Archive of Our Own

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“Well, that was a thing, wasn’t it?” Crowley was sprawled on the chesterfield in the bookshop, holding a glass of wine, and gulping from it. He felt in his pocket, feeling the reassuring lump in the jacket. “Who would have thought we’d have to fight Hastur, of all people? That usually half-wit came up with some strategies, for sure.”“Is he getting punished by Hell?’ Aziraphale was thoughtful.“Not likely, Angel. He did demonic deeds. Scared some humans out of their wits. Never actually went after either of us directly. If anything, he’ll get some kind of recognition. Not exactly a commendation. Hell doesn’t do that, really, no ‘job well done, here’s a medal’ kind of thing. More like he’ll get some perks, a corner of his own where he and Ligur can set up offices.”“Well, I’m just glad Maggie and Nina took it all in stride. Imagine if they were the usual run of humans!”“Yeah.” Crowley sipped his wine. “What do you say to dinner at the Ritz tonight? Maybe take them with us, you know, as a kind of apology. It was my fault they had trouble in the first place.”“Good idea. You go over and see if they’re free to dine with us tonight.” Aziraphale watched as Crowley set down his wineglass and exited. Then he sat at his desk, opened a little drawer near his cubbies, and took out a box. He opened it, closed it, and put it carefully in his breast pocket. He walked around the shop, putting it in as much order as it usually was, and occasionally patted his pocket as if reassuring himself.Later that evening, the conversation flowed around one of the Ritz’s five course meals. Maggie and Nina were enchanted. Neither of them had the income to afford eating at the Ritz. Just the dessert trays were out of their budget. They were enjoying themselves thoroughly.Aziraphale kept glancing sideways at Crowley, who seemed his usual nonchalant self. Little did he know it was all facade. Crowley, who had faced down the worst Hell had to offer and survived it, was a nervous wreck.When the dessert trays were brought, and everyone had picked their favorite, Aziraphale turned to Crowley and lifted his glass, but to his astonishment, Crowley was on one knee beside the table.“Aziraphale. I’ve studied how humans do these things, and I know we aren’t…but I told you that day, and I’ll try to say it again now…” and he opened the box. “I want to be an Us. I want our eternity to be Us. For good. For here, for now, and for ever. Will you?” His glasses hid the tear in his eye. Giving speeches was never easy for him. He took the ring out of the box, took Aziraphale’s hand, and placed the ring on his ring finger. “What do you say?”Aziraphale twinkled, and there was a tear in his eye that he didn’t try to hide. “Silly Crowley. Of course.” He fumbled in his vest pocket. “I have something for you, as well, with much the same question. I hoped you’d forgive me. And I can’t think of anyone I’d rather spend eternity with.” He took the ring he had made, and slipped it on Crowley’s finger. “Yes, my dear. Yes.”Crowley stood, slipped into his chair, and looked around. The whole dining room’s population was applauding. The two had forgotten to miracle their party largely invisible, and every person believed they had witnessed two ordinary men sharing their love for each other. Everyone approved. The Ritz had witnessed many a proposal, but the staff really liked these two men who were unfailingly polite and tipped very well, not lavishly, but well.Crowley did a small miracle, the usual one of having the pair seem invisible. Aziraphale did the same.Blushing, the demon raised his glass to his two friends, as the room returned to its usual level of conversation. “Clean forgot about the other mortals, Angel. See what you do to me?”Aziraphale smiled as they each raised their glasses. “To us, and to the world.” Maggie and Nina joined in. each looking coyly over their glasses at the couple, almost unmindful of anyone else.Maggie took Nina’s hand, excitedly. “Does this mean we’re going to be helping plan a wedding?”Nina looked sharply at her, but she was oblivious. She squeezed her hand back, and let go. “Let us help, won’t you?”Crowley took the hand of his angel, his fiancé now. “I expect if we want to do this the human way, we will need help. And we do want that, don’t we, Angel?”Aziraphale smiled. Could he get any happier? “I expect we do, my dear.”Maggie clapped her hands. “Have you thought about what settings you want? Clothes? Anything? Church?”“No church. I’m still a demon, Maggie. I can enter churches but I’d look a right ponce dancing around with burning feet.” Crowley winced, remembering.“You should have seen him in 1941. He braved a church and saved my books. And me.” He turned to Crowley. “Did you ever hear what happened to those zombie Nazis?”“Fell apart and as far as I know the bits are still sentient, but last I heard they were washed into the Thames along with some of the debris from the Blitz. Some might be in landfills. That’s what happens when humans do awful things. They get rather awful consequences.”Maggie’s eyes widened. It had hit for, not for the first time, that this was actually the same Mr. Fell that her grandmother had rented her shop space from. Her grandmother! For as long as she, Maggie, had her shop, she had believed this was a descendant of that Mr. Fell, until the night she saw with her own eyes the angel he was.Aziraphale was blind to her scrutiny. “I don’t know what human weddings are like, actually. I’ve never been to one though I have read about them in books. Maggie, Nina, perhaps you could enlighten us over the next while? We’re getting into winter and I think spring would be a much nicer time to–what is that human expression?- tie the rope?”“Knot, Angel. Knot.”“Ah. Yes. We shall rely on your help, then.”The evening was ended in merriment and laughter, each person going their own way home.Crowley was thoughtful as later, he clothed himself in his pyjamas, and got ready to sleep. No va-va-voom, yet, but for the first time in his long life, he thought things were moving that way. Crowley could wait. He’d waited more than six thousand years, hadn’t he?He slept, and dreamed of dancing through the stars with his angel.

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“I don’t know about this whole ‘wedding’ thing, Crowley. Not like this. I mean, I do want us to be, well, US. I want it all. I want you. What I’m not sure about is…” and he indicated a spread of wedding magazines and planning brochures, “all this. Maggie and Nina are both sweet. But why is it that all this feels like their vision and not ours?”“Angel. We have to make some concessions for our friends. I’ve been reading, really reading, and there’s everything humans do from simple to lavish. We don’t want one of those attention-grabbing, lavish thingies, but something quiet, something just for our friends. They do the wedding, the marriage part, someplace with the friends of the couple. Then a little party, reception, they call it, food and drink, and just time to celebrate a little. We can do that bit, can’t we? For them?”“Yes. Yes. I like that. We have time to find a place to do both. Oh, that reminds me. Crowley, did you ever look at my desk?”“No, it’s your desk, Angel. Why would I?”“Well, you know, when I left, I left a folder on top of it, and I hoped you’d find it. I didn’t dare leave a note. You know. He,” and his eyes went Upwards, “was watching through the window. But I thought maybe you’d look through my desk. I put it back when I came back, but…well, call it an engagement present. Here.” And he pulled a folder down from the little shelf on his desk, handed it to Crowley, who was now standing by his desk chair.Crowley took it, opening it and looking at the contents. He sat, heavily. “Is this?”“Yes, my dear. The one you looked at, remember? Near Tadfield. South Downs.”Crowley took out a pamphlet and a folded paper. Opening it, he read “Deed’ and the name underneath, “Anthony J. Crowley.” He noted the date, not long after the Nopocalypse. His eyes filled with tears.“You did this for me?”Aziraphale nodded. “I saw how much you liked it, my dear. The owner was getting ready to sell to move. She’d been renting it out, but the last tenants had left some damage. I gave her a good price, above asking, in cash. She was happy to take it. I had the damage repaired. I’d been planning to hand it to you, when I knew you’d been living in your car. I had wanted to ask you to stay with me, in the bookshop flat, but you kept forestalling…I know how proud you were, are. I just wanted you to have your own place.”“Angel.” Crowley was wordless for several minutes. “You don’t know what this means. A real home. My home. Our home.” He looked up, willing the tears not to fall. “I was owned by Hell. I never had a home. The closest thing to a home I had was the stars I made, forever denied to me after, well, you know…” his voice trailed, then got firm. “Our home. Angel. Angel, Aziraphale. I’m not big on the ‘L’ word, thousands of years, you know, I’m a demon. Demons don’t love. But…”“Yes, Crowley, my dear. My love. We can say it now, if you want. Or…” his eyes met Crowley’s, “we can just be it. You don’t have to say it. I know.”Crowley embraced Aziraphale tightly. “Our home. Can we look inside?”“We can, any time you like. Oh, not today. We promised to meet with Nina to talk about catering food.”Crowley rolled his eyes.“I know, my dear. But we promised. Do we want a cake?”“That seems to be a human thing, yes. Besides, you like cake. I’ve been looking at some films. Sometimes they feed each other a bit of cake. Sometimes they smash it on the other’s face. I don’t think I like that. I’m a demon. I’m supposed to like aggression. But it’s not the kind of thing I want for us.”“No. But the feeding…I remember something about it supposed to symbolize how the couple will support each other. I like that. We’ve always supported each other, haven’t we?”“Yeah, Angel, even when we were supposed to be on opposite sides. Took them all six thousand years before they caught on, though, lucky for us.”Aziraphale chuckled, remembering when Uriel made cracks about “your boyfriend in the dark glasses,” and when Shax appeared to him saying much the same thing. “Humans,” he said, “were much cleverer, Crowley. I think they knew before we did.”“Humans are more clever than either side ever figured out. I suppose She knew all along. I guess we were part of Her plan after all.”“You know, my dear, you’ve never actually tried to kiss me again. I don’t think I ever told you I liked it…it took everything in me to push you away, then. I had to. But I did like it. If you wanted to kiss me again…”Crowley wasted no time. This time the kiss was returned wholeheartedly.

