. Not ever again.
~~~
“Mags of all the benches in St James Park to pick, why this one? Can’t we sit somewhere else?”
“No we can’t. This is the only one free… AND it’s close to the ice cream cart”
“Is that the only reason?” Aziraphale laughs. Maggie’s been extraordinarily fidgety on the way here.
“Course it is. What other reason would there be?”
“Right. Well I’m surprised it’s free actually, look at all the people here to watch the eclipse”
Aziraphale looks towards the bank and sits down in his usual spot. He tries not to think about the ghost of Crowley sprawling next to him.
“I know” Maggie says quickly and sarcastically “It’s a miracle”
“Mags, what has gotten into you today?” Aziraphale observes her strangely “You don’t seem like yourself”
“I’m fine. I’m great” She dances from foot to foot. Aziraphale raises one eyebrow at her “Okay maybe I’ve got low blood sugar. Still fancy that ice cream?”
“It’s the only reason I’m here” Aziraphale says snarkily and Maggie sticks her tongue out at him.
“Okay I’ll be right back” She laughs.
“Hurry or you’ll miss it!” Aziraphale calls after her and huffs.
He looks around the park to do some ‘people watching’, his old favourite pastime.
Aziraphale watches on dubiously. He just needs to get to a place where he can switch off his brain for a bit, but the happy couples arm in arm certainly don't help. He thinks about what Crowley is doing right now, his heart aches at the thought. Is he chasing Adam around a table somewhere? Is he taking Tracey and Gen shopping? Or is he taking Muriel somewhere with their camera?
Great! He's back to longing. Text him. Call him! That desperate little voice in his head shouts louder and louder. He bites down on his own tongue trying to get it out of his mind. The image of the man that's drifting further and further away from him. Aziraphale folds his hands onto his lap and swallows and then he notices the people around him bringing out their phones to aim at the sky. It must be almost time. He raises his eyes skyward to watch. He tries to clear his mind and his eyes.
"You're not meant to look at them, remember?"
Aziraphale has heard that familiar throaty, spine tingling voice say those words before and for half a second he wonders if he's daydreaming. He gulps.
“C-Crowley?” Aziraphale's head snaps to the side and then his eyes widen is disbelief.
He's here, he's here.
Aziraphale's heart gallops in his chest.
"Did you really think I'd miss this?" He stands before Aziraphale smirking, looking as handsome as ever. It isn't fair.
Aziraphale stumbles over his words "Crowley you're here?"
"I'm here, angel. I wouldn't miss this for the world"
Crowley smiles that big devastating smile that Aziraphale loves and then casually sits next to him, hands in his pockets, staring skyward.
Aziraphale doesn't know what to do with himself, he feels his heart thrum in his ears "but I thought you forgot…"
"I know, I've been a dick, not answering the phone. But I had to throw you off the scent"
"Throw me off the scent?"
"Yeah" Crowley throws an arm over the back of the bench behind Aziraphale haphazardly and grins "I had a plan you see?"
Aziraphale wants nothing more than to close the distance and kiss the grin right off Crowley's face. Good lord, he certainly knows how to panic Aziraphale "what plan?"
“An ineffable plan” Crowley taps the side of his nose.
“Ineffable?” Aziraphale repeats dumbly.
“Well no actually, I'm lying. Not ineffable but it's been something I’ve been thinking about for a while”
“What have you been thinking about?”
"Taking you somewhere to watch the eclipse together of course"
“Oh, so we could have planned something special then?” Aziraphale says sarcastically but keeps a smile on his face.
“This is special isn't it? I wanted to surprise you”
"You’ve certainly surprised me” Aziraphale scoffs “But you'll have to move up. Mags will be on her way back with my ice cream soon"
"Oh sorry angel, she hasn't gone for an ice cream. I asked her to help me get you here" Crowley laughs "But I can go and get you one if you want?"
"Crowley what IS going on?" Aziraphale sits forward and Crowley does too.
