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Aziraphale was putting away the last of the books that had suffered during the demon invasion when his eyes were drawn to some movement across the street.
He couldn't help but smile when he saw that it was Crowley who seemed to be bickering with Muriel in the coffee shop.
The angel watched with amusement as Nina pushed them both out of the coffee shop. Then he saw something surprising: once outside, the demon and the angel started laughing together.
Aziraphale felt his throat tighten with emotion as he watched the scene. He was touched to see Crowley connect with other people, and it reminded him of their conversation after saving Job's children.
Aziraphale looked at Crawley, who was staring at the horizon ahead of them, and asked as he sat down, "But what am I?"
Crawley looked straight ahead and replied softly, "You're just an angel who goes with Heaven as far as he can.
Aziraphale looked up quickly at the sky and said sadly, "That sounds..."
Crawley looked at him and finished his sentence, "Lonely?"
Aziraphale nodded and watched as the demon confirmed that this was the case.
Then he replied, almost in despair, "But you said it wasn't."
Crawley said lightly, smiling, "I'm a demon. I lied."
For the first time in all these years, Aziraphale wondered how lonely the demon had been all along.
Over time, their two loneliness had gradually brought them closer together, forming what Crowley called their group of two.
Though their encounters had initially been far apart in time since Job, Aziraphale, though unwilling to admit it openly, had never really felt alone, knowing that somewhere there was someone like him. Even if they weren't on the same side.
Crowley, who was almost always the one who came to him.
Crowley, who was the one who made the move when they had a disagreement.
Aziraphale called himself an idiot for not seeing anything. Safe in his little shop, with his books, his good wine, and his little restaurants. Comfortable in his little life.
Crowley sat across from him and asked directly, "So, what's the problem?"
Aziraphale replied, "Problem? Who said there was a problem?"
Crowley replied as if it were common sense, "Tone of voice. You have three reasons for calling me: you're bored, you need to tell someone about something clever you did before you pop, or something's wrong."
He paused and added, "That was your 'something's wrong' voice."
It really was like that, wasn't it?
Aziraphale had given Crowley the impression that he was convenient, and Crowley had agreed every time because he was lonely.
Crowley who slept in his car with his plants instead of asking Aziraphale for a place to stay.
Crowley who asked for nothing and graciously accepted the crumbs Aziraphale gave him.
Well, that was about to change, starting now.
Aziraphale looked at Crowley, who was having fun at Muriel's expense like an older teasing brother, and then decided to go out and join them.
When Crowley saw him arrive, he gently chased Muriel in the direction of the record store. Muriel, who was becoming increasingly bold, must have made some cheeky remark to him, for he took on a scolding air as she walked away with a bouncing step strangely similar to the demon's own.
Aziraphale said with an amused expression as he reached the demon, "So, having fun, kids?"
"Angel...not you, please."
Aziraphale hooked onto the demon's arm and said softly, "Come on Crowley, let's take a walk, shall we?"
Though the demon, as usual, resisted, he let himself be dragged along, and as they strolled leisurely through the streets of their neighborhood, Aziraphale had the pleasure of seeing several of the shopkeepers greet them. Both of them.
"Why are you smiling, Angel?" the demon asked, looking at him a little confused.
Aziraphale replied kindly, "Well, it pleases me to see that you have acquaintances in this neighborhood as well."
Crowley shrugged, "Nonsense, they know you, I'm just tolerated."
"Oh, that's the good lad!"
They were interrupted by Mrs. Sandwich, who greeted them.
Crowley replied, "I told you I was neither a lad nor good.
Mrs. Sandwich leaned forward and whispered, "Perhaps not the former, but I'm sure of the latter. I know the nature of men, you see. I know when I see a good one."
Then she turned to Aziraphale, "Don't let him get away, Mr. Fell."
Aziraphale smiled back and replied, "I have no intention of doing that, dear lady."
They continued their little tour, and on the way back, as they passed Maggie's store, she called out to them, or rather to Crowley, "Thank you! Thanks to you I got a good deal," she said, waving a bundle of old records.
Crowley nodded and they continued on their way.
Aziraphale gave him a little nudge on the shoulder and said simply, with a small smile on his lips, "So, just like that, you're just tole..."
Crowley huffed, "Shut up, angel!"
The small smile didn't leave the angel's lips because he knew deep down that Crowley appreciated it.
They arrived at the Bentley and Aziraphale stopped and turned to face the demon.
The angel pointed to the car and said in a clear, confident voice, "Well, my dear, why don't we take your plants to the bookshop and find a permanent place for them?"
Crowley gasped and asked, "Angel? What do you mean?"
Aziraphale replied softly, "Nothing more than what I just said."
He opened the car door and grabbed a box of plants, forcing the demon to follow.
They set the plants down in a corner after entering the store, and Crowley stood in front of the angel, asking a little sharply, "Angel! Explain yourself!"
Aziraphale moved closer to him and took both his hands in his.
He said softly, "Well, I'm offering you and your plants a permanent place here. Crowley, I don't want to be alone here anymore, and I don't want you to be alone in your car. We've spent too much time alone. You so much more than me."
Crowley shook his head and, trying to break free, said abruptly, "I don't want your pity!"
Aziraphale held him back and replied in the same soft voice, "Crowley, please, this isn't about pity. It's about us. About stopping lying to ourselves. I want you to be with me. All the time. Don't you? The Bentley is already our car. Don't deny it, it likes me as much as it likes you. So why shouldn't the bookstore be our home? What do you think my dear?"
Crowley scrutinized the Angel for a few seconds in silence before replying in a voice slightly hoarse with emotion, "Be careful, Angel. Because if we do this, I may never leave again."
Aziraphale chuckled slightly, "But I do hope you won't"
Crowley freed himself, cupped the angel's face in his hands, and, bringing his face close to his, said in a voice he could no longer hide the emotion in, "Then, yes. Let's make this our home."
The angel smiled softly and said in a voice as full of emotion as the demon's, "So, let me say, welcome home, my dear."
Crowley closed the distance between them and pressed his lips tenderly against the Angel's.
They remained entwined in the middle of the shop for a long time.
For the first time after so long, they enjoyed what humans called home.
Isn’t it lonely?
Not anymore.
Never again.
Neither of them would ever feel lonely again.