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Crowley held Aziraphale's hand as they left the universe together. At least that's what Crowley expected to happen. Instead, Crowley opened his eyes and stood face to face with God again. Only now they were alone in the bookshop.
Crowley looked up at God with a feeling of confusion and fear. She can't keep him here and get rid of Aziraphale. God had made many questionable decisions, but she can't be that cruel.
"You keep surpising me Crowley." God looked at the ex-demon with an amused face. "All these years you put yourself aside, just so you could keep your soulmate by your side. That's what the humans call it right? A "soulmate"? And now at the end of the world, you would sacrifice yourself for said humans. That's not really demon behaviour." "I never wanted to be a demon, I didn't choose to fall."
Crowley looked around the bookshop, trying to sense if Aziraphale was around.
"I think you were right about it bieng a shame to just destroy everything. Maybe the humans do deserve another chance, if you're willing to give up everything for them, it must be worth it."
God walked over to a book, lying on the floor. She picked it up and went trough the pages. "You know, it would be very convenient if this book ended up bieng a perfect copy of the original Book Of Life." Crowley started to wonder if he should start having hope, or if God was just playing cruel games with him after all.
"I think in stead of creating a whole new universe, I will keep this one after all. Only without the interference of heaven and hell. I can't get rid of them, but they won't bother with life on earth anymore, just like you want. What do you think about that?" The pages in the book, who were blank a moment before started changing into the pages, identical to the previously destroyed Book Of Life.
Crowley couldn't believe what he was hearing. "You will restore everything?" He asked hopefully. God handed him the book. "I will, except for some minor changes. " Crowley knew there was no use in asking what she was talking about. All he wanted was his earth and his angel.
"When you are saying that heaven and hell won't be interfering with life on earth, does that mean there won't be any angels left on earth?" It was one important question Crowley had to ask. "Every angel will get a choice. But when decided to stay on earth, they will have no more contact with heaven, same will go for the demons."
Crowley knew enough. He just wanted to stay on earth, and he had to believe his angel would make the same decision. "Put me back please." Crowley almost pleaded.
God looked at him pleased. "The angel Aziraphale is convinced that your fall was a big mistake. I'm starting to think he's right. You do have a lot of angel potential, a potential to do good."
Crowley sighed. "I don't want to go back to heaven. I want a normal life on earth. As far as any supernatural being can have a normal life."
"As you wish." God waved her hand, and just like that, everything went black.
------
Aziraphale heard the bell of the front door. He was really not in the mood for any customers. He was too busy trying to put his shattered heart back together, and failing miserably. But a warm and loving feeling made him look up.
Just inside the bookshop stood his favourite person in the whole world, in the whole universe. Crowley looked relieved but haunted, like he just came back from a war. He kept standing there, seemingly unsure what to do with himself. Aziraphale toppled over his chair with how fast he got up. Without thinking he ran right into the ex-demon's arms and slumped to the floor, taking Crowley with him.
The angel's body shook with how hard he was crying. He grabbed unto Crowley's jacket in a way that might be hurting him. But he didn't seem to mind. The ex-demon had his arms just as tightly around his angel, crying softly into the white fluffy hair.
It was a while before Aziraphale took his face out of Crowley's neck. He wiped his face with his sleeve and took a deep breath, trying to get himself under control. They were stil sitting on the carpeted floor of the bookshop. "You decided to stay." Crowley's voice was just above a whisper
"Ofcourse, how could I leave all of this behind. How could I leave you behind. Not again, never ever again."
Crowley tried to smooth out Aziraphale's jacket, but his action was halted by Aziraphale carefully grabbing his hand. "I don't care about that right now." Aziraphale said with glimmer in his eyes, still holding Crowley's hands. For a minute they just sat there looking at eachother.
"I'm sorry." Aziraphale interrupted the silence. "I'm sorry for not listening to you. I'm sorry for leaving you. I'm sorry for thinking I always know better, when clearly I don't, resulting you always having to rescue m-' Aziraphale was cut off as Crowley took back one hand and brought it up to Aziraphale's face to wipe away an escaping tear with his thumb. He carefully lifted the angel's face so he would have to look at him. "I forgive you. But I need to apologise as well. When were never really good at this, uhm...talking I mean. But I want to change that. And I'm not saying I'll be good at it right away, but uhm..."
Aziraphale stroked his Thumb over Crowley's hand and nodded, encouraging him to keep going. "I'm sorry about trying to keep you from saving to world. Or at least trying to. It was selfish of me to not even try, to cast humanity aside. I was panicking. I didn't want to lose you. And I'm sorry about forcefully kissing you. I was desperate. But it was wrong for doing that."
"I forgive you." Crowley looked up amd sighed in relief. "Oh, and might I add: I don't think that kiss should be labeled as 'wrong', but the timing. I think you should work on that." Aziraphale added lightly. Crowley chuckled, a sound that was music to Aziraphale's ears.
