Chapter Text
Food was shared with laughter and smiles around the table. Aziraphale complimented the chef with enthusiasm, and wondered how she’d learned to make such non-British fare so well. (She had spent some time in the US South, sweet-talking stubborn grannies and meemaws into sharing their secrets and perfecting her technique.) Crowley obligingly tasted all of the food, then slid his plate towards Aziraphale and started munching on the strangely still-crisp fried pickles. Both of them were very nearly glowing.
Anathema got a hold of Newt to let him know she’d be home later that night. Crowley had offered to drive her home in the Bentley, but Aziraphale shut that down before she could object and said he’d just snap her home whenever she was ready. (Yes, of course, the books too, of course, he’d never just keep them.)
Annabel told the rest of the crew that she would be leaving in one week, and Mattie promised a going away party that would be “simply divine!”
Someone found a bottle of very good wine, and miraculously there was plenty to go around several times. They laughed and joked around until it was dark, and then it was time.
“I guess this is it, eh?” Annabel was reluctant to say goodbye to her new friends, even Anathema, who she’d see in just a couple of weeks. “This has been quite a day.” She scoffed herself at the understatement. “Thank you, all of you. Thank you for trusting me to have good intentions. Thank you for helping me figure out how to fix things. Thank you… just thank you. For everything.”
Aziraphale stepped forward and offered her a hug, which she accepted enthusiastically. “I still have a hard time wrapping my head around the fact that angels are real,” she murmured into his shoulder. “I’m so glad to have met you.”
She turned to Crowley next. “I’m not sure how demons say goodbye, but I’d love another hug if you’re up for it.” Crowley rushed through the requisite grumbling about how demons don’t do hugs, then swept her up in a tight hug before stepping away quickly, suddenly interested in something on the ground.
Anathema stepped forward. “Not goodbye. I’ll see you in a couple of weeks. And you have my number. I’m quite an avid texter, I’m sure we’ll have lots to say while you settle up your loose ends. I’ll keep an eye out for a sweet little cottage in just the right price range.”
Aziraphale gave a small snap, then said “I do believe you’ll have no trouble at all finding the perfect place.” Anathema gave him a knowing look, happy that she had friends who could get things done.
“And we’re nowhere near to saying goodbye yet, honey. I still have one week to fuss over you like a mother hen. It’s an occupational hazard, feeling the need to protect what I love.”
And with that, it was done.
Anathema, Crowley, and Aziraphale turned to go back to the bookshop, leaving a happy, if somewhat soggy, fortune teller with a very capable guardian angel.
*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*-*
It didn’t take long for Anathema to make sure all of her books were accounted for. “Not that I don’t trust you, Aziraphale, but, well, I don’t. Not when it comes to my books.” Aziraphale didn’t even pretend to be offended when Crowley replied, “Good idea, you never know with this one.”
Anathema stood next to her carefully stacked pile of books - each and every one of them - and waved as Aziraphale snapped and she disappeared along with her books, leaving him alone with his favorite demon. They stood together, looking at the spot Anathema had just left, then turned towards each other. If they were a bit shy about it, no one cared. Crowley took Aziraphale’s hand in his own, leaned down for a kiss, and asked, “Do you happen to have a bedroom around this place? I’m completely knackered.”
With a wicked smile and heat in his eyes, Aziraphale led him upstairs. “I do, as a matter of fact, have a bedroom. And a bed, though I’ve never used it. Perhaps you could help me break it in?”
Crowley growled low and sultry, saying “Anything you want, Angel. Anything you want.”
*-*-*-*-* Fin *-*-*-*-*
Postscript:
“If you don’t stop following me around like a lovesick puppy, Eric, I’m going to blast you into oblivion.”
“But! I thought we had something! Hastur, wait up! Hastur!”
There was a greasy burst of smoke. Hastur smiled with satisfaction. “And that takes care of that!”