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Crowley unlocked the door and crossed the threshold, looking around. The cottage was bare inside, with hardwood floors and surprisingly high ceilings for a cottage. To his left was a doorway arch through which he could see a kitchen counter. In front of him was a short hallway, wide enough for a narrow table or hallboy, but bare, for now. Aziraphale had seen it before, when he’d gotten some damaged walls repaired and the plumbing and wiring done anew, so he hung back and let Crowley explore. Crowley headed for the front room.It was more spacious than he expected. There were windows on either side, and a large, many-paned one with a window seat. Radiators on the walls would provide heat in the winter, and there was a medium-sized fireplace which had an insert to make it more efficient, but still allow access to the hearth. And just beyond the wall was a stairway, but behind the stairway was a door. Crowley opened it and to his delight it was a large room, probably meant for a spare bedroom.Crowley decided it would be perfect for his den. He was getting more and more excited as he went through room after room. There was a half-bath near the stairs, perfect for guests. Upstairs, he found three nice-size bedrooms, the largest with an en-suite, and the others near a separate bathroom. The windows of the largest overlooked the back garden, which was a nice size, and fenced, with a shed at the furthest end. There were built-in cupboards in all the bedrooms, along with a decent-sized closet.Trotting back downstairs, he went through the kitchen and found a utility room with a washer/dryer combination, and a door which led to the side garden area. In back of the front room, there was a door, and it opened into the back garden. Crowley felt as if he had found his own paradise.“Angel, have you seen these rooms? It’s even better on the inside!”“Yes, my dear. I have. It’s why I bought it, for you to have a safe space. Of course, I didn’t know Heaven’s plans then, but I still hoped you’d find the deed. You would have known my heart.”Crowley swept his angel up in his arms and swung him around exuberantly. “We can furnish it together, Angel. I know you love antiques. What if we went looking for furniture together? Or I’ll watch, and you acquire things. We’ll need shelves for your favorite books, and we’ll need chairs, and I saw a dining nook off the kitchen, and…I’ll need things for gardening!”“The shed’s already stocked, my dear. I thought I wouldn’t impose my style on you, though, so I waited for the rest.”“We’re going to need a bed. I might miracle one. It’s hard to find them big enough in London.”“What about the bed from your flat? I saw it that night we changed appearances, although we didn’t get any use out of it then.”“I didn’t think modern was your style, Angel.”“Well,” considered Aziraphale.”At least the mattress. We can get a nice antique bedstead with a headboard and footboard. If the mattress doesn’t fit, we can miracle it larger. Would you mind going antiquing with me?”“I like tagging along with you. I just want to decorate my den my way. You can decorate the rest, I know your style, Angel. I’m all right with it, as long as I get my bit. This is going to be fun, Angel. Our own house. Just like the mortals.”Crowley again swept Aziraphale up in his arms and danced with him around the empty living room. “Ours. Angel. Ours.” He stopped, let go of Aziraphale, and sat heavily on the floor, clutching the angel’s legs. “I don’t know if you understand what this means to me. All our existence, I’ve had to live with the idea that I couldn’t keep anything. No possessions, not many, in any case. No animals except those bloody great horses Hell wanted me to ride. You were my only constant.”He looked up at Aziraphale, his golden eyes liquid. “Even if I only saw you once in more than a hundred years, I knew you were there. But the only living things I could get close to were my plants. Some of them outlived the mortals, Angel, and if they didn’t, their cuttings did. I had my Bentley, once humans invented cars, but in the back of my mind, I knew the Plan existed. It was all going to go away eventually.” He made a sound that could have been a sniffle, but could have been a snort. Aziraphale crouched down next to him and put his hand on Crowley’s arm.“And I was okay, you know? I got to see you sometimes. There were times when you leaned in close as we talked. Times when you looked so…delicious…but I didn’t dare let myself feel what I wanted to feel. What I did feel. I knew it wasn’t possible. Ever. I just had to be as content as a demon could be, even after the first time that Hell tried to end the Earth. Still had to be on guard, you know?”“Oh, my dear. I do know. I felt it myself. I was a coward, Crowley. Afraid to say what I felt, over and over. Afraid to go too far. Afraid I was never going to be a good enough angel, because I loved a demon. Afraid to let you know. And very much afraid Heaven would find out and that would put you in danger. I didn’t care about myself, Crowley. I just didn’t want you threatened. They had the means to destroy you, and I couldn’t bear it.”“We’re a right pair of idiots, aren’t we, Angel?” Crowley was laughing through his tears. “Both of us bloody cowards. Each of us afraid for the other.”“Well, we got it right in the end, didn’t we, Crowley?”“We did, Angel. We did.” Crowley stood, took Aziraphale’s hand, and pulled him up. They kissed. “Oi, Angel, you’re getting better at kissing. Ever think of anything more?”“You mean, sexual behavior? Eventually, Crowley. But not here, not now. I want our first time to be special, not hurried. And I need to learn how it’s all done. Lust isn’t something Heaven encourages.”“Heaven doesn’t encourage anything enjoyable, Angel. And humans learn how it works by trial and error.”“We aren’t human, Crowley.” Aziraphale adjusted his vest. “Don’t be disappointed. It will happen. Just not yet.”“I'm not disappointed, Angel.” Crowley was a bit disappointed, but wouldn’t show it. He would cultivate patience.In the meantime, he had all this. His heart was full.

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“Me? You want me to preside?” Muriel was excited and happy. Imagine! “I’m not worthy, really. Just a scrivener. You want someone of higher rank, don’t you?Nina was in the bookshop, writing in her planning book, and she looked up. “What is a scrivener, anyway?”Crowley was sprawled on the chesterfield, pretending disinterest. “Kind of a clerk. Files away stuff. Everyone underestimates the lower staff angels, but they know stuff, don’t they, Muriel?”“Oh, yes. I have all the files. Even though I can’t open a good number of them. But I do hear things, you know.” They turned to Crowley. “Do you really want me?”“Aziraphale says you’re the best for the job, Muriel. I think you’re the best for the job. And we don’t want any of the other lot Upstairs. I don’t want anything to do with them. But for an angel, Muriel, you’re all right. Anyway, it’s just a few words, because Aziraphale wants this done the human way, and what Aziraphale wants, Aziraphale gets, as far as I’m concerned.“It’s not just that, Muriel,” said Aziraphale. “You’re going to help me design a marriage certificate and you’re going to file it for us with Heaven. It’s an important job. It will be a first, but perhaps not the only for long. Someone has to start building a bridge. I’ve always said there doesn’t have to be a war, and maybe this will be the start of a bridge between Heaven and Hell. And maybe Earth. And yes, we want you.” Aziraphale was emphatic, after this little speech.Nina continued writing in her book. “So, you two, have you decided on a venue yet?” She wasn’t deaf to the implications, but she knew any such bridge would take time, perhaps long after her lifetime, which, she reflected, seemed long enough to her, but what was it to immortal beings? Nothing. She didn’t want to dwell on that.“Venue?” Aziraphale was puzzled.“Yeah. I need a guest list, too. Most of these places book six months to a year out, and we only have a few months to spring.”“Venue.” Crowley was tapping on his phone. “Google says it’s the place where someplace happens. So you mean where we have this wedding?”“Yes, Crowley. As I’m your planner, or one of them, I need to know these things. Maggie’s handling decoration, food, flowers... and we need to order invitations.”“Do we have to be so formal?” Aziraphale was looking distressed. “I just want our friends. You, Maggie, Mrs. Sandwich, her ladies, Mr. and Mrs. Cheng, Mr. Arnold, I expect, and Mlle, Justine. I expect we should ask Mr. Brown. Don’t want to snub him. Mutt, in the magic shop. Anathema and Newt Pulsifer-Device. The Them. Adam Young, Pepper, Wensleydale, Brian. Maybe their parents if they demand representation. Or –what’s that human expression–plus ones? That’s all. Our human friends. And of course, Muriel, as officiant.”“So, around 30 or a few more counting spouses. They don’t have to be formal invites but they should be written. Do you want groomsmen? I expect no bridesmaids–Best Men? Maid of Honor? Do you know what you want to wear yet?”“Well, if it’s traditional human, I could be the bride, or you could, Aziraphale.” Crowley studied his angel, fishing for a bite, either of humorous or serious response. He wasn’t entirely serious, but he was ready to go along with what Aziraphale wanted, once he found out what it was that he wanted.Aziraphale lifted an eyebrow. “I’ve been in this corporation, in this body, and these clothes, for decades, hundreds of years, actually, if you don’t count the 1960s and a few other brief times when I was sent on assignment. I think I’m comfortable with my corporation as it is now.”“You were mighty cute in 1967, Angel, in your little poofy blouse and pantsuit.” Crowley was grinning. “Was that really the last time you were female?”Aziraphale straightened his vest and tie. “Except for brief other times, you remember, Crowley. You were female much more than I was. Of course, my dear, I love you in any body you’re wearing. Even your serpent form, though that’s hardly suitable for a wedding.”Crowley was growing uncomfortable. He was never fond of the “l” word, and most of the time couldn’t bear to say it. “Love” was a tricky concept for demonkind.. “Yes. Well. So maybe I should be the bride, then.”“Or,” Nina interjected, “and here’s a thought, you could both be grooms. Gentlemen–gentle immortal people?--it’s up to you, what you want, but I’d rather like knowing, so we can plan. If that’s all right with you.”“Oi, Nina. We’ll discuss it all amongst ourselves and let you know. I might fancy a nice black velvet gown. Something like this,” and he snapped his fingers.”What do you think?”“Human brides don’t wear black, Crowley. Usually they wear white.”“Okay, like this?” And he was wearing a white velvet gown with tiny sparkling accents, his hair long and swept back, a veil pinned to a sparkling ornament in his russet locks.“Crowley, that’s lovely.” Nina was startled by the changes, but tried to take them in stride. She remembered how she and Maggie were suddenly dressed in fancier versions of their own clothing that weird night of the Shopkeepers’ Association, “It’d certainly make shopping easier.”“Yeah, I don’t tend to buy my clothes.” Crowley snapped his fingers and was back in his usual. “What do you think, Angel?”Aziraphale dithered. “You did look rather scrummy, my dear, but you always do.” He turned again to Nina. “Maybe you and Maggie should plan out what your design would be, and we can go from there. You’re human; you know what humans do. We’re rather lost in that regard. I suppose Jane Austen isn’t the best model, is she?”“Well, Aziraphale, Jane Austen is only over two hundred years out of date. Maybe that’s yesterday to you two, but not to us. Things have changed a lot since then. Why don’t we work up some plans and lay them out in front of you, and you can choose what you like? I can get samples and such. Here’s a thought. Muriel, how are you at design?”Muriel thought. “Well, I last did embellishment of a scroll, let’s see, a permission from Herself to Satan, for destruction of Job’s property. I rather like doing embellishments. What do invites have to say?”“Usually that the persons to be married, and the invite names them, request the pleasure of your attendance, gives the place, and the date, and usually RSVP, which means tell us if you’re coming. Or not. And sometimes, reception to follow with address of reception and time.”“Reception?”“Yes, usually a dinner, and toasts to the spouses, and maybe speeches, and a party with music and dancing. Alcohol or not, music or not, at least a gathering of good company.”“Alcohol. I approve.” Crowley reached for his own bottle of wine from which he was drinking. He poured some more into his glass, held it up. “Cheers. Help yourself, anyone else.”“You’ll have to have non-alcoholic beverages for those who don’t drink, Crowley.” Nina fixed him with a glare. “You’re planning to have actual children there.”“Oh, yeah, good point.” Crowley raised his glass again in acknowledgement. “I’m sure you lot can recommend what to have. I haven’t a clue what’s suitable. It’s only been the last hundred years children haven’t drunk alcohol. Of course a lot of that was because of the water. Humans aren’t the cleanest when they get in cities.”Aziraphale sat up. “Speaking of cities, shouldn’t we ask Hermione? Or at least save out some food for her. I expect other humans might not understand what a service she did for us.”