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In a quiet little street in a quiet little town, there was a quiet little house painted light blue and brown.
With its picket fence and freshly mowed lawn, the Young residence was as traditional as they come. It was no surprise then to learn that as soon as the calendar flicked over to November, Mrs Deirdre Young wasted no time in rolling up the plastic cobwebs and throwing away the rotting pumpkins.
As diligent a housewife Deirdre is, there did so happen to be something that evaded her thorough attention. Something small. Something red and black. Something that perhaps had been knocked over by a certain rowdy eleven-year-old boy and was now laying prone in the space between a bookcase and the wall. Something discarded. Lost and forgotten like the left sock beside it. Something named Crowley.
And so, on the 1st of November when the lights had been turned off and the humans had gone to bed, the forgotten Halloween trinket magically came to life.
"Are you fucking kidding me?!" The small doll said, filling the room with a rage a billion times larger than his size.
"They lost my damn sunglasses last year and now they lose me?!" He declared, waving his floppy arms about to make his point. "What's gonna be next? Gonna lose the bloody... hey there they are!" He trailed off, suddenly distracted by finding his lost sunglasses wrapped up in a dust bunny.
Crowley muttered something about the inefficiencies of feather dusters as he saved his glasses, polishing them with his long black robes and popping them on.
Truth be told, the black shades did not come within his original packaging. You see, Crowley was a fallen angel, plain and simple. A red-headed doll with demonic eyes and spooky black wings. Much to his distaste, the only clothing that he had come with was a set of black robes. Much to Crowley’s joy however, the child of the household had a rather active imagination.
Some years ago, Adam Young had created a set of miniature sunglasses out some black cellophane and a paperclip. Crowley can still recall the sinister little laugh that Adam gave when he had fitted the glasses to Crowley’s head.
"There, he looks like a proper demon now. Would be too bright in hell anyways, wouldn’t it? All that fire n' brimstone n' whatnot. Yeah. He looks right now."
Ever since that moment, Crowley thought that Adam was alright, for a human that is. Yeah, Crowley would make sure that Adam Young got treats rather than tricks on the glorious night that was All Hallows Eve. The tricks, Crowley would save for Adam's parents.
Speaking of Adam's parents. How could Mrs Young forget to pack him away with the rest of the Halloween decorations? As far as Crowley was concerned, there was no Halloween without him. And now he was stuck out here alone and dusty, not nicely wrapped up in bubble wrap and stored in the attic where he should be.
"Balls!" He cussed to himself, aggressively kicking a stray marble as he sauntered out from behind the bookcase. If he was gonna play the part of a lost toy, then he was at least gonna have some fun with it.
For the entirety of November, Crowley wreaked havoc upon the Young household. Car keys were hidden under cushions, the fridge mysteriously left open, and for the love of someone, no one could find any of the nail clippers. Crowley had even managed to get the hang of turning the television on and navigating through the various applications. It had soon become a common occurrence for Mr Young to wake in the morning to old reruns of the Golden Girls set on repeat.
All in all, Crowley was discovering that being a forgotten toy wasn't all that bad really. In fact, it was pretty damn fun!
~*~*~*~*~*~
After an entire month of tomfoolery, Crowley was rather content with his new lot in life. Around ten o’clock every night when the lights went off, he would sneak out of hiding and do whatever he pleased until the early hours of the morning. This particular night he was planning on messing around with the thermostat settings, but something strange caught his attention.
In the corner of the living room stood a huge tree, green as grass and smelling of pine. Granted, any tree was huge to Crowley, but he had really ever only seen them from afar. Seeing one up close like this, indoors, well it was a whole other experience entirely. In addition to that, the tall tree had been decorated from stump to tip. Twinkling tinsel frosted the twigs, shimmering silver like the first snow of the year. Round, beautifully baubles stood out against the green, each one its own bright colour, gleaming like precious gems. Multi-coloured little lights swirled around the tree, glowing and dancing like fairies in the night.
These decorations were unlike anything that Crowley had ever seen before. He was used to dark and spooky décor. Spindly cobwebs and skinny skeletons, cackling witches and ghastly ghouls that jumped out when you passed, these were the things that Crowley knew. And so, Crowley stood there, confused about what he was seeing yet unable to look away. The longer he looked at the magnificent tree, the wider his golden eyes grew, pupils dilating with joy as he looked further up, up and up… After what felt like an eternity, he finally looked at the very top of the tree and saw the most beautiful thing he had ever seen in his entire existence. There at the very top of this magnificent tree, sat a gorgeous angel.