But Crowley shushes him much to Aziraphale's annoyance.
"Just wait and watch the eclipse with me” Crowley pulls out his phone and aims it at the sky “Ahhh it's happening. It's wonderful isn't it?" Crowley beams.
Aziraphale melts into his side as Crowley fights the urge not to look directly at it. Then he glances at Aziraphale and breathes deeply.
"Do you remember what I told you on our first date, about the eclipse?" Crowley smiles that heartbreaking smile. It fills Aziraphale with a warm relief to know Crowley remembers and this apparently means as much to him as it does to Aziraphale. He lets his eyes flutter at the beautiful man beside him "Of course I do"
"Good, tell me"
"That I shouldn't look directly at them"
"That sounds smart" Crowley chuckles. "What other smart things did I say that day?"
"About eclipses?"
"Yeah"
"Well you talked about the moon's raggedy mountains..." Aziraphale's breath catches in his throat and then his eyes snap to Crowley's “C-Crowley?”
Crowley's sitting there as casual as anything with a whiter than white smile "The sawtooth pattern. What about it, angel?"
"The light streams" Aziraphale squeaks, his eyes already unconsciously filling with tears, his hands shaking. Then he starts to panic and squeezes Crowley's fingers on the bench next to him. It makes Crowley smile even wider.
"Y-you said, the astronomers call it.... the d-diamond ring"
"Angel, can I have my fingers back for a moment. I need to fetch something from my pocket"
Crowley chuckles and tries to pry himself free, but Aziraphale has an iron tight grip on his hand. His heart might stop.
“I don't…” Aziraphale squeezes his fingers in a vice-like grip. He's in shock. He feels his tongue go thick in his throat. Swallow, speak, do something!
"A-angel. I came here today with a plan, but I need working hands for it to work. Don't grip me so tight" Crowley laughs and Aziraphale reluctantly releases his hand.
His heart is hammering in his chest. He hears the small clatter then clunk of the man of his dreams putting something metal on the bench between them. He can't look.
Then from a few feet away he hears "Get down on one knee, it's more romantic!"
"Oi, don't interrupt him. It's his moment"
Shit, is that Tracey and Gen? Aziraphale blinks rapidly, searching.
“I am having a moment here” Crowley shouts back.
And then he spots them all standing by the path. Where the hell did they come from? All those pairs of eyes watching Aziraphale and Crowley.
They're all here.
Tracey and Gen in mutual tears, Muriel with their camera trained on them, Adam... Shadwell... and…
Maggie and Nina with their arms tightly wrapped around each other, they must have all planned this together.
Aziraphale feels his heart surge in his chest. He can't breathe. He feels the earth turning under his feet and he needs to hold on for dear life.
"Oh god" he weeps into his free hand and then he turns back around to find Crowley on one knee before him.
"SHIT” he half shouts, causing a giggle from the family around him and he wipes a tear from his cheek. He's an ugly crier, he knows it.
"Angel" Crowley says softly though it still makes Aziraphale jump.
"Y-yes?" Aziraphale laughs breathily.
"I could do this much more romantically if I didn't have all these lot watching me, especially Shadwell" Crowley scoffs and Shadwell grunts. It makes Aziraphale laugh "but they all insisted on being here, so..." And the way Crowley says that knocks Aziraphale back a half-step. He can see Tracey in his peripheral vision but he can't look away, because everything he has ever wanted is kneeling before him like some ridiculous knight in shining armour. He feels his bottom lip wobble.
"Yes?" Aziraphale exhales and squeezes his eyes closed for a moment. When they reopen it's to the warm steadying feeling of Crowley taking his hand in his and when it happens, Aziraphale finally understands how sailors must feel when they see the distant dry land come into view.
With his other hand, he fumbles his sunglasses off and Aziraphale can see the way his eyes gleam with unshed tears. Those life-ruining amber eyes, unguarded and vulnerable. He looks at Crowley afraid to blink. He wants nothing more than to kiss those worried wrinkles etched into Crowley’s forehead.
