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“This is so nice of you to be here for Pippin’s birthday,” said Ms. Moonchild with a wide smile, handing Aziraphale a glass of homemade lemonade.
The angel shot a look to Pepper, who was playing in the garden with Crowley and the rest of the Them, and summoned a tensed smile.
Ms. Moonchild was a smart, kick-witted lady with strong opinions, and he appreciated her a lot. She had organized a wonderful party for her daughter, and ordered her favorite cake.
So Aziraphale found it hard to fathom why the woman was still insisting on calling her child by a name she clearly disliked.
“Oh, we would not have missed it for the world. We do love young Pepper very much,” he assured, taking a sip of lemonade and hiding a grimace behind a poker face that only centuries of concealing one’s emotions could master.
“Another slice of cake?” asked Ms. Moonchild.
There was only one possible answer to this question.
Aziraphale watched his host walk away to talk to Brian’s mother, and looked out the window.
Outside, the weather was surprisingly sunny, even though it had been raining in London not two hours ago, when they had left the Bookshop. Crowley was currently being hit by invisible laser beams as the Galactic Patrol (and their robotic Dog) chased him through the Swamp of Sadness.
The demon fell to his knees with a tragic cry of pain, one forearm held in front of his eyes.
“Alas! I have been bested! Tell my plants I will come back to haunt them!”
Aziraphale shook his head with a chuckle. Really, Crowley had always been so good with children.
He put his empty plate down with a wistful sigh, watching as the little band started on another game. He wished he could be like this. A funny, entertaining uncle whose presence children sought out. The truth was, except for his magic acts, he wasn’t fun, or entertaining at all. He didn’t understand half the jokes people told him. He certainly understood why Crowley, with his lively manners, and exciting ideas, was so popular with the Them.
He knew they liked him, of course he did. They trusted him, and had invited him to their secret lair often (one time, Crowley hadn’t even been there, but maybe they had felt obligated to invite him because it was the polite thing to do). They seemed to enjoy his magic acts, even if Pepper tended to roll her eyes and Wensleydale always put on a deadpan face when a trick failed a little bit.
He wasn’t cool, or fun, but he was someone they would turn to if things got difficult. They knew they could rely on him. They had faith in him, and it was something precious, especially coming from such bright, self assured children who had learned to question everything.
“Mister Aziraphale?”
The angel startled slightly, and turned around to meet Brian’s pensive eyes. The boy’s shirt was covered in melted ice-cream (a real feat, considering that ice-cream hadn’t been part of the birthday party).
“Yes, Brian?”
“We need a wise wizard for our game. Can you do it, please? It would be wicked!”
Next to him, Wensley nodded eagerly.
Aziraphale blinked. “A… wise wizard? What would that entail, exactly?”
The boy waved his hand “Oh, you know, you’re living in this big tree that’s bigger on the inside with lots of books about spells and enchantments, and you know everything, ‘cause you’re wise, but you can’t defeat the evil Gold Knight yourself because you're too old to be the hero, so you're waiting for them to visit so you give them the weapon to kill the Gold Knight."
The angel nodded thoughtfully. "This seems very reasonable of me. And who would be the hero in question?"
"Today, it's Wensley. He's the chosen one, and the leader of the Fearless Five. Means he's the only one who can use the weapon."
"And what weapon should I, ah, hand the hero?"
"Knowledge," said Brian.
The angel smiled. "One of the most efficient weapons. Very original, I commend you for the idea."
"Actually, it was M. Crowley's idea," Wensleydale chimed in.
"I cannot say I am very surprised," chuckled Aziraphale.
"Did you convince him?" yelled Pepper from the garden.
"Uncle Z, we're doomed without the wise wizard!" cried Adam, next to her.
Dog barked loudly in approval.
Behind them, Crowley grinned like a shark. "Scared of the Gold Knight, angel? I understand. If I recall correctly, vanquishing knights never was your forte, even when you weren't too old to fight."
Aziraphale gasped in outrage. "How very dare you!"
"Seems to me," said Brian smugly, "that the Gold Knight needs to be taught a lesson in respecting his elders."
"I am inclined to think the same, my dear," agreed the angel, taking his overcoat off. "Do not be afraid, young heroes. I have tremendous experience in thwarting that particular rascal."
His somber musings forgotten, Aziraphale stepped into the garden under the excited cheers of the Fearless Five.