Now, one might wonder how he knew that it was an angel. Well, it was simple really. Crowley had been told on a number of occasions that he was a demon, a devil, a scary fallen angel who had descended from heaven. So, when he looked up and saw a set of virginal robes and fluffy white wings, well, he could not help but make the connection. Where Crowley was all lines and angels, this angel was round and smooth. Instead of fiery red locks, there was cloud-like puffs of hair. This gorgeous creature on the tree seemed to be the exact opposite of Crowley. Yes, this was most certainly a most heavenly angel, he was sure of it.
Hypnotised, Crowley found himself sitting down on the floor and looking up at the angel, staring with those big, bright, unblinking eyes of his. It wasn’t until the clock struck midnight that he was reminded of the magnifying glass that was situated on one of the bookcase shelves. Determined to use it in order to see the angel better, Crowley used maximum effort to parkour his way up onto the back of the sofa and then up onto the bookcase. Shimmying his lithe body past a few fragile objects, he gave a little inward cheer when he finally reached his destination. Taking a deep breath, he adjusted the glass just so before peering through it, hoping beyond hope that this was going to work.
“Oh!” Crowley gasped, breath evading him as he was presented with a closer, clearer vision of the angelic figure.
Crowley wasn’t quite sure what he had been expecting, but whatever he had imagined most certainly paled in comparison to what he actually saw. The angel was perfect, in every sense of the word. Sheer and utter perfection.
The angelic face was smooth and pale, like the finest porcelain imaginable. Actually, it probably was porcelain. The facial features had been crafted so delicately and painted with the utmost care, the result being the cutest little upturned nose and the puffiest cheeks. A warm pink blush painted the lips, making them look supple and glossy, kissable almost. Crowley found his own cheeks blushing at that thought. Kissable, really? As if that was ever going to happen, Crowley thought to himself. For one matter, it was not like the handsome thing was attainable. He was on the top of a fucking tree for someone’s sake!
Oh, but he does look so very kissable, Crowley thought as a big goofy smile spread across his face. With a lovestruck sigh, the raggedy demon sunk down to sit on the shelf and dreamily watched the angel, taking in the full sight and enjoying every single moment of it.
And enjoy he did. Crowley sat there and raked his eyes over every inch of the angel that he could see. Up and down the adorable figure he watched, enjoying the way the white robe hugged the angel around the middle, highlighting the healthy tummy underneath. Crowley would smile and wonder if the belly was soft or firm to the touch. Not long after watching the angel, Crowley firmly decided that if this creature was really unattainable, well, then there wasn’t any harm in him using his imagination then. No harm in simply thinking about hugging that chubby body close to him. No harm in dreaming about running his fingers through those cloud-like curls. Nope. No harm at all, right?
Crowley was caught off guard when the clock eventually chimed six times, informing him that morning had well and truly arrived. He sighed with a forlorn pout on his lips. Mr Young would be awake soon. So, after one final gaze at the angel, Crowley climbed down from the bookcase and retired to his spot in the darkness. To lay and be still until it was once more safe to emerge.
~*~*~*~*~*~
It didn’t take long for angel gazing to become a regular segment of Crowley’s routine. Every night he would saunter out off hiding and would smile up at the tree, silently greeting the angel before attending to a little bit of mischief around the house. When he had had his fill of that, he would climb the shelves and sit down for a long gaze at the beautiful angel, hours passing in a state of pure adoration. Then every morning around six, he would bid the angel a wordless farewell and would retreat again until the next time.
It had been a good few weeks before a wrench was thrown into Crowley’s new routine, and a pretty big one at that. He was just coming back from stashing Mr Young’s reading glasses in the freezer when he looked up and saw that the angel was not there!
Before he let the panic set in, Crowley rubbed his eyes and blinked a few times before looking back up. There the top of the tree was, all green and pointy as it always was but again, no angel.
“What the?” Crowley asked himself, wondering what on Earth must have happened.
Then, he really started to panic because he did indeed think about all of the things that could have happened.
Could Mrs Young have packed the angel away into storage?
Had Adam taken him to play some sort of weird angel-centric game in the woods?
Has there been a fire from those flashing lights that burnt the angel to ash?
No, no… all those thoughts were ridiculous!
He could have fallen though, Crowley thought and immediately covered his hand over his heart. Yes, the sweet, perfect angel could have moved and fell down the tree and smashed on the ground. Smashed?!
“Fuck!” Crowley cussed before rushing towards the base of the tree, golden eyes alert for any signs of a crash landing.
All around the base of the tree, Crowley ran. He was just about to start shouting out ‘Angel’ when he realised just how pathetic that would be. They had never even met before. The last thing Crowley needed was to have some awkward conversation about having been pretty much stalking the angel for weeks.
Snap!
Crowley whirled around, startled at the unexpected sound.
“Oh dear, I am sorry,” a tender, genuinely concerned voice said.
It was the angel!
The angel was here! There by the tree! He is so close! And Crowley you pillock, say something!
