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Aziraphale did not expect his life to change in any way when a new coffee shop opened across the street from his bookshop. As a neighbour and a fellow business owner, he decided to visit and support the new establishment. He waited a couple of days after the grand opening to avoid crowds and chose an unusual time between the morning and afternoon rush. Running his own business gave him the luxury of closing it whenever he needed or wanted. It wasn't the greatest strategy business-wise, but Aziraphale was above such nonsense. His bookshop had a bunch of regular customers who accepted his irregular schedule. Besides, opening up his business for online sales a few years back had ensured a stable income. Aziraphale might have irregular opening hours, but he was diligent. All his online sales were done on time and he'd never received a single complaint.
His life was stable and comfortable, and Aziraphale would have been happy to carry on like that for the rest of it. Or so he had thought until he stepped into the new coffee shop.
That was the day he met Anthony J. Crowley for the first time. The man was handsome, but that wasn't what made Aziraphale's heart beat faster. Crowley, because that was how he wished to be addressed, was extremely patient with him and answered all his questions about the beverages they offered and the pastries they had on display. On that very first day, Crowley ended up making Aziraphale a cup of hot chocolate off the menu.
“We weren't planning on offering hot chocolate until autumn,” he admitted, giving Aziraphale a dashing smile. “But I have all the ingredients. Just... don't tell the other customers,” he added in a playful voice. “Or my partner. She's very... strict with those things.”
A partner. Crowley had a partner with whom he ran the coffee shop. Aziraphale shouldn't have been so disappointed by this information. It shouldn't have been a surprise that a man as lovely as Crowley was taken. But the disappointment was real, and it left Aziraphale feeling hollow. The chances that Crowley was interested in men and would be attracted to Aziraphale were slim, but him having a partner reduced his chances to zero. Besides, Aziraphale wasn't the kind of person who would try to snake someone else's partner.
However, just because Crowley was in a committed relationship didn't mean that Aziraphale couldn't be friends with him. Aziraphale rarely met people who were willing to put up with his quirkiness, and Crowley turned out to be patient and helpful. Aziraphale had a feeling that he wouldn't have to mask too much in front of him, which he seldom felt and never about the people he had just met. At least until he met Crowley. There was something about this man that made Aziraphale feel safe and enough. That was why Aziraphale couldn't turn down a potential friendship, even if his heart yearned for something more.
Aziraphale kept coming back to the coffee shop on regular basis, always choosing less busy hours so he could chat with Crowley. It wasn't the wisest thing to do, considering his infatuation with the red-haired man, but he couldn't help himself. There was just something about Crowley that made Aziraphale seek his company.
They talked a lot. Crowley always asked him about his day and Aziraphale returned the attention. Crowley had many stories and anecdotes about his work to share, which often amused Aziraphale greatly. His job at the bookshop was nowhere near as funny, although he had one story from a few years back that made Crowley laugh like a madman.
“There's no way a naked man walked into your bookshop,” Crowley said, shaking his head and laughing. “Things like that don't happen.”
“I'm afraid they do, my dear,” Aziraphale assured him. “Jim was more than a little lost and confused. And he did look like my former boss.”
“You're making this up!”
“I am not!” Aziraphale said, chuckling. “It turned out Jim was Gabriel's twin brother.”
“But why was he naked?” Crowley asked, more and more curious about the whole thing.
“He said he lost his clothes.”
“What?”
“He said they were in a box he was carrying, but someone took them,” said Aziraphale.
“It doesn't make any sense, angel,” Crowley muttered, calling him by the nickname he'd given him in the first week. Hearing it always made Aziraphale's heart skip a beat.
“Jim wasn't mentally stable at the time,” he explained with a little sigh. “But I've heard he's better now.”
“Good. That's good,” murmured Crowley. “But what did you do when he marched into your bookshop completely naked?” he asked curiously.
“Well... I offered him a blanket to cover himself with,” said Aziraphale sheepishly, feeling a blush creeping on his cheeks. “And then I started to ponder whether to call the authorities or not.”
“Did you?”
“No. Gabriel came twenty minutes later. He'd been looking for his brother, and since Jim had made quite a show outside, people noticed him and directed Gabriel to my bookshop.” This time Aziraphale sighed heavily. “It was awkward. And not only because Jim was naked. Gabriel and I had a disagreement, to say the least, at my previous job. But in the end he told me about the difficulties Jim was dealing with and even thanked me for taking care of his brother. That was one of the most bizarre things that ever happened to me.”
“I imagine,” murmured Crowley. “But...” He hesitated a little.
“Yes?”
“Did you... take a peek?” he asked playfully. “Before you offered Jim a blanket.”
Aziraphale opened his mouth in disbelief and shock.
“You must have been curious,” Crowley continued. “You must have thought it was your former boss. At least for a second. I would've been curious. Even more so if I had a disagreement with him in the past,” he added cheekily with a wink.
“Crowley,” Aziraphale gasped, blushing madly.
“You must be a saint, then,” Crowley said in an amused voice.
Aziraphale's blush deepened even more, something that seemed impossible just a moment ago. “Well...” he mumbled sheepishly.
“Well?” Crowley raised his eyebrows.