“I’ve been feeding her in the alley. She can’t talk to me but I think she still understands me. I made a safe space for her in back. Dug a tunnel and made a box in my utility room. She’s snug as a bug in a rug. And safe from exterminators. I just told her to hide when inspectors come. She just had a litter, actually, and I think some of them were fathered by a pet turned loose. They have spots like pet rats.” Nina smiled. She liked the little rat who kept neat and clean. She’d even provided a litter tray for her sanitary use and cleaned it regularly. Hermione was teaching her children to use it, too. “Crowley, maybe you could talk to her. I don’t think it’s a good idea to risk her among other humans.”“I agree, Crowley?” He looked toward his demon. His fiancé. Aziraphale felt a little thrill thinking of that very human word and way of being.“Yes, Angel?”“Why don’t you go to the back of Nina’s shop–or was it the utility room?” He turned toward Nina.“She’s in the utility room, but it’s kept locked, and the real utility room’s across the hallway. She’s usually in there, if she’s feeding her current brood.”Aziraphale nodded. Crowley sat up. “All right. You show me where, and I’ll talk to her.”“Crowley! So nice to see you again!” Hermione was genuinely happy. “Nina’s been ever so kind to me. Look at the lovely den she gave me! With rags and paper–I’ve shredded it. Meet my children! They’re almost ready to go out on their own, actually.” Hermione waddled over to where Crowley crouched, and whispered. “Truth be told, I’m getting tired of nursing, and having pups. Getting too old for this.”Crowley lifted a brow. ”If you like, I can miracle it all shut down after this brood. You’re going to have a nice long life anyway. Aziraphale already saw to that. I could miracle it childless, if you like. More time to run around and be a grandmother, if that’s what you’d want. You could be the wise old one other rats come to you to get wisdom. Would you like that?”Hermione twitched her whiskers and lifted her head. “That would be lovely! I’ve put out…” she tried to count in her head, ”at least…” Numbers failed her. “A lot. A lot of pups, and most of them are still alive, and they do come to me for advice. After I’ve weaned this lot. Now what did you come to see me about? Need help with another demon?”Crowley smiled at her. “No. This time it’s good news. Humans do a thing where they become mates, and it’s supposed to be for good. Aziraphale and I are doing a thing called a ‘wedding” because we wanted to be together. For good.”“Will you have pups? Babies?”“Not for us. No, but we’ll live together, and be together, and a wedding is a kind of party. Now it’s not going to happen until spring, but we thought maybe you’d like to have some of the food brought to you. Or, if you want to come, we can do that. But there will be a lot of human people there.”“I think I’d rather just have the food. Most humans don’t like seeing my kind. If they see us, they tend to send out for traps and poisons and a lot of us die.”“We could make sure that doesn’t happen. We can also tell them you’re somebody’s pet rat. But whatever you’d like. We’re indebted to you, you know, for taking good care of our friends.”“I’ll think about it. Come ask me closer to spring, Crowley. I can’t really decide now. But it does seem like it’d be fun.”“You have plenty to eat? Is your bed soft enough? I could miracle your litter tray so it’s always clean, if you’d like.”“Oh, could you? I’m tidy by nature, and I’ve taught my pups to hide their leavings, you know, it keeps the exterminators off our backs.”“Not a problem. And I wouldn’t worry about exterminators. Humans, except the ones you already know, or who you want to know, won’t even see you. That’s another thing Aziraphale did. Can’t take credit for it. Well,” he said, getting up and dusting off his pants, “I’ll let the others know. Nina’s taking good care of you, right?”“Oh, she is. She’s ever so kind, Crowley. Clotted cream and fresh scones for me and mine all day. Oh, could you tell her a dish of water and maybe one of tea might go well? I do like tea, but I mustn’t drink too much of it. Just a bit now and then.”Crowley waved his hand and the requested dishes appeared. “Never empty.”And he was gone, leaving Hermione happily drinking; he didn’t pay attention from which dish.Later, he and Aziraphale were meeting with Maggie and Nina. Aziraphale had been looking over brochures of possible wedding venues. “We really don’t want anything fancy or showy. Don’t want to draw attention. No ‘society wedding,’ you know? Just simple, private, our friends, us. And Muriel. Sound good?”Crowley nodded. “Yeah. No publicity. Last thing we want is Them,” and he made a gesture up and down, “getting upset. Publicity would do that.”“Got it. Maybe have Cheng’s cater? Most everyone likes Chinese food.”“Make a plan, make several, lay them out for us, and we can tell you yay or nay. Sound good?” Crowley was rather indifferent except that he was determined that Aziraphale be happy.His angel. And tomorrow, they’d go look at their cottage, and start planning.

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Crowley was in his element, in the garden, doing fall pruning and mapping out where he wanted plants. Here, by the shed, would be yellow roses for Aziraphale. Here, in this raised bed, would be vegetables for Aziraphale’s table. Over here, someone had planted myriads of crocus and daffodils and tulips, and he knew there were hyacinths and wood hyacinths, loads of bulbs, really, all over. And some bushes just for flowers, and some for berries.He’d already built a small greenhouse near the shed, and it held shelves for trays of seedlings he planned to put out in spring. There was a terrace with a wooden plank table and benches already. It was a large garden, already planted with lots of bushes and little trees, but also with wide open lawn space in back. Crowley contemplated making a pond and fountain, but that would all come later. Right now, he had an idea, and he wanted to run it by Aziraphale.He went to the side entrance to the utility room and took off his wellies. Aziraphale had gotten them for him, yellow, of course, and he wore them in spite of the color, because Aziraphale had given them to him, and liked them. Liked to see Crowley in them. He pulled on his snakeskin boots and went into the front room, which Aziraphale was standing in, holding swatches of fabric and wallpaper, deep in thought.“Angel, what do you say we do this thing here? The garden, in spring. There’s lots of room in our garden and we’ve got the loo inside for them as needs it, and we should be done decorating by then, and it’s our own place, and it’s our friends, and…” he realized he was babbling as Aziraphale just stood patiently with a fond little smile on his face.“I think it’s a brilliant idea, Crowley. I should be done decorating inside by then, and the garden–remember, it was already beautiful, Crowley, you’re only going to make it even better. It’s perfect!” Aziraphale was beaming, and Crowley couldn’t help but return his grin.“Good-o. We could put an arbor or one of those canopies up for the wedding, and chairs for the guests, and everything. There’s plenty of room for our little group.” Crowley was relieved. He honestly didn’t know what he’d say if Aziraphale didn’t like the idea. He had been all ready to have to convince the angel.“Yes, it will be lovely. Why don’t we lock up here for now and head to London for a bit of lunch? Muriel has some designs for invitations and we promised to get those in the mail by tomorrow.”Crowley snapped his fingers and was clean and ready to go. “Where do you want to go for lunch, Angel?”“There’s a lovely new Indian place with a lunch buffet near your flat in Mayfair.”“Sounds good, Angel.” As they walked to the Bentley, Crowley, who had been mulling things, said, “This does seem a lot of work, doesn’t it?”“Well, my dear, we wanted to do this the human way.”“Who knew they were so damn complicated? I mean, they’ve invented really complicated ways to kill each other, but I always thought their mating strategies would be more simple, y’know?” Crowley grimaced, then tossed a grin to Aziraphale as he got into the Bentley. “I expect I’ll get used to it all. And the end result might be fun. I hope it’ll be fun, Angel. Our human friends are already enjoying themselves. Did you see Maggie’s face when I showed her me in a wedding dress? I thought maybe she’d be shocked, but she got all dreamy. Humans are weird.”“Weird, maybe. But pretty nice, too.” Aziraphale was doing his best to ignore Crowley’s breakneck speed. “I mean, they invented music, and books, and dancing…watch out for that bus, Crowley!”“Don’t worry, Angel. The bus and me have an understanding. If there’s only room for one of us, it’s me.” Crowley steered expertly around the bus, narrowly missing a cyclist who shot him the finger. He ignored it.They spent the rest of the afternoon after lunch addressing envelopes and stuffing them with the invitations and the rsvp cards and their envelopes. As penance for breakneck speeds, Aziraphale made Crowley do most of the work, and refused to let him miracle them done. “They’re much nicer just written out, my dear, and you have very neat penmanship when you choose to use it.”“Yours is nicer, Angel.” Crowley pouted, but did the work. Anything to please his angel. Oh, he was besotted, all right. He grinned to himself, and kept his own counsel. If Aziraphale knew, he wouldn’t take advantage of it, because he, too, was totally captive to their love.“So you really like the designs? Should we invite anyone else from Upstairs?” Muriel was blissful. They had worked hard on the invitations, wanting to get everything just right. They’d embellished the edges with leafy garlands and swirls, not wanting them too formal, as Aziraphale and Crowley both had impressed on them that this was to be a small informal gathering. Still, they felt as this union was unprecedented, perhaps at least an acknowledgement of the highest of Archangels was called for.Crowley was emphatic. “No. If their Royal Sticks-Up-Their-Arses crash this party, they’ll be expelled. This is for us, and for our friends. Friends, Muriel.”“So–am I a friend?”“Yes, Muriel.” This from Aziraphale.”Oh, Crowley? Let’s send an invite to Gabriel and Beelzebub. They probably won’t come, but I want them to know they’re welcome.”Crowley was grudging. “If you say so, Angel. Waste of time, if you ask me. Send by Celestial Post, you know their address.” He made out one more invitation and handed it to Aziraphale, who made a motion and watched it disappear.Almost immediately, the RSVP card reappeared. Crowley snatched it up. “They’re coming? Well, I hope they don’t upset the humans.” He pasted one last stamp on the last invitation. “There. That’s the lot. Okay, we make sure we have hot cocoa for Gabriel. He’s the one exception to being our friends. He better behave himself.”“Oh, Crowley, he really has changed from when you first knew him.”“I know, Angel. He’s your friend now. That’s fine. I’m doing this for you. And Beelzebub who has been a big help all along. They aren’t a friend–well, I don’t know. I don’t think Hell has friends, exactly–but they were certainly a help in getting Brown back. Speaking of whom, do you think he’ll come? He seemed frightened of you the last time I saw him.”“He has a right to be frightened, Crowley, poor man. Not of me, certainly, but he nearly got discorporated–killed–and that would have surely been a disaster. Do you think Hell would get him, or Heaven?”“Don’t know, really. All I know about him is he loves being president of his little association and he had a crush on you. And he lives alone…not much scope for temptation, there.”“I suppose not. I didn’t smell anything that would make him ineligible for my–my former side.” He was still getting used to the idea he was an utterly free agent. Old habits. “Do you think he’ll come?”“Who knows, Angel? Probably. But who knows for sure. We put plus ones, I think the mortals called it, on the invites as well as the RSVPs. Maybe he’ll bring Nigel.”Aziraphale simpered. “I think they’ll wind up being an item.”“I have no idea. I’m sworn off trying to predict humans. Just when you think you know them, pow!” And he clapped his hands together. “They completely lose the plot. Sworn off matchmaking AND predictions, me. No scope in it.”“Humans are nice,” said Muriel, dreamily. “Maggie and Nina are so very good to me.”Crowley looked at them and shook his head. “You’ve only met the nice ones, so far. In my former job I met some real rotters. Some of them outdo some of the demons. But that’s humanity for you. Mixed bag. Personally, I like their technology. Computers. Cars. Smart phones. And they were easy to interfere with, too, in the old days.” He was already referring to events before the Nonpocalypse as “the old days.” He sounded wistful. It wasn’t so much that he liked causing confusion and chaos, but he did enjoy the creative process involved. Craftsmanship.“Anyway, Muriel, what say we lock up the bookshop and take you to a nice dinner? Job well done, and all that.”Muriel brightened. “Yes, please!”Crowley decided it was fun to see Muriel happy. They were like a puppy, all wiggles and smiles. Being kind was almost as rewarding as being an agent of chaos.Almost. He was still a demon.