“s’fine,” Crowley offered, shrugging his shoulders in an awkward attempt of nonchalance. It must have worked though, because the angel was smiling at him. Fuck, the angel was smiling at him!
“Oh, that is wonderful. Thank you, I wouldn’t want to interrupt. I just, well…” the angel said as he moved his hands in front of him. Soft hands fidgeted with each other in front of the round tummy. For some reason, the angel looked worried. Embarrassed even.
“Well, I wanted to look at the presents you see. I do so much enjoy reading the notes on them,” the angel confessed, like it was some deep dark secret.
It took Crowley an embarrassingly long time for him to realise that he was staring at the angel. Just ogling with eyes wide behind his dark glasses and his mouth slightly agape. When his brain finally caught up with him, he cleared his throat with a cough, purposefully averting his gaze.
“Presents, yeah… I mean, what?” Crowley asked, realising that he actually didn’t know what the angel was talking about.
The angel softly laughed, and it was like magic to Crowley’s ears.
“The presents, dear. You know, these things…” the angel said, motioning to the multitude of decorated boxes which surrounded the base of the tree.
“Is that what they are?” Crowley declared, like it was the first time he actually noticed the things.
“Well yes, of course,” the angel said, an amused smile on his face as he walked over to one and opened a note attached to the top of it.
“See, this one here says that it is to Mrs Young and from Mr Young,” the angel explained, pointing to the neatly scribed calligraphy. “Judging by the size of it, I would not be surprised if it was some form of jewellery. A pair of earrings, or a necklace perhaps. Something shiny. You see, Mr Young usually gets her – “
Crowley found himself staring again, consciously not trying to smile like to a complete idiot as he watched the angel, enjoying the way the cherubic face glowed with pure, unadulterated joy while he spoke about these gifts, like it was one of the most precious things in the world.
“Oh, oh I’m just rambling now,” the angel said when he realized what he was doing. “My apologies dear boy, I just get overly excited.”
“Don’t apologize!” Crowley barked out, faster than he had anticipated. “I mean, ‘sokay. I don’t mind.”
“Oh. G-good. I’m glad,” the angel smiled.
There was a pregnant pause where the two of them fell quiet, simply looking at each other under the glow of the Christmas lights.
“I am Aziraphale, by the way,” the angel said, breaking the silence.
“Oh, ah. Crowley,” Crowley replied.
“Well then. A pleasure to meet your acquaintance, Mr Crowley,” Aziraphale said, politely offering his hand out.
Crowley started at it for a moment before remembering himself and taking it in his own hand for a shake. They really were as soft as they look.
“Yeah, same,” Crowley said, inwardly cursing himself for not being as eloquent as he would like to be. “Nice ta’ meet you Az… Aziraphh… Angel.”
“Angel,” Aziraphale repeated, giggling as he took his hand back. “Well, I guess that is fitting. I am an angel after all.”
“Same,” Crowley blurted out, coughing a little before correcting himself. “Well, used to be I suppose. I’m a fallen angel. A demon, really. Dark and creepy and spooky n’ all that. Halloween decoration.”
“Ah, I see. I have heard of this Halloween before, not seen much of it myself though. Although…” Aziraphale said, tilting his head gently while he looked Crowley up and down. Crowley forced a gulp down his slender throat, feeling naked under the scrutiny of those sky-blue eyes.
“I don’t find you creepy at all, I must say,” Aziraphale said, his face showing genuine pleasure in what he saw. “You are rather stunning actually, if I might say so myself.”
Crowley was most certainly blushing now. Nervously, he reached up and ran his long fingers through his fiery hair. “Umm, thanks, I guess.”
“A pleasure, dear,” Aziraphale smiled before looking back to the presents. “If… if you are not opposed to the idea. Would you like to look at the rest of the gifts with me?”
“Sure!” Crowley again said a little too fast, his eagerness to spend more time with the angel so thick in the air that you could cut it with a butter knife.
“Jolly good!” Aziraphale beamed, stepping back a bit and motioning with his hand. “After you.”
~*~*~*~*~*~
Thanks to the angel, Crowley’s routine was altered once more.
Every evening after the humans were asleep, the pair of them would meet under the tree and would spend the night together, doing all sorts of fun and interesting things.
Some nights Aziraphale would teach him all about Christmas and the various traditions which came with the holiday. Some nights, Crowley would do the same about Halloween. Some nights they didn’t speak much at all and simply sat on the lounge, sitting quietly beside each other while watching the lights flash on and off, twinkling in the dark still of the night.
A certain something was growing between them, something urgent and strong. Something so very important yet too vague to put a name to. Crowley was starting to think that maybe these feelings that he was feeling, whatever they were, were one sided. However, any thoughts of it not being mutual was washed away one evening.
