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It was a bit odd, still, knowing that there were infinite versions of yourself out there living their lives and falling in love with your other half's versions over and over again. When he and Aziraphale had first woken up in the cottage, it had taken a long time for him to trust that this wasn't another one of Her tricks, that he would wake up and he and his angel would still need to take a stand and make the same choice.
The snow globes had been even harder to come to terms with. Aziraphale had discovered them first, of course, living in a section of the library that seemed to grow every day, as if the universes were being created constantly. The first time Crowley had seen another version of himself in one of them, he had still been a demon; he had just looked younger and shorter than his usual corporation, even his hair was darker. Aziraphale had been an angel as well, but dressed in a different way and with different hair. It seemed that they were living in the South Downs and their versions of Heaven and Hell had left them completely alone.
Crowley hadn't taken that well. At all.
In truth, neither had Aziraphale.
It took a long time to take a look at the snow globes again after that, and that specific snow globe was left alone. At least for the time being. Maybe forever.
There were easier universes to take a look at. In some of them they were playing cards, in others they were vegetables, in another, ducks. Always together, though. That was the important part. Those universes helped bridge the gap that years apart had caused; they were silly and sweet, safe. It helped them start talking and be honest with each other. It was slow work, it was painful work, but Crowley felt they were finally on the same page.
"What universe is that one, angel?"
Aziraphale turned to look at his demon, giving him a small smile. It was the first human universe they had discovered, but so far they had just seen Crowley's human version walk past the bookshop a few times without going in. "It's the humans. I think this Crowley is finally going to come into the bookshop today."
"About damn time, if you ask me," Crowley grumbled while stepping next to Aziraphale and peering into the globe. Indeed, this Professor Anthony Crowley was finally inside and having an actual conversation.
"Looks like you forgot where your books are, Angel, for shame." He continued with a smirk.
"Oh hush, he is just flustered. You seem to cause that in every universe." If Aziraphale was a bit more flushed than usual, Crowley was kind enough not to say anything, but he couldn't stop the smile that came to his face, or how much he was looking at Aziraphale, until he noticed Anthony leave the shop.
"Hold on, he didn't ask him out! He just left! Oi! turn around. Ssstupid human," Crowley hissed. It had taken this useless one a week to even walk in, how long would it take for him to even come back in again?!
"Be patient, my dear, it's only first meetings, I'm sure -" Aziraphale stopped, his face freezing as he saw his version running towards Anthony. He seemed to be carrying a book as well.
"Are you running? Oh angel, this is priceless. You absolutely hate running. Oh, bit puffed. Human corporations are so weird. Is he - did he? He did! He asked for my number! Oh that was smooth, very dork-…Aziraphale?" His angel seemed to be crying? He was trying very hard not to, but his tears were going down his perfectly round cheeks and he couldn't seem to stop. "Angel, hey - " Crowley put a hand on Aziraphale's back, and the angel immediately dropped his head on the former demon's chest, his arms going around him and sobs wrecking out of him. Crowley was extremely confused, but immediately hugged him back, hands caressing Aziraphale's back.
In the snow globe, Anthony was telling Asa that he wasn't going to give him his number, and for a moment Crowley thought he would have to somehow get in that ridiculous universe and teach that useless version of himself what was important, especially when he felt Aziraphale tighten the hug, but then Anthony said he would wait for Asa, and Crowley couldn't help but feel a bit of pride and smugness. Now that was a smooth and cool line. Even as a human Crowley still had it!
Aziraphale seemed to have calmed down a bit, while in the snow globe the humans were exchanging information about their date. Crowley stopped paying attention - they would be fine - but he really needed to find out what had upset his angel so much.
"Angel? What's wrong, ey? They did it, they found each other, like we usually do. I even got to see you run!"
Aziraphale took a couple of deep breaths and moved a bit away from Crowley but didn't break their embrace. His face was flushed and he seemed a bit embarrassed, but there was pain there as well. Before Crowley could ask again, Aziraphale murmured, "That's what I've always wanted."
For a second Crowley opened his mouth to say something stupid like "what, run?" before Aziraphale continued "To be brave enough to run after you, to tell you how I felt for so long, or even from the first moment I saw you! To see him do that, without fear of being punished, or of his Crowley being punished, I- I'm sorry my dear, it was just too much. I never knew I could be so brave. I'm so proud of him, but also so, so - oh, my love, so much time without you knowing how I felt!" Aziraphale buried his face in his darling's chest, not crying anymore, but just needing to be close to him.
At this point Crowley's brain was rebooting, and many many misconceptions about their love story were being reassembled with this new information in mind. He could feel his eyes watering at this, and he kissed the top of his love's head before properly putting his arms around him and holding him as strongly as he was able.
"I don't regret it, angel, I don't regret a moment we lived. It let us to this, now, us truly free and together, humans truly free. Our love is so big there are versions of ourselves running around and infinitely falling in love, even as vegetables!" He heard Aziraphale laugh, and he knew they would be fine. "My angel, I would do it all again, time after time."