"On our first date you told me this was your favourite bench..." Crowley smiles and Aziraphale hears laughs coming from behind him.
"I did. I did say that" Aziraphale chokes back a sob.
"Well when you told me that, it was the first time I realised how daft I was… to be in love with a man who has a favourite bench, I mean come on..." Crowley grins and squeezes Aziraphale's hand in his. Crowley's hands shake in his, so he rubs his thumb over a finger attempting to soothe him.
"Aziraphale you're mad" Crowley raises his eyebrows "and you're kind and you're funny. You use phrases like ‘tickety-boo’ and ‘get a wiggle on’. You're everything I've ever wanted. I've been waiting 40, nearly 50 for you and now you're here, I want to you all to myself"
“We make a great team, you and I. What do you say?”
Crowley plucks up the ring from the bench and chokes over his last question. "Aziraphale... Angel? Will you marry me?"
“Are you finished?” Aziraphale laughs through tears and covers his mouth with one hand “that was one heck of a speech”
“Yes of course I'll marry you” he chortles.
“You're sure?”
“Yes I'm sure you wily serpent, come here”
Aziraphale throws himself off the bench straight at Crowley and it feels so good have those arms wrap around him, catching him. They fit together like yin and yang, any of the broken edges they might have individually fit together like a beautiful puzzle. He's writhing with nerves but the warm calming scent of Crowley pushes any other fears away. The feel and weight of Crowley's body against his. He's perfect. They're perfect. He could stay here forever. He wants to kiss him. He takes his face in his hands and…
And he barely feels the body's pummel and crash against his back, arms wrapping around them. An unhinged mixture of bright pink lipstick and perfumes and expletives knock the wind out of them both. Aziraphale laughs and looks up as aunties scream into his ear, like white noise, like static. It's a funny sensation but everything he's ever wanted.
Time slows down so Aziraphale can replay those moments in his mind's eye.
The first time Muriel hugged him so hard it hurt and all the horrendous magenta lipstick marks he's gotten used to scrubbing from his skin but this time he doesn't feel out of place. He never saw any of this coming.
“Can I hear a wahoo” Crowley mumbles hotly into his ear and everything’s wonderful.
~~~
Christmas Eve - 9 months later
Crowley
“Angel, let me show you this?” Crowley says as he pokes a sleepy Aziraphale in the side and gestures to his jeans.
“What are you doing?” Aziraphale blinks a few times and then swats his hand away from his crotch and looks around to check whether anyone has noticed them.
Everyone is fast asleep after a huge Christmas dinner and as usual the TV is muted. Shadwell’s snoring loudly on the couch and Aziraphale looks shocked that the sleeping ladies on his shoulders are still asleep. Crowley silently laughs at him and plants a kiss on his head.
“I’m giving you an early Christmas present”
Aziraphale whispers, shouts and then gets quieter trying not to wake anyone “Darling, I’m not looking at your crotch, when your…” he mouths dramatically “MOTHER, is in the same room”
“Just look, quickly” Crowley whispers with a toothy grin. He wiggles on the couch to rearrange his arms and pulls his jeans down just a little to reveal the waistband of his boxers.
At first Aziraphale doesn’t look like he’s going to take the bait, but eventually he does. He risks a glance around to check everyone is still asleep, which they are.
Crowley grins, then Aziraphale’s eyes go wider than wide and Crowley needs to lurch forward and swallow Aziraphale’s musical laughter in his mouth before he wakes anyone. He wraps his arms around him and kisses him with force, though it’s entirely one-sided as Aziraphale silently chuckles back into Crowley’s mouth.
“Shhh” Crowley gives him a little squeeze “I knew you’d like them. Do you think they’re sexy?”
“No I bloody well don’t, Crowley” Aziraphale whispers “Honestly, briefs with mistletoe on them? You couldn’t be more obvious if you tried”
“Hey, whatever gets me laid tonight” Crowley shrugs and Aziraphale swats at him.