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“I think we should take an antiquing holiday, Crowley. Autumn’s a good time–weather hasn’t turned awful yet, and there’s some lovely shops in, say, Aldeburgh. It was a good place for a seaside holiday in the mid 1800’s, remember?”“Yeah, Angel, I suppose. I was there in, what, 1895 or so? Then back again in 1922. When were you there?”“1840. I was sent to bless a redone church there. You were nowhere to be found. Where were you then?”“In Hell, Angel. You don’t want to hear about it. My old boss was pretty unhappy with me for what happened in 1827.”“Oh, dear.” Aziraphale was silent for a minute. “I’m sorry to bring back bad memories.”“‘S’okay, Angel. Over and done with. I survived, got back in Hell’s less bad graces, for what it was worth at the time.” Crowley shook off the memory, visibly. “Yeah. Let’s go to Aldeburgh. And maybe some of the other wee towns around there. Be nice to see the seawall there. I never got vacation time in the old days. Maybe book a B & B there, and you can check out the shops, then we can have some quiet time by the beach, just us.”“Look, Crowley, an old bookshop! Can’t we stop there for a few moments?”“Angel, we talked about this, remember? Furniture. Furniture first, then you can do bookshops.” Crowley hated denying Aziraphale anything, but they really did need furniture. “Okay?”“All right, my dear. You’re right. Furniture first. Oh, here’s the shop. Stop here.”Crowley parked the Bentley and hopped out, holding the door of the shop open for Aziraphale. The shop was immense and crowded with pieces. Aziraphale prowled, in his element, while the demon played with a stereopticon near the front. “Crowley, come quick!” He quickly ditched the toy and hastened to the back. “Look, Crowley, it’s just like the one in our bookshop!” The angel gestured to the dusty leather sofa surrounded by stacks of chairs and small tables.Crowley sneezed. “Needs dusting. Let me look at it.” He sat, then lounged. “Yeah. Just like…” he stopped, considered. “You said ‘our bookshop’, didn’t you?”“Of course.” Aziraphale was dismissive, concentrated on looking over the sofa. “Crowley, it’s perfect. Even the color. And it’ll fit so well in our front room!”“Okay. Maybe there’s a matching wingback chair. Let’s go ahead and get it. And if they have some decent chairs, pick out what you want. We do need bureaus, and wardrobes, a bedstead and side tables. Lamps, bookshelves, and,“ he pulled out a small notebook and pen, “maybe a gateleg table and chairs for the dining nook. Oh, and I want a better bench than the one inside our utility room. Maybe one with a shelf for the wellies.”They found a few more things on the way. Crowley was tempted to bargain on the chesterfield but hadn’t the heart for it, seeing how Aziraphale wanted it. Crowley arranged for everything to be shipped, arriving in a week or two. The angel was clearly enjoying himself. Crowley just liked tagging along, quick to bargain on everything else that caught Aziraphale’s eye. Pointing out flaws and needed repairs to get a bargain was his idea of fun. Fortunately for him, most antique dealers liked haggling, so long as they got a decent profit on items.And in the evenings, there was dinner, and a seaside view, and adjoining rooms, arranged by Aziraphale. “Patience, my dear,” said the angel. “I have been thinking that we should wait until we’re actually official. That would make things very special indeed. And it gives me time to learn.”“Learn, Angel? Are you telling me you never, ever…?”“I did not, Crowley. I was an emissary of Heaven. It wouldn’t have been seemly. It would be taking advantage. Besides, as an angel, I didn’t have the desire.”“Never?” Crowley teased.“Crowley.” Aziraphale took the demon’s hands in his, and gazed into his eyes. “I swear on my former occupation, the only being I ever desired that way was you. From the start. And as an angel, I simply set it aside as impossible. I am sure you have much more experience than I in that regard. And it’s all right.”Crowley looked embarrassed. “Not…as such. Yes, I tempted them. It was part of my job. But as far as…that?” He gestured vaguely, “Never, by choice. I mean…there were times, long, ago, but never by choice. Not at all what I think joining should be.”“Do you mean to tell me you were…” Aziraphale looked distressed.“Yes. Long, long time ago. I’ve had millennia to get over that. And I know it’s not supposed to be that way, but…well, let’s just say if given the chance, you’re the only being I’ve ever wanted, that way. Ever. And since we couldn’t…well, I didn’t.” He squeezed Aziraphale’s hands, reassuringly. “Don’t look upset, Angel. Hell’s supposed to be terrible. That’s the whole point, isn’t it?”“Oh, Crowley. I am sorry.”“Don’t be. I’d rather not think about it, if it’s all the same to you. Okay, Angel, we wait. But I’m telling you, I don’t want to wait any longer. I want you. I want all of you. And I want to give you me. All of me.”Aziraphale kissed Crowley’s hands. “We can try out lots of things, after. Let’s just get through the next few months, shall we?”“Deal. Let’s go to dinner. Tomorrow, if it’s good weather, maybe sit by the seaside for a day. Us, a picnic, and several bottles of a good vintage, okay?”And like a miracle, the next day was perfect.

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Christmas lights sparkled everywhere on Whickber Street, and around the corners almost every shop had holiday displays or holiday decor.Not Fell’s bookshop. A. Z. Fell, Purveyor of Fine Books to the Gentry was closed. Again, and still. No holiday lights twinkled in its windows, and though there was a light within, it was dim and the blinds on the windows were down. It looked cold and forbidding.On the inside, however, were three figures seated around a table in back, The atmosphere was warm and cozy. Wine was flowing into glasses, and then down throats. Conversation was also flowing.“Why do humans celebrate this time as his birthday?” Muriel was, as usual, puzzled. “I remember that time and it was springtime, not midwinter. I filed all the paperwork.” They were sober, having sipped at their glass and avoided refills, and still wary of the sin of drunkenness.“Nobody upstairs knew, but I helped with the birth, ya know. Who actually got her pregnant? Her husband swore he didn’t, and she never said.” Crowley was thoughtful, though very, very drunk.“Not my department.” Both Aziraphale and Muriel said this simultaneously.“I think She outsourced it, but it was done by miracle,” added Muriel. “I remember hearing about Supreme Archangel Gabriel arguing with Michael when it was time to announce to the mother. I mean, I didn’t listen in on purpose, but they were loud about it. In the end, Gabriel did it.”“I’m not sure myself why the mortals picked this time,” Aziraphale interjected. He wasn’t thinking very clearly after several bottles of the remainder of his 1936 Chateuneuf-du-Pape case lots, purchased in 1936.“‘S’to do with pagan celeb-celeber-cel–holidays.” Crowley, now very deep in his cups, was reminiscing. “Mithras. Old god. ‘S’posed to be born in December. They did it right, in the old days. Lots of wine. General feasting. Lusting. Fun times.”“That makes sense,” Muriel said, thoughtfully. “But why don’t we decorate?” They waved their hand at the shop.Aziraphale just looked at them. He wasn’t focusing, actually. “Muriel,” he said, trying not to slur his words, “Other shops want to make sales. We don’t.”Crowley looked over his glass, set it down very carefully. “‘Ziraphale, why don’t we decorate the cottage? I kinda like the whole ‘tree and pretty light’ thingie. We could do that in our home, couldn’t we? An’ presents. Giving presents to people. Allus looked like fun. Nobody gives presents to anyone in Heaven or in Hell. ‘N, you know, it’s not the things. It’s the surprises. ‘S’fun. ‘N they look pretty.”Aziraphale tried to focus. “I suppose we could do that. Now the living room’s finished, and the kitchen, we could even have a real party. Muriel, how would you like to help?”“What’s a party?”Crowley answered. “It’s a gathering of friends, an’ they eat, an’ drink, an’ have music, Sounds like fun. Hey, could we give gifts to our friends?”“I don’t know, Crowley. I think we should ask Nina. She knows what humans do.”Next day when they talked to Nina, she looked thoughtful. “Humans are funny about gifts. We tend to look at it as an obligation. Like, you give me a gift, I give you one. Reciprocal.”Crowley looked puzzled. “I don’t understand why. Isn’t a gift–a present–supposed to be what you do when you like someone and want them to know it? I watch your tv, and I see your adverts, ‘Perfect for gift-giving’ and ‘buy now for Christmas’ and such…”“Yes, but there’s rules, Crowley. You can give to family without expecting anything in return. But friends exchange gifts. I get you a nice cologne set. You get me some tchotchke I put on a shelf and think of you when I see it. That kind of thing. Wait! I know. You can do a gift exchange for people who want to participate and here’s how you do it. Have everyone bring a small gift. Nothing extravagant. Something with a five pound limit, or something. It should be wrapped, so no one knows what it is. Then you have numbered tickets and everyone takes one, and you draw matching tickets out of a bag. First person gets to pick a gift, and unwrap it. Second person gets to pick either from the wrapped gifts or the first person’s gift, if they like it. And so on. We always had a limit. An unwrapped gift can only be grabbed three times. It’s fun.”“Sounds like it could be chaos,” said Aziraphale.“Oh, I like chaos.” Crowley grinned. “It could be fun!”“And humans don’t get upset if they don’t get what they want?” Aziraphale looked skeptical.“No, that’s the best bit. It’s a game, you see, and everyone gets a prize. It’s fun. Nobody really cares because the gift isn’t really the point, it’s just part of the game.”“It could work, then!” Aziraphale was starting to get excited. “Who would we ask to come? And how?”“Well, you could just make up a little flyer, invite your new neighbors–people love to see inside houses near them, and you might make new friends–and at the very least, you’d show yourself to be a good neighbor. You could hand them out around here, if you like, to some of the shopkeepers. Tell them you’ll have food and drink and then it’s a chance for everyone to dress up. You’ll need holiday music.”“Just don’t leave it in the Bentley.” Crowley smirked.“I have another idea. Have everyone bring an ornament for your tree. Just have it set up with lights and a tree topper, and everyone can bring an ornament–that’s a fun thing to do.” Nina had gotten tea, and was listening. “And another thing–maybe have a box and people can bring food for a food bank or gifts for needy children or something. People love that.”“Yes,” Maggie chimed in. “I’d love that. Pretty sure there’s a food bank nearby your cottage–I know there’s a couple near here. And it would be the spirit of Christmas, too!”“That sounds lovely, Maggie. All right, let’s do it. I need help with the invitations, then. I take it, not formal?”“No. Just a little flyer. I can write it out, and we can get the printshop around the corner to make them on holiday paper.”And the party was a glorious success. Their neighbors came through. Crowley, who usually hated socializing, handed out drinks including nonalcoholic ones at Maggie’s insistence. They played the gifting game and had a box for donated food and one for toys for children, and it was filled. Aziraphale circulated with hors d'oeuvres and vol-au-vents on trays, and there was a buffet laid on, as well.And everyone brought an ornament or two for the magnificent tree Crowley had found–or perhaps miracled–and erected in front of the window, and decked out with a myriad of little lights. At the top there was an angel who bore a suspicious resemblance to Aziraphale, the first time Crowley had met him.Just before midnight, everyone sang Christmas carols. It had been such a lovely night.It hardly mattered that the child everyone celebrated was never born in winter. The spirit of good-will was what mattered, Crowley reflected to himself.He wasn’t used to goodwill, but he decided he liked it.At least among friends.

