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Crowley flung the cottage door open. “Angel, we’re back!” He strolled in and looked back over his shoulder. “Well, come in. You wanted to come see our place, so come in and see it.”
Muriel hovered on the doorstep for a moment longer, then followed him in. “Hello, ‘ello, ‘ello!” They called out through the house. They stopped in the middle of the room and looked around. “Oh, this is all just right. I see why he wanted to bring so many books with him. He had to fill all those shelves. I mean, what else are you supposed to do with bookshelves? I’ve been reading more of the books in the shop and I see why he likes them so much.”
“Angel?” Crowley called out again. “He might not be back from his book club yet. Come on out to the garden.” He motioned to the back door. “I want to show you something.”
Muriel awkwardly walked through the room, bumping into things in their fascination with looking everything over. Crowley’s favorite sunglasses-holding-statue had a narrow escape, but he miraculously caught it just before it toppled off its table.
“Ngk, uh, let’s just get outside, shall we?” He strode to the back door and opened it, urging Muriel out, then turned on his heel. “Hang on, forgot something from the kitchen. Back in a moment. Wait right there.” He pointed at the ground for emphasis, then dashed to the nearby kitchen, pulled something out of the freezer, then hurried back out.
“Follow me!” Crowley walked through the garden and out the back gate, Muriel close on his heels.
“Where are we going?”
“Just hold your horses. You’ll see soon enough.”
Muriel skidded to a stop. “My… horses? I’m afraid I don’t have any of those. Was I supposed to bring some?”
Crowley turned around, walking backward, and threw back his head in laughter. “Not at all. It’s a charming little human saying. Means… well, it means just hold on a minute and you’ll see. Come along.” He turned back around. “We’re almost there.”
They crested the hill and he motioned below. “Behold. The ducks.” Indeed, there was a small pond with a variety of ducks, as well as a bench under the perfect shade tree.
“Thought you’d like to come feed them, seeing as you were so interested in hearing us talk about the duck pond back in town.” Crowley held out a bag of frozen peas, then went rigid as he found himself tackled, Muriel’s arms tightly wrapped around him.
“Thank you. I always wanted to go see ducks. Never really had the chance before, you know. They didn’t let me have any up there.” Their arms constricted around the frozen Crowley.
Finally he pulled an arm free and patted them on the head awkwardly. He had grown fond of hugging Aziraphale, but what were you supposed to do with other beings?
“So. Ehh…” He finally pulled himself free. “Right then.”
Muriel straightened up, snapping back into Inspector Constable pose. “Oh, I’m sorry. Did I do it right? I’ve never hugged someone before.”
Crowley ruffled his hair with his hand and his face softened into a smile. “Ahh, no, it was fine. I’m just not used to it all yet, you know.” He gave their shoulder a gentle punch. “Good job on your first hug.”
They stayed out by the pond feeding the ducks until Aziraphale found them half an hour later, and they all enjoyed a peaceful evening together, reading, eating, and talking about human customs such as hugs