“You’re not getting laid tonight. We’re in a cottage full of your family for Christ’s sake”
“It’s never stopped you before” Crowley raises his eyebrows.
“Crowley, you’re terrible” Aziraphale chides.
“Come on, I’ve been on edge all day. Help me relax, angel” Crowley reaches a hand up his thigh
“No” Aziraphale swats his hand away but Crowley can hear his breath hitch.
“Please?” Crowley pouts “We could go right now”
“May I remind you that your mother and your auntie are sleeping right there”
“So let’s go upstairs, it won't take long”
“Oh, charming” Aziraphale chides.
Crowley plants a kiss to the shell of Aziraphale’s ear, exactly where he likes it and then he breathes hot breath down Aziraphale’s neck waiting for a reaction.
He hears Aziraphale’s sharp intake of breath and Crowley knows how to please his angel so he plants more hot kisses to the space between Aziraphale’s jaw and his ear and nibbles his way up from Aziraphale’s ear lobe to the top of his ear.
Aziraphale makes that sound, the sound that only whales can hear and Crowley grins into his neck. And if that wasn’t obvious, Aziraphale grabs at Crowley’s thigh, digging his nails into the muscle. All Crowley can think about is getting those wide thick manicured hands on him. The thought of them pinning him down or pushing him against the door of his bedroom.
Aziraphale must be thinking the same thing because he says “If you wanted to get me upstairs you should have put those snakeskin boxers on”
“W-what?” Crowley pulls back and smiles at him admiring the way Aziraphale’s eyes have darkened and the pretty flush that has crept up his neck “You remember those?”
“Of course I remember those” Aziraphale melts into him.
“Come on…” Crowley is up and dragging Aziraphale with him. Thank someone the floors are carpeted in this place and their footsteps are as silent as can be. They reach the bottom of the stairs and giggle at each other, remembering how obnoxiously they squeaked from last time, all that time ago “You can be quiet can’t you?” Crowley punctuates those words with a kiss.
“I believe I’ve heard that question somewhere before” Aziraphale replies with a deeper than deep voice and a smile. A thrill shoots straight up Crowley’s spine, he knows that voice all too well. Aziraphale is about to ravish him.
“Ngk” is all Crowley can manage before he drags his angel up the stairs to his room and descend into a flurry of hard kisses and groping hands.
“Wait” Aziraphale laughs as he closes the door “Take those boxers off. I’m not having my way with someone who’s wearing novelty underwear”
“Oh, angel, don’t be a grinch” Crowley laughs tugging off his clothes.
“Take them off” Aziraphale commands and straightens his bow tie, wiping down his clothes “And maybe put the snakeskin ones on”
Crowley raises an eyebrow “I was planning on saving them actually”
“For what?”
“For our wedding”
“Our wedding? Crowley you fiend. You haven’t bought new underwear for our wedding?” Aziraphale chides.
“Well… when you put it like that” Crowley laughs “Maybe I can go out and buy some undies”
“Crowley it’s Christmas Day tomorrow and our wedding is on Friday. When are you possibly going to get time to go?”
“I honestly didn’t think about it. I could go commando instead?”
“Crowley you are not going commando on our wedding day” Aziraphale scoffs.
“Oh shut up” Crowley laughs and tugs off his offending underwear throwing it to the side “C’mere”
Aziraphale falls into his embrace and kisses him reverently, grazing the edge of his teeth on Crowley’s bottom lip and tugging gently.
He falls back much to Crowley’s dismay but his big, gorgeous blue eyes never leave Crowley’s.
“Fuck” Crowley breathes as he watches Aziraphale lick his own lips. Okay, this angel has his full attention now.
Aziraphale pushes him back onto the bed and he feels a gust of Aziraphale’s hot breath against his cock. His thighs riot under Aziraphale’s soft touch. He spreads his hands widely over Crowley thighs and then Aziraphale’s eyes flicker from Crowley’s face to his cock and to his face again.