"Will you try restore Wickber street back to it's former glory with me? Just like old times? You and me, working together?" Aziraphale sounded insecure asking this. Like Crowley might change his mind and leave. But Crowley smiled and nodded vigorously. "Wouldn't want anything more angel."
After a minute they got up. This time Aziraphale let Crowley smooth out his vest and bowtie. "If I understand well, we are no longer attached to heaven or hell. But do you think they are still monitorong us?" Crowley pondered Aziraphale's question. "I think She will always watch us. That's why she restored the universe, that's why she gave us another chance. We are like a good tv show for her. We are here for her amusement. But I have to show you something, it uhh...might put your mind at ease."
Crowley snapped his fingers, and his familiar yellow snake eyes made place for regular brown eyes. It was weird but Aziraphale had seen these eyes on Crowley before. A long time ago. "God made some changes in the Book Of Life, and uhm...I'm not sure how I should feel about this." Crowley said as he folded out his wings. They were no longer black, they were pristine white.
Aziraphale gapsed. "They restored you to angel status?" Crowley nodded. "I don't understand why it matters anymore, since we won't work for heaven anymore. But now you won't have to be ashamed anymore for hanging out with a demon."
"Ashamed?!" Aziraphale exclaimed "Why would you think I was ashamed?" Crowley couldn't look the angel in the eye. It was his biggest heartache, the one he could never say out loud before. "Everytime I tried to get too close to you. I could see it in your eyes. Sometimes you told me "you're a demon, we're supposed te be enemies" and I just wish I hadn't fucked it up. That I was still and angel. Your gentle rejections...it broke my heart .But I understand. You're a good angel, you can't be with a failed on, a...fallen one..." Crowley trailed off. "Crowley please." Aziraphale grabbed Crowley's hands again. "It was never about you not being good enough. I always liked you just the way you are. It was about our safety, your safety. If they restored you back to angel status you could be with me in heaven safely. In fact I miss your snake eyes already, I loved them, ." Crowley was crying again. He needed a few moments before he could speak. "How could you miss those eyes. They were literally the eyes of a serpent, I was a serpent angel." Aziraphale cupped Crowley's face. "Because they were your eyes, and I think they are beautiful. Looking at those eyes made me feel safe."
Crowley let his head drop a little forward until their foreheads were touching. "I can't believe anyone could love me at all" He sighed. Eventually he stepped back a little and snapped his fingers. "Now my eyes will appear like that only to you." "I feel honored." And Aziraphale stared into Crowley eyes with genuine awe. "Will you still call me Angel, now that you are an angel again yourself?" "Do you like it when I call you angel?" Aziraphale nodded. "Then I will keep calling you that." "Should I call you by your angelname now? I don't believe you ever told me your angelname." Aziraphale asked carefully. "I'm not that angel anymore, haven't been for a very long time. I would love for you to just keep calling me 'Crowley." Aziraphale smiled and nodded. "Okey Crowley, let's try to fix our lovely neighbourhood. But first, tea."
Crowley didn't dare to admit to the angel that he was more in the mood for multiple bottles of red wine, after al this. But he let the angel put together two cups of tea, very obviously made with lots of love. They sat together on the sofa, no more words were spoken for the rest of the evening. Just two angels sitting close together, enjoying eachother's company.
----
After a few months of hard work, and some "minor" miracles, Soho was almost back to it's former glory. Some of the previous inhabitants started to come back. After a long search they found their favourite neighbours, and convinced them to come back.
Crowley stood on the pavement next to the book, staring at the cafe across the street. Nina was busy serving customers mediocre coffee. Aziraphale was next doors, buying records. Just like before he was one of Maggie's only customers, but she didn't seem to mind anymore. Everything was back to the way it was before.
"Would you like a cup of coffee, or are you good just staring at it." Nina snaped Crowley out of his thoughts. He crossed the street and accepted a big cup with and ungodly amount of espresso. He wasn't normally a very social person, but this time he stayed and had a chat. He wouldn't easily admit it, but he liked having Nina as a friend, and he was happy to have her back here. Before he left the cafe, he asked for a couple of Eccles cakes to take home.
---
Back at the bookshop Crowley made some tea to go with those Eccles cakes. Aziraphale came in, just in time. He was carrying a couple of records and a big smile on his face. "Maggie is really nice you know. And she has al these rare recor- ooh are those Eccles cakes?"
After enjoying their tea time, Crowley grabbed one of the records, and put it on the recordplayer. "Can I have this dance with you" Aziraphale happily took Crowley's hand. They swayed lightly to the music. "Angel?" Aziraphale looked up into Crowley's eyes. "Yes love?" "C-can I kiss you?" Crowley looked nervous and hopefull. Aziraphale answered by closing the distance between them with a deep and tender kiss.
"I love you, I love you so so much."
"I love you too Angel"
"And in the background the music kept playing.
"And as we kissed and said goodnight,
A Nightingale Sang In Berkley Square."
-the end