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The piercing shrieking cry jolted Crowley out of a lovely afternoon nap. Crowley blinked awake at the reality of the new apartment they’d settled into with Harriet, which was still in a state of unorganized mess. Warlock’s piercing screams continued.
“Fucking hell,” Crowley muttered, rubbing her temple (Crowley had been identifying more femininely the past few days). “Does he ever run out of air in his lungs?”
“Crowley, do you mind?”
Crowley noticed Harriet on the phone, gesturing over to Warlock urgently. Crowley sighed but got up to find Warlock in his crib, thrashing away while sobbing.
“Poor thing, must be hungry.” Crowley picked Warlock up to comfort him and retrieve the babe’s bottle.
By the time Crowley had managed to calm Warlock, Harriet had gotten off the phone.
“I have a meeting with the bank at two. Do you mind if…?” She hesitated.
“Fine.” Crowley huffed.
“Thank you, Crowley.” Harriet’s lips brushed Crowley’s cheek briefly. Crowley grumbled in reply. Warlock started babbling away as he patted his highchair table.
“Maybe I’ll take Warlock out.” Crowley mused. “Wander through our old stomping grounds, for old time’s sake.”
“Hoping to catch a glimpse of a certain someone?” Harriet teased.
Crowley glared at Harriet to see her smirking.
“He’s probably moved, teaching at some prestigious university.” Crowley grumbled, “And besides….he…” A swell of memories overtook Crowley almost.
Harriet just hummed a soft, sympathetic reply before leaving into her room to get organized.
-
“And this, Warlock, is where your mother and I used to play.” Crowley pointed to the stage in the school pub, warm memories coming flooding back. But there was also sadness to them; that they might never play again, that the band had broken up long ago.
“Come on, I’ll show you everything else.” Crowley leaned over Warlock’s stroller to check on the boy mouthing at his toy.
They wandered around the campus then.
Crowley had spent way too many nights wondering about the person Aziraphale had become. Crowley imagined Aziraphale was well off. He’d be a professor, definitely, for it had been his dream. Aziraphale had been studying language and literature when they’d been in school together. But Crowley wouldn’t put it past Aziraphale to have gotten a few more degrees in the time they’d been apart. Maybe religion, as Aziraphale had been the religious sort. History, perhaps, or maybe philosophy. Oh, how Crowley missed their heated debates of philosophy.
Crowley imagined Aziraphale married to a nice woman— A sweet, soft-spoken thing, mirroring Aziraphale’s personality. She’d be a lover of books as well and good with kids. They’d have a humble home with a good car. Four kids, though Crowley had teased Aziraphale that he’d have six. Crowley wondered if the family would be religious and go to church every Sunday. Aziraphale had been struggling with his faith before Crowley left.
But there was another part of Crowley that thought of what if they found Aziraphale married to a rich banker, a man. Crowley would almost feel vindicated in that, in all thier theorizing to Harriet that Aziraphale couldn’t be completely straight, right? But Crowley had never pushed it, for they’d been merely friends. Aziraphale had, perhaps, been Crowley’s only real friend besides Harriet. And when Crowley had messed it up and kissed Aziraphale while they’d both been drunk at a party, he absolutely hated himself for it. But still, Crowley thought of what it might be like to bump into Aziraphale, to learn that all the dirty thoughts they had over the years had not been unwarranted. Crowley often thought of what it would be like if things were different. What if they kissed Aziraphale before they left? What if Crowley had admitted their feelings, but alas.
Crowley snuck into the back of the lecture hall with Warlock, where she first met Aziraphale: Intro to Shakespeare. Crowley had taken the course on a whim and would never take it back. Crowley did not recognize the professor, which disappointed her, but she sat down anyway.
“Now, you better listen, Warlock.” She looked at the babe, “This is very educational stuff.”
/
“I’ll see you next week, Miss Leawood.” Aziraphale took in a breath as the young student left. He was exhausted from the onslaught of students overtaking his office hours that day. Midterms were near, so it was warranted.
