Chapter Text
The sound of the knocked door made Aziraphale come back to earth from wherever he was, Perhaps the world of instrumental music? He sighed and got up from his orange-brown couch and made his way toward the door of his bookshop, a door that has led so many good and bad people inside.
As he opened the Door he was facing an very unusual thing. People were gathered around the book shop , some were filming , some were talking shit and some were stunned. But then he realized why , an complete naked man was standing in front of the book shop with a cartoon box in hand. Covering important part of his body. he turned around to meet the bookseller. The unbelievable part was the fact that the man was actually the famous "Supreme Archangel Gabriel".
Aziraphale was flabbergasted by the sight of Gabriel but archangel was cheerful to meet him.
He spat out. "WHAT on earth are you doing here Gabriel?!" Said he firmly.
The archangel smiled oddly. "Yeah! Why am I here?"
The bookshop owner stormed. "exactly! What are you doing here?!" Gabriel's smile faded away slowly from his well-known face. "I taught you know the answer..?"
Aziraphale growled, already fed up by his behavior. He stepped out a bit and informed. "I don't know this man." And just like that he got inside the bookshop again and was already pulling down the curtains. but Gabriel wasn't worried, instead he put the box down like an precious object and the sound of everyone's amazed sound Aziraphale noticed what has happened.
He opened the Door harshly and pulled Gabriel inside.
* * * * *
Aziraphale gave him some fresh clothes to wear. A white shirt with a colourful vest yet so basic, A light brown coat and a darker tie. Their chat and somehow... argument continued.
Gabriel smile was back after 4 minutes of talking, already annoying Aziraphale. "What.. are you?"
Aziraphale acknowledged. "You can call me Mr.fell"
Gabriel received the information and answered. "Congratulations, Mr fell!"
Aziraphale raised an brow , completely curious. " For what? "
Gabriel looked at him for a second and thought. Then answered." For the thing I gave you? " and was already shouted at by Mr.fell. he tried to remember, but only the few things he saw was on his mind for now. "I was trying to give you something, to say something to you that.. I already said. "
Aziraphale yelled , said some little bad words , thought for a bit and ran to the door. When he was back , he was carrying the box that Gabriel was lifting before. He placed the cartoon box on his table and opened it slowly. His eyes widen and his heart rate fater than before. The smell of milk , the sound of crying and the feeling of its soft skin. It was an baby, already awake because of how cold outside was. Aziraphale was anxious. WHOS BABY WAS IT? He looked around to find Gabriel in the room, he was standing next to him and looking at the newborn baby in the box. Aziraphale snapped. "GAB- i mean jim... whos baby is it? Where did you find it?!" Gabriel was named Jim now, just like a newborn baby. He decided to think again and didn't reach anything. " I was already carrying it.. from where I came from. Outside..." Aziraphale sighed nervously. Carried the baby out of the box and covered it into some fabric. Miracled some hot milk in the kitchen and fed the baby like an excellent mother. "Shh.." He whispered, Already feeling responsible. Jim followed him everywhere he walked, Aziraphale was taking care of two different babies.
He couldn't take it anymore, only if there was someone who could support him it would help him. With the baby in his hand he walked slowly and carefully toward his phone on his wood desk and started tapping numbers until a familiar voice picked up. " what is it angel? "He hissed out. his voice sounded like he was transformed into a snake but the angel smiled softly at his voice. " crowley, can you come to my bookshop? There is something you need to.. see." Crowley was interested, not curious. He hummed at Aziraphale and ended their call.
He waited patiently for crowley to arrive, asking help from jim would only make things go more wrong. Aziraphale would be glad of him coming, not only for help but to see him again, For one more time each week. He would be even more joyful to see him in each week more than two times. Aziraphale was lost in thoughts but jim could hear the noise the Bentley was making. Giving news of crowley arrival.
Jim went to the kitchen where all the pots and hot waters were, investigating between things to know them better. For some reason he was trying to make hot chocolate to drink because he loved them, he wanted to make two cups of them to make Aziraphale proud. Just like a kid. Crowley kicked the door open and got inside and took a look around the book shop. His red hair lighten up and his yellow snake eyes covered up by the familiar black sunglasses. Aziraphale jumped by the sound of the door and stood up and stepped toward crowley. "Well, hello."