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Winter doldrums even affected angels, some days. This was one such day. The cottage decorating was almost all finished, all except the master bedroom. Aziraphale was adamant that they not “canoodle,” as he called it, to Crowley’s amusement and partial dismay, until they were officially married, the human way. So he had decided that he would wait to put in a bed until closer to spring, forcing both of them to go to their own places at night.But tonight, he was loath to leave the fireplace with its logs merrily burning and bringing an ambiance that pushed back on the rain beating against the windows, as the sun prepared to set behind the winter clouds.Crowley was sitting opposite the angel on the leather wing chair that matched the chesterfield. Well, to be exact, Crowley was sprawled in his usual haphazard manner, holding a glass with Talisker, neat, held precariously in one hand, sipping occasionally as he regaled the angel with tales of outwitting his old bosses with memos that exaggerated his role in humanity’s foibles, and some of the things he actually did do.“Pop-up ads on every social medium, Angel. That was mine, though the humans did improve on it, I have to say. there was a lot I didn’t do. But of course I took credit for it.”“Well, it is what you do, isn’t it? Or did. Do you still keep your hand in?”“Not much. Nobody really takes pride in a job well done, anymore. Some demons had a bit of craftsmanship but it was pretty erratic. ‘M actually glad to be shut of that whole lot now, but at least I put my best into my job. Oh, spam emails for viagra and big boobs was mine, too. That’s still generating low grade anger.”“Well, it makes me happy that you stopped. I never did understand that on-line stuff. But I still do small blessings. I can’t help myself. I thought perhaps you’d be up to your old little demonic temptations, even though we no longer work for our respective offices.”“Nah. Retired, me. Okay, well, I did get that graffiti tagger in trouble, but I don’t count tangling his feet in his headphone cords much in the way of malaise. I just got tired of those gang-types messing up Whickber Street.”“Oh, Crowley.” Aziraphale said this with fondness, looking over his cup of cocoa at his demon. His fiancé.Crowley grinned. “Hey, Angel, feel like a cuddle?”“I’d like that, my dear, as long as we just cuddle.”“Angel, you’re no fun.” Crowley pretend-pouted. He expected nothing else. He got up and grabbed another log, placing it directly on the fire, and shaking the flame from his hand. He picked up a paisley shawl acquired on one of their antiquing runs, a lovely wool one, light and warm, and pulled it over himself and his angel as they cuddled. Truth was, he enjoyed this. He stared into the flames and reminisced about old times. Candlelit dinners in intimate little restaurants. Times Aziraphale’s intervention had saved him from the darkest pits in Hell, and the hellfire he had saved his angel from.Aziraphale enjoyed the companionable silence, sipping his cocoa, while Crowley leaned his head on the angel’s shoulder. Soon enough, soft breathing told him Crowley had slipped into a light doze. Aziraphale didn’t mind. He had a book next to him, and simply picked it up and found his place, reading contentedly.The night passed in this way, the fire eventually burning low. Aziraphale set aside his book and joined Crowley in sleep. Now that they were together, he was beginning to understand the appeal of slumber, especially when it came to waking up to a day full of possibilities, something he hadn’t really had before.A few days later they were meeting with Nina and Maggie in Give Me Coffee or Give Me Death. “What are you doing for music?” Maggie was talking.“Classical,” said Aziraphale.“Queen,” Crowley said at the same time. Then Crowley, reconsidering, said, “Whatever Aziraphale wants. What do mortals usually do?”“Sometimes they play the wedding march. Sometimes Mendelssohn. Sometimes they just do what they want. Contemporary or classical. I once went to a wedding where the two guys each walked in from the side, and met in the middle, and they did it to some movie music they both liked. There’s no real rules, anymore. I mean, you’re not doing this in a church, and you’re not a typical bride and groom–though you could be, if you wanted–and people are making their own traditions, anymore.” Maggie looked from one to the other. “Crowley, were you serious about being a bride?”“I’m indifferent, Maggie. The important bit to me is Aziraphale. Whatever he wants.”The angel in question was looking thoughtful. “Crowley, you did look rather pretty in the dress. Could you do it presenting male? I rather like you the way you are, but I think we should both dress up. Would you like me in a dress?” He waved his hand, and was all in white, his platinum curls longer and pinned up. “Or would this be better?” He was in a tuxedo, a bit more modern than his magician’s tuxedo.Crowley grinned. “You look great in a tux, Angel. I expect we should pick one and not confuse our human friends so much. Personally, I’d like us to just stay a gender at least for the ceremony and party. I could do a tuxedo if you want. It’ll have my touches, of course. Just as you’ll opt for tartan. And we could–I know, maybe get that group with the harpsichord the music shop guy brought to your ball–could we ask them? What’s your favorite piece? I mean, if we’re not going with what humans call “traditional.”“I rather fancy Shostakovich. Or maybe some chamber music. No bebop, please, Crowley, if you don’t mind.”“I don’t mind,” said Crowley, shrugging broadly and casting a look to Nina and Maggie that said Who calls any modern music BEBOP?Aziraphale was oblivious. “I do like that idea, Crowley, don’t you, of us coming in from opposite sides to meet in the middle? And we should write our promises to each other down, I expect. At least I’ll be nervous enough I might forget them in the moment.”“Good idea, Angel.”“What about colors?” This from Maggie.“Yellow. The shade of Crowley’s eyes. It’s so pretty.” Crowley grimaced a little as Aziraphale spoke. “Well, it is, Crowley. You know I’ve always said so.”“It’s traditional to have ‘something old, something new, something borrowed, and something blue’,” said Maggie.“No. Yellow. Old–well, that could be us. Borrowed–we are borrowing Muriel from Heaven, would they count? New, our rings. But no blue, to speak of. I mean, whatever guests want to wear is fine. I want yellow. Yellow roses are nice.”“Fine. Yellow roses. What about the cake?”“Could we have angel food cake? One of those layered ones with the different colors. Only instead of pink, different yellows.” He considered. “And instead of fondant, marzipan.”“You’ll need a cake topper.” Nina produced some pamphlets of brides and grooms and different theme toppers. “If you sketch it, I know someone who loves to sculpt. Let me know.”Aziraphale pocketed them to look at later.He kissed Crowley’s hand. “I’m going to my bookshop, my dear. Early night, I think. It’s been a long day. Perhaps meet for breakfast?”“All right, Angel.” Crowley watched as Aziraphale crossed the street, then turned to Maggie. “I’ve been reading up on this romance thing. Next month is some lover’s holiday thing, isn’t it? Valentine’s Day. Mid-February. Supposed to bring choccies and flowers and that, right?”“Are you planning something nice for Aziraphale?”“I thought…well, I got to thinking…I mean, he likes it when I do nice things for him, and this seemed like a good time. Could you help me plan?”Maggie clapped her hands. “I’d be delighted, Crowley.” They bent heads together.In the meantime, Nina received a text on her phone. It was Aziraphale. She excused herself and slipped away, unnoticed by anyone, leaving her assistant to lock up. Aziraphale and she talked into the night. Romance was blooming, even in January.Crowley slept well. Things were going his way. No nagging feelings of disaster around the corner, for once in his long life. He felt like he finally had a handle on how humans did things. And that made Aziraphale happy, and what made Aziraphale happy, made him happy.Happiness…quite a concept for a demon to try to embrace. Crowley smiled in his sleep, dreaming of a secure, peaceful future, eternally with his angel, never to be alone again.He had found contentment.

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Aziraphale opened his bookshop door, ready to step in, but fell back in astonishment. The air was heavily scented, and there was yellow everywhere. Yellow roses. Freesia. Carnations. Dahlias. Sunflowers. Gerbera Daisies. Little yellow daisies. Lilies. Alstromeria. Every kind of yellow flower filled nearly every nook, leaving a narrow path to his desk.As he walked to his desk, he found a huge heart-shaped box of chocolates, a vase of mini yellow calla lilies, and a card. “For my angel,” was scrawled within, and it was unsigned. The card was frilly and sentimental with paper lace and ribbons. Rather unlike a certain demon, actually.“Oh, my word.” Aziraphale was almost speechless. “Crowley?”Crowley came bouncing through the door. “What do you say, Angel?” He took off his glasses and chucked them at the horse statue, almost covered in floral abandon. He was looking a little anxious.“Crowley, it looks like you cleared out a whole florists’ stock!”He heard Crowley mumble something. “What was that?” he said.“Three of them, actually. You said you liked yellow flowers. And humans have a thing about this day. Do you like it?”“Crowley, I’m overwhelmed. It’s lovely, though just a bit…much…isn’t it?” Crowley looked crestfallen, and Aziraphale hastened to add, “I mean, it’s really lovely. I love it.”“You do? I can miracle them gone if you want…”“No, Crowley!” Aziraphale took a deep breath, stepping forward and resting his hand on Crowley’s chest. “They’re lovely! I’m touched, I really am.”“Really? I wanted to do it the way the mortals do, only we have so many years to catch up on, you know…” Crowley babbled a bit, Aziraphale smiled reassuringly at him.“Crowley, I think it would be a lovely gesture if we took some of these to an assisted living place, and gave them to some of the residents. Old people who don’t get flowers. Would you be upset if we did that? I mean, we still have to have a place to sit, right?”“No, Angel. That’s brilliant. It’s like when you gave away your sword, actually. Did you know that was the first time I was really – well, let’s just say fell – for you.” Crowley still had a hard time saying the words. ”Let’s do it. And maybe afterwards, go for dinner at the Ritz?”“I’d like that very much. Would it be like the mortals call…” and here, he twinkled, “...a date?”“Yes, yes. A date. Did you see the card? And the choccies? Do you like them?” Crowley was aware he was babbling, but seemed unable to stop. He had wanted to do this right. Aziraphale wanted things done the human way, and he was determined to deliver.“It is a bit overwhelming. I’m touched, Crowley, I really am.” He knew Crowley’s opinion of cut flowers and flower-bearing plants. “I have something for you, as well.” He produced a box, and handed it over, along with a card. “I noticed something had happened to your timepiece. Nina helped me with procuring this.”“Yeah, Angel, dropped it in Hell when Beelzebub apported me there, just before you went back to Heaven. Tried to retrace where it had gone. I suspect some imp has it.” As he opened the box, his eyes widened. “Devon 2! This would have cost a near fortune!”“Under ten thousand pounds, actually, my dear. Not so much. Not for you.”“I didn’t even think you knew these things existed, Angel. I know how you are about modern technology.” Crowley was taking the chronometer out, and admired the snakeskin band. He buckled it on. “Thanks, Angel.” He hugged Aziraphale, who returned the hug.“I notice what you like, my dear. I’ve always noticed.”“You’re the best, Angel.” Crowley opened the card, read it, and hugged Aziraphale again. “You won’t tell anyone about this, will you? I have a reputation to keep up. Not sentimental. Not me. Not at all.”“Not at all, Crowley. It will be between us. Shall we get started on the flower delivery? Let’s do the bouquets first. I’ll miracle the vases. Do they all have cards?”“Just generic ones. We can leave them in.”Across the street, Nina was handing Maggie a card, and a box. “Just chocolates. Nothing special. I noticed you were admiring these in the confectioners’ window last week. I mean, since we’re friends, and all.”“Oh, Nina! Thank you! I got you a little something, too. It was my grandmother’s.” Maggie produced a round suitcase looking thing. “It’s a turntable. I thought maybe you could use it to listen to that Nina Simone record I set aside for you?”Nina smiled. “I’d like that. Let’s listen to it over takeaway. Chinese?” That evening, Mrs Granville, a widow with dementia, looked at the flowers the nurse’s aides had brought her and smiled. She read the card. “To my angel.” That was her husband, Walter. He never forgot her. Roses and lilies, her favorite.She’d forgotten that her husband had died two years before.Sighing happily, she kissed the card and put it beside her. It had been the best Valentine’s Day. Everyone was so kind to her. If only she could have had a visit from Walter, she thought. Maybe tomorrow.His flowers were a promise.