Aziraphale packed up his stuff as quickly as possible before someone else could corner him. Aziraphale was walking past a study room when he heard a baby crying. That startled him, and he couldn’t help but come over.
“Now, Warlock, please.” Aziraphale only caught a glimpse of a long curled, red-haired, lithe body crouching before a stroller. Red hair that always made Aziraphale think of a certain someone with mild melancholy.
“Is there any assistance I may offer?” Aziraphale came over. He quite liked children.
“He probably just needs…” The figure rose as they spoke, turning to Aziraphale. Their eyes were covered with sunglasses, and Aziraphale’s breath was taken from him in recognition of the face. The figure reacted similarly.
“Aziraphale…” “Crowley.” They got out at the same time.
“I thought…” Aziraphale stuttered out, his heart beating wildly, wondering if they should hug. Only, that might feel a bit odd, and Aziraphale was half worried he might end up kissing Crowley if they did embrace.
“You’re here, teaching!” Crowley declared as if delighted. “You’re a professor!” Crowley was beaming away with a wide smile, almost proud. Aziraphale smiled back and fixed his jacket, quite proud of himself as well.
“Indeed.” He replied. “You look different.” His eyes scanned his old friend. “Your hair’s much longer.”
Crowley hummed lowly at that, eyes flickering to the baby, who had managed to calm themself, though he still looked a bit like he might start crying again.
“And you have a child.”
“You remember Harriet?” Crowley looked back up.
“You had a child with Harriet!” Aziraphale startled, for Crowley was insistent that they were only friends, only ever would be.
“It’s not mine!” Crowley replied urgently.
“Oh.”
“Aziraphale, meet Warlock.” Crowley gestured to the babe. “He’s a little hellion.”
“Well, hello there.” Aziraphale knelt over to coo, tickling the lad’s stomach, causing the babe to giggle in delight. Aziraphale smiled in response, finding the baby absolutely adorable.
“The dad was a shit show, and our band was never exactly successful.”
“I’m so sorry, Crowley.” Aziraphale stood back up.
“We’ll be staying here for a while, and I thought that you might be… and look, here you are.” Crowley gestured to Aziraphale, a small smile back. “And what of you? Married with six kids as I predicted?” Crowley teased.
“Six kids! Was that really what you said?” Aziraphale chuckled before his smile fell, looking down. “No, I have not been so lucky.”
“I’m sorry, angel.”
The old term of endearment warmed Aziraphale, and he smiled at Crowley.
“Can I take you for some tea?” Aziraphale asked.
“I’d like nothing else.”
-
A few minutes later, they were sitting in the café they used to frequent. Aziraphale realized how much time had passed, wondering where to start as Crowley fretted over Warlock. Aziraphale sipped his tea, feeling a touch uncomfortable. Crowley turned to their coffee.
“Well, it is good to see you, my boy,” Aziraphale said as if this was all casual. As if the person who hadn’t been his gay awakening, the “one who got away”, wasn’t sitting there across from him.
Crowley’s head ducked and made a noise of discontent. That made Aziraphale wonder if they had been too casual.
“Has been some time, hasn’t it?” Aziraphale rushed out, hoping to mend any fumble he might have made.
Crowley grumbled into their coffee, pointedly not looking at Aziraphale. “You caught me on a feminine day.”
“Hmm?” Aziraphale questioned.
“I’m identifying femininely.” Crowley put their coffee back down. They tilted their head back up, and Aziraphale recalled when Crowley had told him they were bisexual.
“Comes and goes.” Crowley wrapped their fingers around their cup.
“Ah, I see. My apologies, dear.” Aziraphale went with, though his face went hot at such a term of affection slipping out, out of nowhere.
Crowley didn’t give much of a reaction, which assured Aziraphale it was fine.
“What have you been up to?” Aziraphale questioned.
They talked then of travels and the places they’d been. A familiarity fell between them, and smiles graced their faces.
