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Crowley shivered as she started to stir from her slumber, pulling her blankets tighter. Had it gotten colder in her room overnight?
“Mama! Mama!” Warlock’s voice rang out in the house.
Crowley grumbled, burying deeper into the warm blankets. Just a few more minutes, that’s all she wanted. She could hear Warlock opening her room door, rushing in.
“Mama!” He was jumping up on the bed the next minute. “Mama, wake up!”
“Warlock, darling,” Crowley grumbled, not opening her eyes. “What have I said about waking me up before my alarm.”
“Mama, it snowed!”
Crowley blinked open her eyes to see her son smiling wide. “Come look!” He jumped off the bed, full of excitement.
Crowley yawned, sitting up and rubbing her eyes. Her alarm clock immediately started going off, and she grumbled, slapping her hand over the button that shut it up. She shivered from the cold and got up to grab her house coat. Warlock was getting up onto her chair to open the blind of her bedroom window.
“Look, Mama!” Warlock pressed his face close to the windowpane, making it fog up from his hot breath.
Crowley came over to Warlock’s side and found their backyard covered with a thick covering of pristine white snow.
“Well, that would explain the change in temperature.” She shivered, pulling her coat tighter.
“Do you think it’ll be a snow day?” Warlock looked over in hope.
“We’ll see. Come on, Warlock. Let’s make breakfast.” She put her hand on his back, and he slid down the chair. They then walked together out of the bedroom.
Crowley turned her coffee pot on and turned to the thermostat, turning it up a few degrees warmer. She then opened her kitchen window blinds, catching a view of the streets lined with the thick layer of snow.
“I hope it is a snow day.” She said, hugging her arms close. “There’s no way I’m driving if the rest of the roads look like that.”
Crowley typically walked Warlock to school as it was close by. But on rainy days and in the cold of winter, she’d drive him. She detested the cold, after all.
The phone started ringing then, and Crowley perked up, turning to the living room. Warlock followed her, crawling over the couch beside her.
“Hello, Crowley residence,” Crowley said into the phone.
On the other side of the phone was someone from the school. They were calling to inform Crowley that the school would be closed for a snow day as the streets were too covered for the busses to go out.
“Thank you for informing me,” Crowley said and hung up the phone after saying goodbye and wishing them a good day.
“Was that school!?” Warlock looked full of hope.
“I don’t know who it was.” Crowley teased lightly.
Warlock leaned over the couch, eyes big and desperate.
“It’s a snow day.” Crowley cracked a smile to her son.
Warlock’s face was soon covered with a big smile. “Yay!” He jumped off the couch to run about the living room.
“Now, now, Warlock. Calm down.” Crowley let out a tired yawn. “It’s much too early to be this excited. And you still need to eat breakfast.”
“Aww.” Warlock pouted.
Crowley headed to the kitchen, grabbing cereal out of the cupboard. Her coffee was ready; she was dying for the caffeine and warmth. Warlock was still in the living room, opening the front blinds.
“Mom, look! It’s Mr. Fell.” Warlock called.
Crowley perked up at that, her heart fluttering. She came over, carrying her coffee. Sure enough, there, shovelling their front driveway, dressed up for the cold, was Mr. Fell. Crowley’s heart skipped a beat at the sight of him. He looked a little silly wearing a funny hat, but it only made Crowley more fond of him.
Mr. Fell, or Aziraphale, as he insisted she call him, was one of Crowley’s neighbours. Aziraphale was very friendly and neighbourly. Crowley had fallen for Aziraphale almost right away. She was always flirting with him, trying to show her interest towards the other man. Aziraphale always seemed very flustered by her flirting, which only made it more fun. But he never acted as anything other than friendly toward her. But Crowley was determined as ever to have him.
From Crowley’s brief conversations with Aziraphale she’d learned he was a retired professor, though he still sometimes gave guest lectures at the university. The kids in the neighbourhood absolutely adored Aziraphale, and he was great with them, Warlock included.
“He’s going to hurt his back,” Crowley said. She moved to the front entrance, pulled a coat over her, and put on her boots. Warlock quickly followed as Crowley opened the front door.
“Mr. Fell!” She called, shivering from the cold that instantly greeted her outside.
“Miss Crowley.” Aziraphale looked up and waved to them.
“What are you doing?” Crowley asked.
“Oh, I’m just being a good neighbour and shovelling your driveway. I know how much you detest the cold.”
“I do.” Crowley shivered.
“Hi, Mr. Fell!” Warlock waved, standing beside Crowley.
“Hello, Warlock.” Aziraphale waved back.
“Guess what? It’s a snow day!” Warlock told him happily.
“Oh, lucky you!” Aziraphale smiled. “I bet you’re happy.”
Warlock nodded excitedly.
“Can I go play, Mama?” Warlock pulled at Crowley’s coat.
“No, you have to eat your breakfast. Now, back inside.”
Warlock pouted but went back inside.
“You really don’t need to be doing this, Aziraphale. I don’t want you to injure yourself.” Crowley turned to tell him.
“Oh, it’s no trouble at all.” Aziraphale smiled brightly. “You go back inside before you freeze.”