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“Angel, look, there’s already bulbs coming up!” It was a cloudy, sometimes rainy day in early March and Aziraphale and Crowley were doing some house-and-groundskeeping on the cottage. Aziraphale had headed straight to the kitchen. He thought he’d try out baking some choux pastries, having had a hankering for eclairs, and wanting to make his own.Crowley, of course, was doing garden clean-up. Too early to do a lot of gardening, but he wanted to weed and start some more seedlings, having already planted some and set them in the small greenhouse to get a good start. He’d made some beds for early starters for Aziraphale’s kitchen. Peas, lettuces, onions, and some more. He’d pruned some of the fruit trees, and mulched some of the beds where he’d plant seedlings in a few weeks. All with an eye to decorating the garden for their wedding ceremony.“I’ll look in a minute, my dear. I just have to set this timer…ooh, very pretty. Narcissus and crocus, looks like. I think the garden will look nice for the wedding. I like how you raised the beds on this side for the vegetables. Will you put in potatoes?” Aziraphale had walked out, wiping his hands on a clean tea towel. “You really have the touch for plants.”Crowley straightened from the bed he’d been sowing. “I’m doing it without miracling, too, Angel. ’S’fun. Oh, there’s your timer going off. Catch you inside in a bit, m’kay?”“Right-o.” Crowley was sampling one of the eclairs. “You’ve got the knack, all right, Angel.”Aziraphale dimpled. “You really think so? It’s my first choux pastry. Do you think it’s good enough for our guests at our nuptials?”“Well, yes, but don’t we have enough to do on the day? Shouldn’t we just outsource all that, like we planned for the cake?”“We-e-ll, perhaps. i could even just miracle some of the hors d'oeuvres, if we get short on time.”“I thought we discussed doing things like the humans. Besides, we are having humans as guests. Be a bit hard to explain if we did too many miracles. And Angel, I have something else I wanted to talk to you about. I think I found a bed that might suit us both. It’s antique, it’s well made, and it has a nice padded headboard you can lean against when you want to just read. Let me show you,” and he brought out his phone, and tapped, then showed a photo to Aziraphale.Aziraphale studied the photo. “Have to miracle it a bit bigger to fit your mattress, but it is brass. Maybe get it reupholstered in a nice velveteen. Yes, Crowley, it could work. All right. Send for it. We’ll have the bedroom finished just in time. I’ll let you pick the bedside tables and lamps. I trust your taste.”Crowley grinned, pleased with the compliment. “If it’s all right with you, I’m going to move my plants in and start staying here, even if I have to sleep on the chesterfield.”“That would be fine, Crowley. I’m glad you’re happy to wait. I promise you we’ll make it worthwhile. I’ve been studying.”“Pornography, Angel? You astonish me!”“Not actually, Crowley. I’ve been reading up on sexual professionals. They call them ‘sexologists’ and they teach techniques. I’m learning some. Don’t look so surprised. I do my research.”“You always manage to surprise me, Angel. You don’t mind me moving in here ahead of us together?”“Oh, Crowley. The cottage is in your name. You’ve always been welcome to move in as you see fit. Always.” Aziraphale looked with fondness at his demon. Crowley was such a contradiction. He always tried to project an aura of badness, of going it alone, and needing no one. Yet the angel knew he had a loving heart, despite the worst that Hell had thrown at him, and while he had done the job Hell had made him do, he really preferred to let the mortals do it for him, and not be adding to their misery.And he showed his vulnerable side to his angel, trusting that he could rely on Aziraphale to never use it against him.Crowley grinned. “Angel, let’s go for a drive. I found a place we could watch the sunset and look at the stars, away from all the lights in the city. And the clouds have cleared, and it should be perfect.”“Will you not drive at breakneck speeds?” Aziraphale was skeptical.“Angel, if we’re going to get to the sunset, we need to go fast. Come on. I’ll grab the hamper, you bring a couple bottles. What do you say?”Aziraphale shook his head ruefully. “All right, let’s go.” He had to admit the view from Beachy Head was spectacular. Crowley poured the wine, and Aziraphale held up the glass. “To sunsets. To us. To our world.” Their glasses clinked. The pair were seated on the grass on the edge of the cliff, where tourists were advised not to go, lest the cliff edge crumble, as it was sometimes did.“I used to come here sometimes during the Flood days, Angel. After our children were in bed, when you were busy elsewhere. Remember?” Crowley was feeling sentimental. “Hardly had time to look at sunsets otherwise.”“I remember you were sometimes gone for a few hours back then. I wondered where you went. Those children kept me busy, I can tell you!”“I know. That’s how I got away with saving them. I sold the ‘keeping the angel busy’ thing to Hell. Plus saving kids God seemed to want dead.” Crowley chuckled. “I did it for the kids, though. Have to admit it was nice to sit around and talk most nights. To watch ‘our’ kids grow up. I kind of wish I’d kept tabs on them. Especially Fox. She was something.”“You gave her a good start, Crowley. After you left, she married Stone’s friend. Frog, I think his name was? I had miracled it to make them all think we’d died, but I stuck around long enough to see them all settled. Didn’t dare stay longer. Home office was already making hints that I’d overstayed in the islands then. Called me back to Heaven for a re-orientation.”“What’d you tell them?”“Just that I had been doing blessings here and there, waiting for the waters to go down, and so on. I did flit back a few times–that was when I was gone, you know–and turned all those bodies to bone. The rot was pretty awful for a number of years, and Noah and his family had to repopulate. I made the case that I had to take care of all that rot, at least as far as where Noah’s family –the sons and their wives and kids–had to settle and farm. Gabriel bought it.”“He was always stupid. Oh, look, Aziraphale, a meteor! We should come back in August, for the Perseids.”“Was that one of yours? You know, back when…”“It’s possible. It did come from the same quadrant as my star factory, before it was sent here. But no way of telling without going up there. Might do, some day. But for now, I’m content here. With you. I came here a lot when you left. Got very drunk. Almost did fall down the cliff, but I miracled myself back up.”“Oh, Crowley.” Aziraphale grasped at Crowley’s hand, brought his fingers to his mouth, and kissed his fingers.“‘S’okay. Angel, you’re everything I ever dreamed of. Ever could hope for. Demons–we don’t hope. It’s as much a four-letter word as ‘nice.’ But deep down, I had hope. I tried not to. Angel, you’re my everything. When you pushed me away, I thought my world was ended. I thought for a time there was no hope. When you looked at me, like you were trying to tell me something, before you left…” Crowley looked up again, as if trying not to tear up, “Well, I was devastated, you know all that. But we made it right, Angel, and the past is the past.” He leaned in and kissed Aziraphale’s neck, then his jaw, then claimed his mouth.The angel kissed back, then sighed happily, snuggling next to his demon. “That’s enough of that for now, my dear. My love. Or I won’t be able to stop. And we have to.”Crowley waved at the stars, spectacular against the night. “All this, and you. And that’s enough. For now. Not too much longer now, Angel. We have forever. I can wait.”Anticipation. It was another new-to-the-demon emotion.He decided he liked it.