“I never married either.” Crowley supplied, toying with the old ring on her finger.
“I’m not surprised.” Aziraphale sipped his tea. “You never struck me as the sort.”
“I’m not opposed to marriage.” Crowley shifted. “If I found the right person.”
That struck Aziraphale slightly.
“Have you been dating at all?” Crowley pressed gently.
“Some of my colleagues have been setting me up on dates….” Aziraphale wondered if he dared tread. “With men.” He said more quietly, nervous for some odd reason, despite it being Crowley he was telling, the very last person to react negatively to that sort of thing.
Crowley perked right up at that. It really wasn’t a surprise that the information delighted her. “Wait?!”
“I know.” Aziraphale ducked his head, feeling embarrassed.
“I…” Crowley laughed lightly. “Are you still religious then?”
Aziraphale took his cup into his hands. “I think I still believe in God, in a sense. But I don’t know exactly what I believe anymore.” He looked at his cup. “I don’t really pray any more. I haven’t picked up a bible in years. Occasionally, I go to church on holidays.”
Crowley hummed as she raised her cup to sip.
“You know, I thought you, of all people, would have more to say about this revelation.” Aziraphale posited, looking up.
Crowley finished off their sip of coffee before putting it down. “Harriet and I had a bet.”
“You had a bet!?” Aziraphale’s voice left him raised.
“I called you being gay, but Harriet thought you were more likely asexual.”
“Ah, I see.” Aziraphale intertwined his fingers on the tabletop. “One can be both.”
“Oh,” Crowley tilted her head.
“I have always kind of figured I was on the asexual spectrum, but it’s not really something I….” He trailed off.
“Ah, then I guess Harriet and I both owe each other.” Crowley raised her coffee, and Aziraphale chuckled lightly.
Warlock started making discontent noises, and Crowley turned to him, picking up his toy to shake in the babe’s face, trying to entice the babe.
“If you’re staying in the area, perhaps I can show you and Harriet around. There are many new lovely shops that have opened up. Oh, there’s this lovely plant shop you’d absolutely love. My favourite is this quaint little bookshop, right next to this lovely café.”
“Sounds delightful.” Crowley smiled at Aziraphale, causing his heart to flutter in a way only Crowley had ever managed to do.
Warlock’s noises started increasing, and Crowley looked worried at him.
“I should probably get Warlock back. It’s almost his nap time.”
“Oh, of course.” Aziraphale started to get up, not wanting to hold Crowley any longer.
Crowley was finicking over Warlock in his stroller to make the babe as comfortable as possible.
“Shall I walk you out?” Aziraphale offered.
Aziraphale showed them both out, back to Crowley’s car. Aziraphale cooed over Warlock, saying goodbye, as Crowley put the babe in the car seat. Warlock was only pouting slightly as he mouthed at a toy waiting in his seat. Aziraphale pulled away to let Crowley close the car door, smiling softly at Crowley.
“Well, it was good seeing you again, angel.” Crowley offered, fixing her sunglasses.
“Yes,” Aziraphale replied, still wondering if they should hug.
He leaned forward with an open gesture, and to his surprise, Crowley met him. Crowley’s lips brushed Aziraphale’s cheek with a kiss, making Aziraphale stutter and his heart flutter.
“Sorry, that was very European of me.” Crowley quickly pulled away, looking equally startled.
“No, it’s alright,” Aziraphale assured.
They were still close together, and Aziraphale was suddenly leaning forward to meet Crowley’s lips lightly. Crowley’s breath hitched as Aziraphale pulled away, blinking a bit in shock at it, not fully believing he’d actually just done that. It felt all a bit surreal.
“I should…”
“Yes, I’ll see you.”
They pulled away awkwardly, heads flicking around as if unsure what to do next.
“Um, okay.” Crowley was at the door of her car before another quick kiss came to Aziraphale’s lips, causing him to gasp this time. “I’ll see you, angel.” She said then.
“You too, darling.”
And with that, Crowley was gone.