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Category:
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Language:
English
Series:
Part 39 of Otter Omens (GO Ficlets)
Collections:
Wiggleverse, DIWS Who Needs a Great Plan?
Stats:
Published:
2021-09-05
Completed:
2021-09-05
Words:
912
Chapters:
3/3
Comments:
19
Kudos:
98
Bookmarks:
6
Hits:
702

And Then There Were 6

Summary:

Crowley arrives to the bookshop, the snildren are already sound asleep. He smiles. The 6 of them are pretty cute when they're quiet like this... Wait, did he just count six?
* * * *
In which the snabies make a new friend.

Notes:

Prompt fill for "The Number 6"

Chapter 1: Father Meets Fred

Chapter Text

The sun has set and the bookshop is dark and quiet. Crowley peers into the terrarium located in the back room, checking on the sleeping snildren. The corner of his mouth curls with affection, and out of habit he counts the noodle shapes.

1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6.

He nods contentedly. All set.

Wait.

1… 2… 3… 4… 5… 6.

He counts a third time. Six.

"Aziraphale," he whispers urgently. "Aziraphale!"

As if by magic, he appears by Crowley's side out of the darkness, causing the demon to start in surprise.

"Yes, my dear. Something the matter?" His voice reflects the concern expressed in his scrunched brow.

"There are 6 of them. Why are there 6 of them? What did you do?"

It takes a moment to register what is being asked, but then relief relaxes his face in realization. "Nothing to fret about, Crowley. That would be Fred."

Fred is not a name of any of the five snabies.

Crowley's face contorts in confusion at the absurdity of it all. Eyebrows raise above the rims of his sunglasses.

In response to his co-parent's increasing frustration, Aziraphale quickly adds, "My mistake for not telling you that- What I mean to say is- Well, while you were out, the children and I went on a walk. And in the park, they found a new playmate and became fast friends. I didn't see the harm in a sleepover when they asked.”

Eyebrows rocket to his hairline now and Crowley is all but hissing. “You let. A strange snake. Sleep over. With our children, Aziraphale!?”

“Goodness, no. I, well.” Aziraphale pulls Crowley further away from the terrarium but keeps his voice hushed still, now more out of a sense of propriety than of concern for waking the children. “Fred isn’t a snake, my dear.”

“Well. Right then. What is he, Aziraphale?”

“Our new friend Fred… is an earthworm.”

Crowley removes his sunglasses and pinches the bridge of his nose. He breathes in. He breathes out. Eyebrows return to their usual altitude.

“And it’s so important that the children are able to properly socialize outside of the bookshop, and, really dear, he’s actually rather charming when you get to know him and-.” Crowley cuts him off before he can get too agitated.

“No, no. Aziraphale. It’s okay. It’s alright. It’s… Fred the Earthworm, aye?" Crowley looks over again at the terrarium and, after a moment, shrugs. "Well, we will have to bring him back to the park tomorrow to reunite him with his family… but... I guess it’s okay if he spends the night with ours.”

Chapter 2: Fred Goes Home

Summary:

In which the fambly make preparations to bring Fred home.

Chapter Text

“Alright, spawn. Let’s get you guys and, uh, Fred back to the park. Fred needs to go see his family.” The five official plus the one honorary snaby are awake. They wait eagerly to wiggle into the picnic basket that they will ride in to go to the park. Even Fred lays there at attention, the excitement contagious.

“Father! Fred says he’s going to teach us how to dig!” exclaimed Clem excitedly.

Junior agrees. “I bet I’d be a great digger.”

This doesn’t convince Datura, who replies, “Don’t get your hopes up. Fred is an *earthworm*. He’s built for digging. You’re built for… What are snakes built for, Father?”

“Uh, you know. Slithering. Climbing trees. And-.” “Napping in the sun,” Aziraphale interjects, rubbing an elbow affectionately into Crowley’s ribs.

“Right. Well, maybe we ought to avoid too much sun. For Fred’s sake.” Crowley considers that thought further. “I think with a little miracle, though, it should be a fair bit cloudy today.”

“Fred,” Angelica asks. “Would you like to learn how to climb trees, too?”

Before Fred can answer, however, Rosa interrupts. “Not before he teaches us to dig! We can make tunnels, to far away lands. Like Manchester!”

“Ergh, maybe not Manchester,” Crowley admits.

“Yes, my dears, that was one of your Father’s. But, perhaps Paris? Have I told you that they have the most wonderful crepes?”

Chapter 3: Playdate With Fred

Summary:

In which the snabies play at the park with Fred.

Chapter Text

He has to admit it, it’s a nice day at the park. Was it odd that the children were playing with an earthworm? Well, he and Aziraphale had certainly seen odder, so… 

Crowley considers what it would be like to actually have a 6th snaby, instead of just the new honorary one. A shudder of horror and a wave of relief goes through him to decide that No, five most certainly is enough.

Speaking of snabies, one is coming their way now.

Aziraphale bends to pick her up from the grass. “Hello, Datura. What can we help you with?”

“Azirafather, I don’t want to eat dirt. Why does Fred eat dirt?”

The two parents look at each other. This is their life now.

“Spawn, Fred is an earthworm. You two are built differently. It’s natural.”

“Yes, all of God’s creatures, big and small, have different purposes and different needs. You need pinkies-” “And chimken nuggets!” “-and other protein, yes. But Fred eats the nutrients in the soil. Neither one is better than the other. It just is.”

Datura looks decidedly relieved. “Okay. Fred says to dig, you need to eat the dirt and Junior said he can eat more dirt than the rest of us and-”

“Junior said what? Crowley-” “I’m on it." Crowley stands and hurriedly makes his way over to the huddle of children. "Junior! So help me Someone. Spit that out RIGHT. NOW!”

It was an odd outing. But Aziraphale and Crowley had certainly had odder, so… 

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