Chapter Text
“To the left. No, dear, my left. Riiiiiight there.” Aziraphale walked up to examine the evergreen that Crowley quite tiredly moved from the hood of the Bentley.
“This is your left.” Crowley said, muffled behind the tree.
“Oh, dear. You’re right. My bad. To your right.”
“That’s the same direction!”
“Oh, you know what I mean! Just bring it to the exact center. Right where I discorporated.”
“Like that’s something I want to remember.” Crowley steadied the tree finally. “Like this?”
“Wonderful. See? That’s perfect, darling! Time for cocoa!” Aziraphale left the room while Crowley thought about this whole decorating shindig. Of course they could have just miracled the tree inside. They could have miracled every decoration in the world into the bookshop if they had wanted to. “But where’s the fun in that?” Aziraphale said. The bastard, Crowley thought to himself as he wiped the sweat off his forehead. For someone who loves to use frivolous miracles, I’m not sure why this could not have been one of them.
The demon had been trying to help the angel arrange the bookshop to celebrate every holiday in a different section. Aziraphale loved the inclusivity of every holiday and Crowley loved the opportunity to spend money on his angel. Since it was the closest to Aziraphale’s history, they set Christmas right smack dab in the middle of the bookshop. Crowley had hung little snowflakes around the ceiling while the angel, who’s whole idea it was to decorate, decided that he should do a bit of extra reading while he put Crowley to work. He didn’t really mind it.
It was worth every amount of minor inconveniences his angel put him through if it would put a smile on his face. Crowley had seen that smile so many times over the millennia, but him causing it was a whole new thing. Well, that wasn’t true. Aziraphale was always smiling with the demon after their Arrangement, but seeing him smile in a romantic sense was entirely new. Well, that wasn’t true either. I mean, in France, we were practically overlooking all over the crepes to smile and look at each other. Crowley pondered. At the very least, he enjoyed being with his angel around Christmastime.
No, Crowley wasn’t a bah humbug around Christmas. In fact, he loved it! People buying way more gifts than need be? The major sales that caused everyone to fight and riot? The delightful classic Christmas movies? Crowley counted creating the sequel to Home Alone as one of his most favorite miracles. Aziraphale properly thanked him for that when it came out and they had gone together. Plus, as much of a demon as he was, he secretly loved seeing everyone happy around the holidays. In the past, it was one of the few times a year when Aziraphale truly allowed himself to let go of his heavenly duties to have a good time. In fact, that was the only reason Aziraphale went to that Christmas Ball all those years ago. Blame it on the feeling in the air.
“What are you thinking about, dear?” Aziraphale cooed as he drank a sip of his cocoa, looking incredibly cozy in his robe and pajamas. Ever since the two creatures had revealed their feelings to one another, parts of their history just appeared around them as happy tokens of fond memories, so the angel’s outfit was topped off with a delightful set of fluffy duck slippers. Crowley smiled at them. He was learning exactly how to interact with the ducks since that time he nearly drowned one. It wasn’t easy. That being said, Aziraphale was helping him every day to get more comfortable with them. As he thought, he looked down and saw that his own feet had been covered in duck slippers. Shit.
In fact, parts of each other had started to appear in each other’s residences. At first, it was only small things. Aziraphale’s angel coffee mug was once on Crowley’s counter. Crowley’s sunglasses ended up under a heap of books (thank goodness they weren’t broken; the angel had breathed a sigh of relief). But then, it became entirely too much to deal with. Aziraphale’s entire desk of work ended up lodged between some of his giant plants. One of his giant plants once blocked the entry to the bookshop! Because of these giant inconveniences, and definitely not because this was what they both desired deep in their hearts, the two moved in together. Crowley miracled his flat right above the bookshop and ever since, they’ve lived in perfect harmony, the masks from their past hanging right above their bed in the flat.
“Nothing, angel.” Aziraphale gave him a look, and Crowley laughed. “Just that I wish you would have made me a cup as well.”
“Darling, I DID make you one! You insisted that I put it on the counter so it could cool down. I know you like your cocoa lukewarm.” The angel protested.
“Ah, that you did.” At once, the cocoa appeared in his hand, just like he wanted. He sipped it and went to sit on the couch. The demon admired the large Christmas tree that stood in the middle of the bookshop. This was the perfect opportunity to prod Aziraphale. “Let me ask you something, angel. Do you think Christ knew that his birthday would eventually turn into a giant commercial nightmare?”
Aziraphale rolled his eyes and came to sit next to the demon. He miracled a blanket over them both to keep them cozy before taking yet another sip. “The season is for giving and being around your loved ones. That’s what it has been about for centuries. You know you’re not a Grinch, dear. Save your dramatics for Anathema”, the angel giggled as he grabbed a book on the side table.
“Why, I ought to…” Crowley began, but when he looked over at his angel, his heart swelled three times the normal size. He looked so precious in the light of the fire. Simply reading and sipping cocoa like that was his only job on Earth. The demon smiled widely, something he was doing a lot more often now. “I ought to tell you I love you.”
Aziraphale looked up at Crowley, who was blushing, and began to blush himself. “I love you too, dear. Would you like me to read to you?”
“Would I ever say no to that?”
“Which book? Perhaps some Wilde?”
“I think I would prefer Seuss, so you can see just how much of a Grinch I really am!”
“Oh hush, dear! You wily…”
“Wily what? Exactly, you can’t even say. I’m just too great.”
“You’re wearing duck slippers, mister. Not even you can look tough in them.”
“Let me wear my duck slippers in peace, angel!”
“Whatever you say, darling.”
All- yes, all -was well.