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The garden was glorious. Aziraphale watched Crowley from the window that overlooked the back lawn area. Crowley in his black shorts and singlet, sunglasses and the bright yellow wellies made quite a picture as he mowed the lawn with a push mower. He had another month to go but wasn’t leaving it til the last. While he could have miracled the grass to stay short and dense, he quite enjoyed the yard work. It was reminiscent of how he remembered Eden smelling when he first made his way up from Hell. He could smell the green things growing.The scent was heady.Once he’d stowed the mower, he went ‘round with the secateurs, and carefully pruned stray branches. Roses would be brought in, as he hadn’t had time to find every yellow rose he planned for the garden. Crowley hummed something from Queen as he worked. “Good old-fashioned lover boy!” (snip) “When I’m not with you,” (snip) “think of you always,” (snip) “Mmmm, mmm.”Aziraphale smiled, looking out through the window. He went back to the kitchen and made a pitcher of lemonade. It was an early warm day, and he knew Crowley would be thirsty. He added some Prosecco, stirred, and when he heard Crowley come in and pull off the wellies, miracling himself clean, he handed the demon a nice tall glass.“Mmm, Angel. This is perfect.” Crowley sipped appreciatively and flopped onto one of the kitchen chairs. “And you made sandwiches?”“Of course. There’s some chicken, and egg salad, and some watercress and butter ones…what would you like?”“Some of each might be nice. And more of this lemonade. You’ve outdone yourself, Angel.” Crowley wiped his brow. “Everything’s coming up nicely. The rose bushes I put in won’t bloom in time, I’m afraid, but everything else will look perfect. We’ll have to have our roses from the florist.”“It’ll be beautiful, Crowley. Next month, the canopy and pavilion at the end of the lawn, chairs set up, then tables in the pavilion. I think buffet style.” Aziraphale turned toward the front door. “Ssh, I hear something.”Sirens coming up the road. The pair hopped up and went outside. “Our neighbor’s cottage–it’s on fire!” Aziraphale was a bit panicked.Crowley, seeing this, sprang into action, running at fast speed down the road, almost a blur.On the lawn he was met by a frantic woman. He recollected meeting her–the daughter of their neighbor, who had come in during their holiday open house. “My mum, my son–they’re inside!” She clutched at Crowley, who disengaged her hands gently.“Stay here,” he said, and snapped his fingers. The door swung open, and he ran inside. The place was filled with smoke, and he peered around, following the wailing of a small child. The boy was coughing and crying, standing by the kitchen doorway. The kitchen appeared to be engulfed in flames.“Gran’s in the bedroom and I can’t wake her up!”Crowley picked up the child who was coughing and rubbing his eyes, tears streaming. “Your mum’s outside. Don’t worry. I’ll go back for your gran.” The boy quieted, but looking into his snake eyes, he reached a tentative hand and patted the demon’s nose. Crowley’s reassuring smile calmed him.The door had shut behind Crowley, but again he snapped his fingers, and the door gaped.Once outside, he deposited the child in his mother’s arms. “Stay here. I’m going after your mother.”Before the woman could object, he was inside the cottage again. The smoke made it hard to see, but Crowley lifted his face and sniffed. “There,” he said to himself and ran toward the back room, shouting for the old woman as he ran. Flames followed him, and he heard the sirens outside signaling the arrival of the fire trucks. He ignored them, and continued his search.He found the lady lying next to a bed on the second bedroom in back. Cradling her gently in his arms, he strode through the flames, paying them no attention. Parts of Hell were worse.Once outside, he realized he’d forgotten his sunglasses. He met Aziraphale. “It’s not too late, Angel. Could you do something?”Aziraphale did. The lady, deposited gently on the grass, coughed, and sat up. Crowley sighed in relief. “Meet you back at our place,” whispered the demon, and ran.“He’s shy,” said Aziraphale, as he helped the older lady to her waiting mother and grandson. The angel miracled smoke from lungs, and waved off thanks, as the medics surrounded the trio.Back at their cottage, Crowley had sprawled on the chesterfield, smelling of smoke and flame. It was a familiar scent, and he hardly noticed it. Aziraphale came and sat next to him. “You saved their lives,” he told Crowley.“I suppose I did. Cottage is a dead loss, though. What’re they going to do?”“I spoke to the daughter, just before I came back home. She says her mother will stay with her, in Suffolk, and that they had insurance. I think she’ll find the claim will be quickly paid and the workmen will move in quickly.”“Good, Angel. I didn’t have time to think of anything but finding that old woman. And the kid.”“You saved them both, for sure, Crowley.” Aziraphale patted Crowley’s arm. “And I don’t think anyone saw your eyes.”“The child did. But I expect no one will believe him.” Crowley threw his arms around Aziraphale. “Ugh, I’m sorry, Angel. I stink of smoke.”“Oh, Crowley. You smell of caring, and heart, and–dare I say it? Love.” Aziraphale kissed Crowley’s forehead. Crowley tried to protest, but the attempt was feeble. “Don’t worry, my dear. I’ll tell no one.”“Better not, Angel. I’ll go clean up, then let’s go finish lunch.”And they did.

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Maggie woke up, for a moment disoriented. She wasn’t in her shop. Then she sprang up from the couch she’d been sleeping on. She was in Nina’s flat. Today was the day, and they had a lot of work ahead of them. Nina was already up. “I made us breakfast,” she said, from the little kitchen. “Come on, we’ve got so much to do, but I thought it’d be a good idea to get a good start with a decent meal. We won’t have much time until much later.”“You should have woken me, Nina. I could have helped!” Maggie was grateful.“You needed a good night’s sleep for a change. Come on, then, eat up.” She set a plate on the dinette table and a large mug of tea. It was an English breakfast, eggs, blood sausage, toast, everything but the beans. “I decided we didn’t need beans with everyone’s anxiety at peak.”Maggie waited until Nina had sat with her own plate before digging in. “Mmm, perfect, thanks, Nina. It’s a glorious day! Look! I hope it’ll be nice in South Downs.”Nina smiled. Maggie’s contentment was infectious. She remembered mornings of the past rife with conflict and thought this was so much better, eating in companionable conversation. “Mr. Fell–” old habits died hard, sometimes–“he’s an angel. I think we can count on lovely weather.”“You’ve got a good point.”After they’d finished, and were sipping their beverages, Nina said, “You go on, take a shower. I already did. I’ll finish the washing up when you’re done. I like doing it. But it has to wait until after the shower.”Nina had quietly washed and pressed Maggie’s day clothing and she found it when she emerged from her shower. Hanging from a hook she found a yellow velvet gown in a dry cleaner’s plastic bag. Nina called from the front room. “We have a lot of work to do and the Uber will be here in a half hour–I figured we should dress once we’re done.”At the cottage they found Crowley in shirt sleeves coming in from the garden. “Just setting out the chairs,” he said. “Come in, come in. We’ve set aside the spare room downstairs, near the half bath, there’s a wardrobe, so you can hang the dresses–oh, very pretty! Muriel’s, too! Have you eaten?”“Nina made a big breakfast. I won’t need to eat again for hours, trust me.”“Good-o. If you look like you’re hungry, though, be careful. Aziraphale will try to feed you. He’s been making eclairs and profiteroles by the several dozens. Some savory, too.”“Where is he?”“Setting up tables in the pavilion we rented. I think he’s nervous. I am.”Maggie patted Crowley on the arm. “Haven’t you two been living together?”Crowley shook his head. “No, Maggie. Aziraphale insists we wait until we’re–well, not legal as far as mortal laws, but he wants us registered with Upstairs. Muriel designed the certificate. You and Nina get to sign it later.” Crowley sighed, then brightened. “Anyway,” he went on, “lots to do. I have the fairy lights ready to string up. The florist just delivered flowers and the vases are in the kitchen.”“I’d better go and help him, then.” Nina was surprised. She had gotten the distinct impression, after finding out the actual age of the pair, they’d been messing about for –well, centuries, at least.Maggie had already gone out the back door. Soon she was in the garden pavilion with Aziraphale, who was talking as they worked, spreading tablecloths over the folding tables. “I’m so nervous, Maggie. Thank you for helping and being my best…person?”“Person of honor might work, Aziraphale. I’m glad to help. Glad to be of help. I think I’m supposed to carry the second ring for you, too. I had a little pocket put in the gown. Don’t let me forget to get it from you.”Together they were laying on tablecloths, and then Maggie got out the chair covers. “People should be arriving around one, and it’s now ten. That leaves plenty of time for you and Crowley to get ready. I know you said you didn’t want professional photographs, but maybe I should take at least one photo, afterwards?”“That would be acceptable, I suppose, as long as we got the only copy. You know we can’t have multiple photos floating around, Maggie. Our guests know who we are, but the rest of humanity cannot know.”“I understand. That’s why I helped you write your vows last week. We put some things that could be taken as romance for the plus ones. Everyone’s keeping your secrets. No worries.” She patted Aziraphale on his shoulder, then began slipping the chair covers on the chairs. “Let’s get this done, then we can help with setting out the flowers and the big vases by the canopy. You did say casual for dress, right, no heels?”“I told them. Heels would be –difficult, on the grass. But if we have to, I can always do a small miracle or two. In case the plus–ones didn’t get the memorandum.”In the house, Nina was making floral arrangements. “Crowley, I need more floral foam for the big baskets to go out by the canopy.”The demon bounced in from rooting in the storage cupboard of the utility room, his arms full of packages of foam. “Is this enough?”“Thanks, Crowley. That should be enough for one of the baskets. And they need to be soaked. Just pile them in the sink and bring me the rest.” Crowley didn’t argue. He just fetched and carried, content to let Nina do the creative work.An hour later the baskets were done, and Crowley proudly placed them beside the arbor canopy. Nina moved on to tidying the kitchen and making sure everything looked neat before she took a quick break. “Sit, Crowley. We’ve got fifteen minutes before the caterers show up, and then you can show them to the pavilion, and stay out of their way. You’re making me nervous.”Crowley sprawled on one of the kitchen tables and poured himself a couple fingers of Talisker. “Nina, don’t forget you’re supposed to hold the ring.”“I’m not forgetting. Also, I have your card with your vows. And the one for Muriel. Speaking of whom, where are they?”“I sent the Bentley to get them. They should be here any minute.”Just then, Muriel opened the front door. They looked a bit shellshocked. “I don’t think I want to get into that –car–again! It was scary!” Muriel was wearing their usual bookseller’s garb.Crowley chuckled. “It’s perfectly safe, Muriel. The Bentley likes you. It just drives fast. That’s on me. But you’re safe as houses, isn’t that what the mortals say?”Nina got up and went into the spare bedroom, pulling out an embroidered yellow gown that was reminiscent of their angelic garb in Biblical times. “Come here, Muriel. This is what you wear. You can change now, if you like. Here’s your card with your words.” As the front doorbell rang, she poked her head out the doorway. “Crowley! That’ll be the caterers!”Maggie came in. “Time to dress. I have to make sure Aziraphale is ready, too.” The last minute rushing around paid off–the setting was gorgeous. The lush lawn on which the chairs were set was a tribute to Crowley’s hard work. Flowering shrubs were everywhere, and fragrance filled the air. Fairy lights twinkled in the shade of trees. The chair covers were tied with large yellow satin bows.Most of the guests had also dressed with yellow touches, deferring to Aziraphale’s taste, but nobody but the wedding party wore all yellow. Crowley, for his part, had replaced the red of his collar and the soles of his snakeskin boots with yellow, just for the occasion.The boutonnières of the pair were yellow rosebuds, tied with yellow ribbons, with a wisp of baby’s breath. Nina had made them.And by twos and threes, people arrived and were seated in the back garden. By one o’clock, the musicians were seated under the canopy, playing soft music, while Nina was standing nervously by Crowley, closest to the house and Maggie was helping Aziraphale adjust his bowtie and straighten his boutonnière.To Crowley’s surprise, the music that started was an instrumental version of “Lover Boy” by Queen. As they began their walks from the side aisles, as planned, Aziraphale winked at the demon, causing him to break out in a grin from ear to ear as he sauntered toward the one being in the universe he had loved since before time had begun. The nerves were gone as they met in the middle and clasped hands, then turned to Muriel, who had memorized their lines.“Friends and family, we are gathered here to celebrate a union both familiar and unique, Crowley and Aziraphale, former emissaries and retired Guardian of the Eastern Gate…your love is ageless, but surely part of the Great Plan from the beginning. We witness these two join hearts, hands, and lives, having been through trials, and separations, only to come together again and again, because they were destined for one another.” Muriel paused, wiping a tear. “Crowley and Aziraphale, turn to each other and speak what’s in your hearts.”Crowley cleared his throat, as Nina handed him the ring he’d had designed to go with the engagement one he’d given his angel all those months ago. He tossed the card over his shoulder. “I don’t need the sodding thing,“ he whispered, hoarsely, as he stared Aziraphale in his face, glasses left off for this ceremony.Again he cleared his throat, as he held Aziraphale’s hand, the angel having removed his engagement band temporarily. “Angel. Aziraphale. We’ve known each other a very long time. We’ve always relied on each other. I promise to be the being you can continue to rely on for the rest of eternity, no matter what it brings. I will hold you up if you fall –you know, ordinary falling– and I will support you forever, Whenever you need to fly, I will fly with you. You and me. A group of the two of us. For all time. So help me, Whoever. And I give you this ring to symbolize that commitment.” He slipped the ring on Aziraphale’s finger and replaced the engagement band.And Aziraphale took his hand, and held up his own ring. “Crowley. My dearest demon. For too long I was afraid to tell you how I feel. How I’ve always felt, even up in the stars. Hell couldn’t keep you. You’re too good for them, and for Heaven, as well. I promise to never be afraid again to tell you what you mean to me. What you’ve always meant to me. I give you my heart. I will be with you through all the days and nights the Almighty grants us together. Forever. I will not forsake you, even though others try to stand in our way. I will fly with you if you need me to. I will hold you up against all of Them–” and he gestured up and down–”for our lives. For all time. And I give you this ring to symbolize that commitment.” And he, in turn slipped the ring on Crowley’s finger, then lifted his hand to his lips, kissing the fingers.As the two of them faced Muriel once again, they said, “By the Authority vested in me by the Supreme…you know…I pronounce you both wed. You may kiss.” Muriel had read up on human ceremonies, a great many of them, and knew this was how the words always ended.Crowley’s eyes widened as Aziraphale brought a hand to the demon’s face, and kissed him very thoroughly. “Angel,” he gasped, throatily.“Later, Crowley. That’s a promise.” Aziraphale twinkled at Crowley.The two turned, holding hands, and Muriel said, behind the pair, “Everyone, I present you the spouses, Aziraphale and Crowley. What She has ordained, no one can separate.”And there was applause. Aziraphale, blindingly happy, leaned his head on his husband’s shoulder. “Come on, everyone. There’s food, lots of it, in the pavilion. Go on. We’ll be right in, I promise.”There was food, and speechmaking, and a gift table, and the cake was pronounced “scrummy” by Aziraphale, who lovingly fed some to his husband, who in turn fed bites to the angel. There was actual dancing, including a first dance by the new spouses. Aziraphale even insisted all the caterers and musicians, everyone who’d helped, also eat meals, and they were sent away with huge tips courtesy of each of them.And Aziraphale had arranged for designated drivers, ever the practical angel.As they waved good-bye to the last guests, Crowley leered at his angel, and sat on the chesterfield, then sprawled. “Come ‘ere, Angel,” he said, and they cuddled. But when Aziraphale tried to get up, he was trapped by long limbs tangling in his own.Crowley had fallen asleep and was gently snoring.