Crowley nodded , tried to take a look at the thing inside the fabric that he was holding but saw nothing so he asked. "Whats that? Why did you call me here?" Afterall crowley had the right to be curious and Aziraphale didn’t know how to explain so he simply lowered the baby, didn't know what his reaction might be. But his eyes widen up and the sight of the newborn baby in the arms of his friend. At first he thought Aziraphale was the one who gave birth to that kid but denied immediately. He snapped "WHOS BABY IS IT? WHERE DID-Did this baby came from?!" Aziraphale regretted it right away. Maybe he should've ask someone eles for help.. he smiled to hide how nervous he was. "Um..j-jim gave it to me. I als-also don't know who is its parents.." crowley's mouth open , his eyebrows raised. Yeah he definitely was thinking about who "jim" was. "We know Jim?.."
Jim , the person in question walked outside kitchen, he was holding two cups of hot chocolate that was one for himself one for Aziraphale. "Welcome customer! Would you like my help?" His voice made crowley turn around, when he saw Gabriel's face he jumped back and yelled his name. Anyone would! Imagine an archangel walking with two cups of hot chocolate with a losed memory.
Aziraphale smiled with a bit of emotion showen, he guided him toward his own couch
"Jim , thanks for.. the drink you made. You can sit down there , dear. "
Crowley was stunned by how calm Aziraphale talked to Gabriel. "Angel we need to talk about all this." His Tone was unlike other times , he needed to be explained.
In one of Aziraphales room an angel and a demon talked about the things going on. Always about others , never about themselves and how they feel about each other.
Angel clarified. "He has no memory! I asked him many times about the things that happened, he didn't answer me properly."
Demon clarified too. " im not talking 'bout him , where did the-erm..baby came from?! " his face was now uncovered. The sunglasses was now in his pockets. And his snake eyes made something happen in Aziraphale's stomach. "Oh. Well, he was carrying a box when he came here and the baby was in that box when I opened it. " his cheeks felt warm like an lighten up candle explaining that. Crowley was mad about all these things, many things would happen to both of 'em because of this freaking archangel. Aziraphale could feel how complicated this situation was yet crowley was here and calming him. Not with words but with his presence. He looked at the demons eyes. " we need to help him! Heaven is looking after him I'm sure. "
Crowley turned to him immediately. " DID you forgot he tried to burn you with fucking hell's fire?! Now you say you want to help him? You are really an angel. " Aziraphale didn’t understand if he was mucking him or complimenting him yet he was amazed of whether meaning that had. " he needs our help! " he tried to explain but crowley just couldn't accept this, He put on his sunglasses again. " You're alone on this one. " he tried to leave but Aziraphale hold his arm, not firm but enough to stop him. " stay because of me , because of that poor baby not Gabriel! "
Something was happening between them that wasn't explainable.
A few hours passed by. the baby cried a few times, Annoying both angel and the demon. Crowley tried feeding the baby but the baby needed to hug Aziraphale. Infact it was only calm in the arms of an angel and it couldn't explain this to crowley. The demon was thinking about changing turns with Aziraphale. They should plan everything and their turns to check on the baby so crowley doesn't have to carry the baby he never met before fore more than two fucking hours. He walked toward Aziraphale's seat and looked at him more than three minutes, but the angel didn't even look back to say something. Sometimes this angel was stubborn. Even tho he could surely hear the baby crying. His anglic voice was more than a whisper. "You're turn until my research is done." Crowley sighed loudly on purpose to make sure he heard. To make sure he knew he was tired and annoyed by the... baby's crying sound. He was walking away to sit on his chair nearby but he heard Aziraphale's calm voice. "Please calm the baby down or go into a room." Crowley's head was smoking, really smoking. But he tried to remember he couldn't yell , the baby would turn into ashes if he lost control. Crowley walked to upstairs and sat down on the couch near the window, he could see people walking past the bookshop, coffeeshop and other stores. He adjusted the baby and shaked it slowly and whispered "shhh..." like a snake aiming for a prey. But crowley decided to hold its gaze on the babies soft and innocent face.