Crowley can’t help but twitch eagerly beneath Aziraphale’s hot breath. Aziraphale breaks out into a shit eating grin, the type of expression usually reserved for Crowley and he says fondly “Do you even deserve me? ”
But before Crowley can reply, lips are closing over him and he excitedly keens into the sheets.
~~~
“Aziraphale, do you want a cuppa babe?”
“Oh you’re awake?” Aziraphale falters, looking to Crowley in panic as they descend the stairs.
Crowley chuckles and flattens an unruly curl on Aziraphale’s head.
“Yeah, it’s only 6 o’clock. Did you two have fun up there?”
“Mum!” Crowley barks, even though he’s finding it quite funny.
“Oh… err… well” Aziraphale stammers “W-we were only upstairs for a few minutes, Trace…”
“A few minutes?” Gen laughs “Crowley there are things you buy to make you last longer you know…”
“Fuck off, Gen” Crowley growls and she punches him hard in the shoulder.
“Crowley!” Aziraphale frowns at him, Crowley kisses him as he gets shooed away to his own seat.
They all sit around the dining table, presumably to keep the noise of the banter away from a sleeping Shadwell in the living room, though that’s never stopped them before.
“Can’t you two keep your bloody hands off each other?” Gen laughs clapping Aziraphale on the back.
“Really, we weren’t gone very long and we were just talking about the wedding, weren’t we Crowley” Aziraphale looks at him with pleading in his eyes.
“Oh if you weren’t my son and my son-in-law…” Tracey grins “Well I would have shouted you down earlier but it doesn’t seem right for a mother to ‘cock-block’ her nearly 50 year old son”
Aziraphale looks at Crowley and they break out into laughter. It’s hilarious. And Crowley notices the way Aziraphale doesn’t seem to carry any of that anxiety anymore, he still shakes but it’s less so. And his laugh, oh god. If Crowley could make him laugh like that for the rest of his life it wouldn’t be enough, he’s just wonderful and he’s all his. A group of the two of them. His fiance, soon to be husband.
“Can we change the subject?”
Aziraphale asks so confidently, it makes Crowley want to wrap his arms around him, he’s come such a long way.
"Of course, dear” Tracey smiles and shouts out the back door “Adam, Muriel, I’ve made hot chocolate”
Crowley watches as the hellions peel off their winter coats and Muriel sets their camera down on the table “What have you been photographing?” Crowley asks, picking up a polaroid.
“Snowflakes. We wanted to see what we could get. Look I did a cool slow-mo on my phone”
Adam pounces on him.
“Very nice” Crowley replies and thumbs through the polaroids on the table “What do you think, angel? I know we have a photographer but these two could get some excellent wedding candids”
“I quite agree” Aziraphale says warmly.
“Really?” Muriel beams “I can bring my camera to your wedding?”
“I’d be disappointed if you didn’t, kiddo”
“Speaking of weddings and moving house” Tracey plants a kiss on Aziraphale’s cheek “Have you decided what you’re going to do with your bookshop?"
"Oh, well. Maggie’s going to run it but the flat upstairs is still vacant now she’s moving in with Nina so it can be our 'London home' when we're there of course"
"Yep, but we'll be living here in the South Downs so I can see these two everyday" Crowley scrubs a knuckle over Adam's head.
"Every day? That's a bit much isn't it?" Adam croaks.
Fuck , Crowley thinks. When did his voice start breaking? When did he get so tall?
"Tired of me already?" Crowley feels a lump rise in his throat.
He hides it by mussing Adam’s hair, and Gen cuts them both off before the atmosphere descends into play fighting and chaos. He exhales. Shit, Adam’s growing up fast.
"So let me get this straight, when you're not here you'll be running a bookshop?"
"Do I look like I run a bookshop?" Crowley chides.
Aziraphale laughs "It’s a family business now, darling… Oh I'm excited to move here properly though. I can’t wait for you all to see the cottage"
"So am I” Tracey beams “Is it the one at the top of the hill? Can we go today? Can we go now?"