They had been laying on the windowsill, looking up through the glass at the stars above. As a shooting star flew by, Crowley felt a soft hand slip into his own. Not a word was said as Crowley squeezed back, a wordless message to show how he felt. At least, he hoped it did.
They stayed there like that until morning, pried apart only by the need to get back to their rightful places.
Although from that moment forth, neither of them felt quite right about being away from the other.
~*~*~*~*~*~
“Angel!” Crowley rushed over to the tree one night, beaming at Aziraphale as he plopped down from the last branch. “Angel, look at this! Come on, it’s over here!”
Aziraphale chuckled fondly as he went along, following Crowley up onto the coffee table. As soon as he saw what Crowley was leading him too though, he stopped dead in his tracks, face forlorn and worried.
“Don’t these look amazing!” Crowley asked, glowing with excitement as he ran around the table, looking at the plate of freshly baked chocolate chip biscuits and a tall glass of cool milk.
“It, it looks wonderful dear, it’s just…” Aziraphale sighed, wringing his fingers in front of him. “I didn’t realise that it was that time already.”
“What?” Crowley asked, tilting his head in confusion. “What do you mean, Angel? What time?”
“Milk and cookies night,” Aziraphale said in a low voice, nodding solemnly towards the food. “It means that tomorrow is Christmas Day.”
“Isn’t that a good thing?” Crowley asked, perplexed as to why the humans giving presents and having lots of food would be a bad thing.
“No, it. Well, it is good thing, but…” Aziraphale was looking at the floor, thinking for a moment. “It means that they will pack me away soon,” he whispered, looking up to Crowley, tears in his blue eyes. “It means that I won’t get to see you anymore.”
“Oh… Angel,” Crowley breathed, rushing up and taking Aziraphale into his long arms, wrapping him in a warm, protective hug. “I won’t let them do that. I won’t let them take you away from me.”
“But how?” Aziraphale asked, sobbing in Crowley’s arms. “They are humans. We can’t just walk up to them and demand to be together.”
“No, we can’t,” Crowley acknowledge, but continued with a confident tone, “but we can run off together.”
“Run off together?” Aziraphale repeated, sniffling as he peeped up from the hug, bright blue eyes sparkling, tear-filled yet hopeful. “Where would we even go?”
“Dunno,” Crowley shrugged, reaching up and sweeping a stray blonde curl from the angel’s face. “Anywhere really. The basement, the attic. The garden shed maybe? No one would even think of looking for us there.”
“That… that does sound rather lovely,” Aziraphale said, closing his eyes and resting his head on Crowley’s shoulder. “How will we do it though? I am the tree topper. Surely they will notice that I’ve gone missing.”
“Not sure Angel, but we will come up with something, I promise,” Crowley whispered, placing a soft kiss to the angel’s fluffy crown. “C’mon. Let’s have some cookies and talk about it. I know you have been looking forward to the chocolate chips.”
“Well… they are always scrumptious,” Aziraphale sniffled, causing Crowley to chuckle in fond amusement.
And so, an angel and a demon spent their first Christmas Eve together, nibbling on biscuits and planning their escape.
~*~*~*~*~*~
Christmas Day came and went in a blur. Even though the Youngs had a wonderful day, neither Crowley or Aziraphale could fully appreciate it. They were both too anxious and excited about their pre-emptive plans. Their grand scheme to make a break for it so that they could be together always.
They made their move a couple days after Christmas, giving them some time to refine their plan and to gather supplies. Then when the time was right, they met up for the final time beneath the tree.
“Ready Angel?” Crowley asked, a roll of twine looped around his shoulder, presumably to be used as rope for climbing when they needed to.
“Yes dear, just… just give a moment please,” Aziraphale asked politely.
“Sure thing,” Crowley said, standing back and giving the angel some room.
Aziraphale took in a deep breath and looked up over the magnificent Christmas tree. His heart filled with dread and sorrow, just as much as did with joy for what was to come. He wanted to be with Crowley with all of his heart, but it did not make saying goodbye any less painful.
Eventually Aziraphale turned around and offered Crowley a sad little smile. “I’m ready now,” he said.
Crowley offered a sad smile back as he slowly stepped up to Aziraphale until their chests met. Gently, a bony finger slipped under a curved chin, lifting gently so that the beautiful porcelain face was looking up at him. Carefully, Crowley leaned down and placed a gentle kiss to those glossy pink lips.
“I love you, Angel,” Crowley whispered, lips to lips.
“I love you too, Crowley,” Aziraphale whispered back, a genuine smile finally breaking through.
Hand in hand, they walked away from the brightly lit tree and set off on their journey.
They both knew that it would not be easy. They were only two small dolls heading off into the big wide world. There would be plenty of ups and plenty of downs. But as long as they had each other, they would be able to survive anything.
They had each other, and that is all that mattered.
As long as they had each other, they were home.