Crowley’s teeth were shattering. “Well, don’t work yourself too hard.” Crowley shivered; too cold to be standing outside any longer.
Aziraphale gave her another wave, and Crowley ran back inside, desperate for the warmth. Warlock had moved to the dining table to prepare himself some cereal.
“Do you want some, Mom?” He asked.
“Yes, thank you, Warlock.”
After breakfast Crowley let Warlock go outside and play in the snow. She ensured he was all good and bundled up so he wouldn’t get a cold. She noticed Aziraphale was still outside, almost having finished shovelling their front driveway clean.
“Aziraphale is still out there?” Crowley stepped out the front door as Warlock began to head outside.
“Aziraphale!” Crowley called to him. Aziraphale looked over. “You must be freezing.”
“I’m quite fine, thank you. I bundled up well.” He pulled his coat tighter.
“At least let me thank you for cleaning my driveway for me. Some hot chocolate, perhaps.”
“Oh yes.” Aziraphale smiled.
Crowley headed back inside, smiling with warmth over Aziraphale accepting her offer. Crowley began to move about her kitchen, pouring some water into a mug to heat in the microwave. Aziraphale then came inside. He shivered and stomped his feet on the front mat to shake the snow off him.
“Oh, your house is very warm and toasty.” Aziraphale smiled.
Crowley smiled over at the older gentleman as he began taking layers of clothes off.
“Thank you again for helping me, Aziraphale. You are such a good neighbour. Always looking after me and Warlock.”
“Well, that’s what good neighbours do.” Aziraphale hung his coat and hat up on the hook by the door.
Crowley hummed as the microwave beeped, and she pulled the mug. She added a bit of milk, then scooped some hot chocolate powder, mixing it in. Crowley stirred the drink as Aziraphale took off his boots and came into the kitchen.
“Here you are.” Crowley handed the drink over, and Aziraphale looked delighted, taking it.
Aziraphale then took a cautious sip. “Oh, this is positively delicious, Crowley. You do make the best hot chocolate I’ve ever tasted.”
Crowley smiled. She knew Aziraphale was just being nice; it was just powdered hot chocolate, after all.
“You shouldn’t work yourself so hard.” Crowley reached out to touch Aziraphale’s arm gently.
Aziraphale’s face went bright red, and he hid it with another sip of his hot chocolate. Crowley smirked; she enjoyed making Aziraphale all flustered.
“Don’t worry. I won’t overextend myself.” Aziraphale raised his head to say. “And it’s good for me to get out, to do work.”
Crowley nodded, stepping away a bit. “Would you care to sit down?” She gestured to the living room, hoping Aziraphale would accept the offer.
“Oh, thank you, Miss Crowley.” Aziraphale smiled fondly.
“You could tell me about any new books you’re reading,” Crowley suggested.
Aziraphale did so love to talk about books. Crowley liked to hear him go on about them. She found she could listen to Aziraphale for hours. But sometimes, when Aziraphale realized he’d been rambling on, he’d go beat red and apologize. Crowley would always assure him it was no bother, sometimes with a light touch here or there. That would only worsened Aziraphale’s blush, however. It was so easy to make Aziraphale blush.
Crowley and Aziraphale talked lightly while they finished their hot drinks. Crowley would cast little glances outside to check up on Warlock. Some of the other kids had gathered, and it looked like they were starting to build a snow fort on the front lawn.
“I should get going,” Aziraphale stated when he’d finished his drink and began to get up.
“Oh, are you sure?” Crowley’s heart sank, rising with him. She really didn’t want Aziraphale to leave.
“I don’t want to take up any more of your time.” Aziraphale flustered.
“Not at all. I quite enjoy conversations with you.” Crowley laid a gentle hand on Aziraphale’s arm.
Aziraphale flushed. “I’m afraid I must be getting back.” He hurried to the door, grabbing his coat.
Crowley sighed, sad. But she wouldn’t push past Aziraphale’s comfort. Aziraphale put his coat on and moved to his boots.
“Well, do take care of yourself then,” Crowley told him.
“I will. Don’t worry.” Aziraphale smiled up and then threw on his hat. “Thank you for the hot chocolate, Miss Crowley. Try and stay warm.”
“I’ll try.” She smiled. “And thank you again for shovelling my driveway.” She moved closer, letting her hand rest on his chest. “If there’s anything else I could do to thank you.” She offered smoothly, putting on a tempting smile.
Aziraphale turned bright red. “Oh, no, Miss Crowley.” His voice hitched.
Crowley smirked, amused at how flustered Aziraphale was with her forwardness.
“I really should get going.” Aziraphale stuttered and then was opening the door.
Crowley sighed as Aziraphale rushed out. Next time, maybe, she hoped.
Crowley closed the front door and went to pour herself some more coffee. After she was done, she moved to the living room, looking out the window to check on Warlock and the other kids. Crowley noticed Aziraphale talking to the kids, who seemed to be drawing him into their game. Crowley chuckled as he watched Aziraphale playing with the children, being pulled this way and that. She bit her lip as she watched him. One day, he would be hers, even if it would be the death of her.