“It’s dark out” Crowley replies “and we haven’t got the keys yet, you won’t be able to see anything…”
“So?” His Aunt Gen punches him in the shoulder “I want to see it”
"Yes! I can’t wait for you to see it!” Aziraphale squeaks in his chair “Shall we, Crowley? Can we drive past it?"
"Well I suppose we've only driven past it four times today..." Crowley drawls happily and takes a generous mouthful of his hot chocolate.
"Okay, okay. Down your drinks ladies and let's go. Swallow and follow"
“Fuck!” Crowley chokes on his hot chocolate, laughing at his mad fiance. Aziraphale winks at him, making his tongue feel like putty in his throat. Luckily the kids are already out of the room and through the garage. Any opportunity to get in Crowley’s car.
"The innuendos that come out of him…" Mrs Sandwich laughs.
"Gen!" Tracey chides.
"What??? If he deals them I'm going to..."
"Speaking of swallowing, how did your date go with that delivery driver?" Aziraphale cuts in and raises his eyebrows. The entire table breaks out into laughter. Crowley’s cheeks hurt from smiling.
He watches on and revels in the domesticity of all this. Christmas with his family and his fiance... the relaxed look on Aziraphale’s face. So content to be himself. Nothing will ever beat that.
"SEE! Aziraphale's filthier than me!" Mrs Sandwich scoffs.
"You and the delivery driver?" Tracey asks pointedly.
"Yeah he took me out last night. First date. He was dead nervous around me..."
"From everything you said, I knew he liked you, darling. He's delivered to you often enough" Aziraphale smiles.
"Well you were right, that one liner you gave me really broke the tension. I had him laughing in no time"
"What was the one liner?" Crowley replies, suddenly very interested.
"I told him that even though he was the expert delivery man, I could work wonders with his package"
"Aziraphale? You came up with that?" Tracey laughs.
"Well you two inspire me" Aziraphale beams, putting a hand on his mum’s shoulder.
Crowley swipes a hand over his face, suppressing a laugh "Ugh satan, someone. I need a drink. Let’s go do this drive by thing and then when we get back we’re getting sloshed. I don't think I can handle the three of you clucking hens all night"
Tracey and Mrs Sandwich pile out the kitchen towards the garage, not bothering to wake Shadwell who’s still snoring on the couch. It’s probably better that way. Crowley listens to the distant sound of chattering and clattering in the garage and then his gaze meets Aziraphale’s gaze. He exhales. Oh god, how he loves this man.
Aziraphale smiles back, a soul crushing grin like he can read exactly what is on his mind “I love you” Aziraphale breathes.
"I love you too” Crowley replies into those twinkling blue grey eyes.
“Come on” Aziraphale replies taking the polaroids from Crowley’s hand and placing them on the table.
"Wait” Crowley replies “Angel, before we go, where are those polaroids that Muriel took when we got engaged? I want to stick some on my mum's fridge"
“Oh” Aziraphale replies “Muriel gave some of them to me. One minute, let me fetch my bag”
Crowley walks over to the fridge and makes a little space.
“They're right here, darling” Aziraphale says as he returns.
Crowley smiles and wraps an arm around Aziraphale.
“What about the one's I took?” Crowley smiles, peeling back Aziraphale’s collar and leaning in seductively.
“Those ones will never see the light of day!”
“What???” Crowley chuckles “They're great! Why?”
“Crowley” Aziraphale whines “I'm pretty much naked in them”
“I know. I'm not suggesting we stick those on the fridge. I just want to keep them”
“No. Forget it. They're going in the bin…”
“Nope, not happening” Crowley laughs and slips out of Aziraphale’s grip “I'm keeping them. I already have one of them in my wallet, anyway”
“What?? Which one? Crowley, get back here, which one?”
“This one” Crowley laughs and raises an eyebrow.
“Oh you foul fiend”
THE END.