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“Dearest, I didn’t have a choice. I couldn’t wake you. Do you know you snore?” Aziraphale chuckled, taking any sting out of the comment. “You must have been exhausted.” He had untangled himself from their shared space on the chesterfield and was perched on the arm.“Do I, Angel? I suppose I was celebrating rather hard yesterday.” Crowley sat up, “I forgot to clean up yesterday. Was there any food left?”“Yes, it’s in the fridge, in covered dishes. I paid extra to have the caterers put leftovers away, enough for today, and they took the rest to a homeless shelter. Not our cake. I understand it’s traditional to freeze a slice. I froze a whole quarter. There was plenty. The rest is in the pantry.”“I want breakfast, Angel. And you should eat something. I have a whole day planned after cleanup. You’ll need to keep your strength up.” Crowley leered.Aziraphale grinned back. “I see how it is with you.” He bustled into the kitchen. “What would you say to some crepes?”“Learned to make your own, did you, Angel? Do we still have some of those early strawberries? I could whip the cream.” The two fitted in the kitchen in domestic harmony, then fed each other bites. Crowley had never felt so content, so free and happy. He was almost afraid of the emotion.After breakfast, Aziraphale tidied the kitchen while Crowley went outside. He did a quick few miracles, and tables were stacked, tablecloths were clean and folded, and chairs neatly stacked on the racks they’d come in from the rental company. Another miracle, and the pavilion was down and folded. He left the fairy lights, rather liking the ambience in springtime.When the rental company came to pick up their things, they wanted to return the security deposit, since everything was in perfect shape, but Crowley waved it off. “Keep it,” he said. He was eager to get back to his angel.Who, it seemed, was eager to be with him.Crowley was suddenly a little shy. “Angel, shall we try out our bed?”“I thought you’d never ask. Come on, Crowley. You know I have been studying.” He grasped his husband’s hand, leading him upstairs. “First, let me undress you. I’ve been longing to do this for simply ages.”“Could have fooled me, Angel. Did fool me.” Crowley, bemused, allowed his shirt to be unbuttoned and his tight jeans and belt undone. Aziraphale shushed him by kissing him. Hard. Crowley opened his mouth and allowed his tongue to entwine around the angel’s. His taste was intoxicating. He began kissing his way around Aziraphale’s chin and neck, all the while helping the angel in getting him out of his tight pants. Usually he just miracled them on and off, but the angel wanted to undress him, so he shed them the mortal way.He was down to his singlet and shorts, having toed off his boots. His socks were still on. He was concentrating on Aziraphale’s buttons and undoing the tartan bowtie, while still peppering the angel’s face with kisses and light nibbles. His black shorts started tenting. “Angel,” he panted. “I don’t think I can wait…”“Calm down, Crowley. We’ve waited six thousand years. We can wait a little longer. You can wait.” Aziraphale’s voice had iron in it, and Crowley recognized the warrior angel Aziraphale had been created to become. The angel pushed him back on the bed after hooking his fingers in the waistband of his husband’s black shorts and pulling them down, allowing his effort to spring free. It stood proud and at attention and Aziraphale bent double and licked, from root to tip, his tongue caressing the frenulum, where the foreskin had folded back.“Angel, angel…” Crowley’s fingers became nerveless as the sensations wove their way to his brain. His skin felt electric, as if his nerves were lightning. His heart was thunder in his chest. He understood, now, what joining was meant to be, to lovers. Sensation–and more. Love, given and received. Love and heat like lava in his veins. No pain, only stimulus, from the tips of his fingers, his toes and every inch of his skin.“Lie back, Crowley. No, wait, let’s get this singlet off.” Aziraphale pulled it off, uncharacteristically tossing it aside.”Now, lie back.” He worked the shorts down long limbs, tossing them after the singlet. Then he took off his bowtie and pulled Crowley’s arms over his head, and loosely tied the length of the tie around his wrists. “That’s to remind you to stay where you’re put, my dear.”Crowley closed his eyes briefly, then opened them wide. “Angel…” his voice was strangled. He really liked this take-charge angel.Aziraphale was crouched between his thighs and kissing around the crease where his pubes began, nibbling and biting, without touching the slender member, beginning to leak droplets. He reached to Crowley’s chest and played with the nipples, circling and pinching with his fingertips, grazing hairs. His other hand caressed the skin around the demon’s groin, then he began touching and playing with his balls. He was rewarded with moans which increased with intensity as Crowley arched his body “Angel, what in he name of Hea-Hel-Anyone have you been studying?”“Hush, my dear. I told you I would do my research. This pleases you, does it not?” Aziraphale stood and quickly removed his coat, his vest, and his shirt, peeling suspenders, and dropping trousers, stepping out of them. But instead of fully undressing, he lay on Crowley’s supine body. “You’re mine, Crowley. Now and forever. Mine. And I am yours. Never forget that. I will never cause harm to come to you, and I will never allow harm to come to you. Ever. No one will keep us apart. Do you like this?” And with one hand he held Crowley’s loosely bound wrists so that he couldn’t move without pulling out of the loose restraint.Crowley didn’t want to do that. He was incredibly turned on. He trusted Aziraphale, with his life, his heart, his very existence. “Yes, Angel. Yes. I like.”“I want to have our first time last, my dear. Let me know if you’re close, because we can back down, and make your pleasure last.”The angel was in command, as if he’d been made for this. He was quite sure, seeing Crowley’s response, that this was the right path to take. Crowley evidently liked it when Aziraphale took control. He surprised himself with how much he liked it.He made a strangled sound, for a moment words failing him. “What about your pleasure?” he finally managed. Somehow, his brain was short-circuiting.“I will take mine, my dear. So far, this is very enjoyable, seeing you like this. I want to watch as you come apart, and that will please me very much. My love, my demon, my darling. Let me take you apart, let me see you come undone.”Aziraphale had, indeed, been studying. He let go of Crowley’s hands, stood back, and slowly undressed, watching Crowley watch him thirstily. Again, he knelt between his lover’s thighs, and kissed them, seemingly ignoring the twitching cock standing near his face, until with one swift movement, he engulfed the head with his hot mouth. Crowley’s back arched and he nearly came right then. Aziraphale let go and kissed his way up Crowley’s body with little nibbles, sharp teeth immediately soothed with licks and kisses.Crowley thought he could easily pass out from the sensations flooding him. “Angel, Angel, I want you in me.” His voice was hoarse with his desire. “I want us to join.”Aziraphale kissed his neck and climbed on the bed, next to him. “Your desire is my desire, my love,” he whispered, caressing the demon’s body with fingers that seemed to trace fire on his skin, but this fire didn’t hurt, it felt divine. “Sit up, my dear. That’s it. Let me make you ready. Lean back on your hands.” He scissored Crowley’s legs with his own, then miracled lubricant, reaching around to the cleft in back, finding the entrance, stretching gently. One finger, then two, then three, then slicking his cock and placing the head where his fingers had been.Crowley was again moaning, looking deep in Aziraphale’s eyes, as he lifted himself deliberately, then slammed down and, impaling himself, sheathed the angel’s cock. Aziraphale smiled and wrapped his hand around the demon’s burgeoning member as, never looking away, pumped in tune with his thrusting, deep within. He felt Crowley’s prostate as he moved, and as he moved, the demon moaned and stiffened and his wings spread behind him. He was utterly undone, and so very happy.Aziraphale smiled at him, and reached his own peak, throwing his head back as his wings also erupted.For a few long minutes there was only silence, punctuated by deep panting breaths, as the two sank down on their shared wedding bed, limbs tangled, hugging each other. Then Aziraphale spoke.“My. That was something! The descriptions do not do it justice, my dear.”Crowley, who by now was snuggled, waved a hand, cleaning them both. Their wings were still out and he wrapped the angel with his. “it’s certainly better with consent, Angel. Give me a few minutes and I’ll be wanting this again. You?”“Mm, yes. I do believe I would like that very much.”And throughout the day they tried many ways, everything Aziraphale had researched, and many that Crowley had seen through the ages. They discovered how erotic wings could be, and used them for many happy sensations, then eventually slept in each others’ arms, legs, wings and bodies tangled.“This,” pronounced the angel, when at last the pair decided to come up for air, so to speak, “this is Heaven.”“No,” said Crowley, and the angel raised an eyebrow. “Heaven’s a terrible place. This –this, you, and us–this is paradise.”“You’re right, my dear.” Aziraphale said, kissing Crowley on the nose. “Betwixt Heaven and Hell is Paradise. Our paradise.”And so it was.