Tears running down its cheeks and falling on the demon hand. He had an idea , crowley tried whispering stories and different poets he had read in Aziraphales bookshop and different onr he has ever read anywhere. Ones were even from before the rome empire. He himself was interested in some of those. Art has been loved more than now, definitely. He tried some Persian poets, they were more lovely back then. Some believed pasri was the language of love. Crowley wanted to found out. He was deep down buried in his mind and the baby was calmed down weirdly. It's eyes slowley closing to earth and it's tears disappearing. It made crowleys lips to Bend upwards. Aziraphale was hearing all of the poets he was singing for that kid. Understanding all of them and how love full most of them were. He took his reading glasses of and put them next to the book open. Deciding to listen to crowleys voice instead of reading words. He loved hearing crowley talk, it was more beautiful when he was saying poets. Deep down , Aziraphale taught. What if crowley could be a good one for the baby. Someone who was worty of trusting. Aziraphale knew he didn't make a wrong choice, And for now he didn't regretted it. Or maybe , just maybe he would ask crowley, To stay here until they found someone to adopt the baby. Or he would keep the baby If they didn't found someone to take "Good" care of the baby Well indeed they weren't bad people to take care of a newborn baby , they weren't ideal. Aziraphale sighed as he listened to crowleys poets and taught about the soon-coming future. Was the baby really worth asking crowley?
The night was like a breath that has been holded for long. The air thick and the wind's sound was quiet. Inside the bookshop. Aziraphale was holding the baby in his arms, scared it might run away from him. Even though the baby was clearly awake its eyes were closed and hiding its sensitive eyes. Aziraphale was sat on his couch and Crowley was sitting on the edge of it, pretty sure he was exhausted, the angel wondered if he was uncomfortable or not so he offered him something. "Um Crowley.. you can go up stairs and rest there, in my.. bedroom." Crowley looked down at him and frowned slightly. " even if I was tired I would go to my own flat." Aziraphale nodded quickly without looking at the demon. " just making sure you're comfortable here. " but maybe he was trying to trap crowley inside his bedroom. Doing things with him that he shouldn't even think about. Couldn't help it. The demon stood up. " what made you think im not comfortable here?! I spent time here as long as this bookshop opened up! I might be the next owner. " while he was moving around Aziraphale. He finally took his dark sunglasses off and put them on the old worktop even though it was already full of stuff for the baby. The angel raised an eyebrow. " im pretty sure you spent a long time here but not as long as the owner, just like me! I never seen your flat- maybe once.. " His last few words made crowley's lips to go up a bit. He hid it immediately and leaned against a bookshelf after walking for a while. " it wasn't a great time.. No no, it wasn't- at all. " Aziraphale agreed with a "hmm" and the -not long- conversation ended like that. The baby was now sleep with the voices annoying it definitely. Aziraphale shaked the baby slowly and carefully, watching it with his face soften and crowley was looking, With a hint of jealousy and regret. He could be a human, both of 'em could! So many people had peace but all humans had more peace than angels and demons. Some were able to live and some lived forcefully. Not knowing what they were missing out. Aziraphale stood up and walked toward the stairs but in his way to his bedroom he looked back at crowley. " it needs a cradle , I don't have any. " his eyes sleepy and hiding a bit of emotion. Crowley looked up at the angel and sighed annoyingly. He snapped his fingers and Aziraphale heard a pop. So he was sure a miracle had happened. His lips leaned upwards with his teeth showen. Aziraphale made his mind and asked the question. " You can come with me.. to my room. We can talk. " crowley was thinking, this wasn't the sort of thing he came here to do. Talking.
However, Aziraphale was standing he was waiting for crowley's answer. But the stairs had a sound. Just like someone was walking downstairs, Jim stepped down with his eyes hardly open so Aziraphale turned to see him. Crowley wore his glasses again, didn't have time to explain why his eyes are snake lookalike. Jim stopped in his way and looked at both of them. " Can you two talk quietly? I can't sleep. " it was unusual to see Gabriel's face annoyed, he was the one to annoy all the time.
Crowley used the opportunity and wore his dark coat. " Night angel. Take care of it. " without a second gaze he turned around to find the door and left the bookshop. The click sound of door had news of his friend leaving. Aziraphale sighed and walked to his room and found the cradle next to his own bed. He left the sleeping baby in it and went to see if jim is sleep. After making sure he went back to his room. Alone again with a few books.