“I didn't mean to look, but it... happened. By accident!” Aziraphale clarified.
“Of course.” Crowley couldn't hide his amusement. The tone of his voice and a little smile said it all.
“I mean it, Crowley.”
“Sure, sure,” he said, barely holding back a chuckle. “But did you like what you saw?” he asked cheekily.
Aziraphale's mouth dropped open in surprise. He didn't expect Crowley to be so bold in his remarks. If he hadn't known better, he would've thought his friend was flirting with him. But it couldn't be true. Crowley had a partner, a female partner, and he didn't seem like the cheating type. At least Aziraphale hoped his judgement of him was correct.
“I will not dignify this question with an answer,” he said, seeing that Crowley expected one.
Crowley burst out laughing. “You're one of a kind, Aziraphale,” he murmured. “What would you say to another cup of tea? Something special and on the house for making me laugh so much.”
Aziraphale couldn't say no to Crowley and his speciality drinks. Nor could he say no to the opportunity to talk to him for a while longer. It was perfectly innocent, though Aziraphale noticed the suspicious look Nina gave him. It made him feel a little awful, even though he hadn't done anything wrong. Having a friend was a good thing and he wasn't going to act on his silly crush in any way.
The months were passing by and Aziraphale kept coming to the coffee shop. His friendship with Crowley blossomed, which was good, but his infatuation grew as well. Sometimes Aziraphale thought that Crowley was flirting with him, but it didn't make any sense. It was most likely the way Crowley was with his friends. Aziraphale didn't spend all his time in the coffee shop, so he couldn't tell what Crowley was like with other regulars. Part of him didn't want to know. Part of him wanted to believe that his friendship with Crowley was something special.
They met almost exclusively at the coffee shop. Almost, because Crowley had visited his bookshop a few times and marvelled at its beauty. That made Aziraphale feel quite proud and special, and he treasured those visits. However, they had never met outside their working places, which was a little disappointing. Aziraphale wasn't sure if he could really call Crowley his friend if they only ever saw each other while one of them was at work.
On the other hand, Crowley seemed to read him so well. He could always tell when Aziraphale was in a bad mood, despite all the attempts Aziraphale made to hide it. Crowley's response to his bad mood was making him a special drink off the menu. Often with a twist.
Crowley did so tactfully, asking, “Is it a hot chocolate kind of day?”
Aziraphale never said no to that question. Not even once.
Sometimes the coffee shop was busier than expected and Aziraphale couldn't have as much of Crowley's attention as he wanted. At those times he took a seat at one of the tables, sipping a drink Crowley prepared for him and watching his friend work with passion and commitment. Aziraphale found beauty in those quiet moments too. Quiet for him, and not so much for Crowley.
However, one of those moments was brutally interrupted one day by Mr Brown of Brown's World of Carpets. Aziraphale only knew the man briefly, even though they'd been fellow shopkeepers for years. Mr Brown was a chairman of the Whickber Street Shopkeepers' Association, but Aziraphale avoided their meetings with a passion almost equal to Crowley's passion for his job. Nonetheless, Aziraphale's actions did not discourage Mr Brown who'd been inviting him to the meetings whenever the occasion arose.
This time, however, it seemed that the chairman's intentions were different and did not concern the monthly meetings at all.
“Would you let me buy you another drink?” the man asked, causing Aziraphale to choke on his hot tea.
“I beg your pardon?” Aziraphale replied with a question as soon as he regained his ability to breathe normally.
“I'd like to buy you a drink, Aziraphale.” That was possibly the first time he called him by his first name.
“Mr Brown, I assure you that I can afford another drink,” said Aziraphale, hoping the man would take a hint.
He didn't.
“Please drop the formalities and call me Tim,” Mr Brown offered, gracing Aziraphale with a smile that he must have considered dashing, but which was a little creepy in Aziraphale's opinion.
“Tim...” Aziraphale hesitantly addressed him by his first name. “I really can afford my own drinks.”
“I never doubted that,” Mr Brown said firmly. “But that's not the point. I must admit that I've been thinking about asking you out for quite some time. You're a single man. I'm a single man. And as far as I know, we have similar... tastes.”
Aziraphale felt like he was about to have a stroke. Tim Brown might be gay, but he was as far from Aziraphale's type as someone could get. And it did not concern his looks at all. Aziraphale wasn't that hollow. However, he had nothing in common with Mr Brown and didn't understand his passions and interests. Aziraphale wasn't sure about many things in life, but he was certain that he and Tim Brown would never work as friends, let alone a couple.
However, Mr Brown, undeterred by the silence, asked, “What kind of coffee would you let me buy for you?” He finished the question with a teeth-showing smile, which was a little disturbing.
“He doesn't drink coffee.”
Aziraphale's heart skipped a beat at the sound of a familiar voice. He hadn't noticed how he'd approached the table amidst the small chaos, but Crowley's presence made him feel both excited and nervous. Their eyes met, and Aziraphale couldn't help but smile and lick his lips. It was a nervous tic, but it could be interpreted in an entirely different way. A wrong way.
“Excuse me?” said Mr Brown, frowning at Crowley.
“I said Aziraphale doesn't drink coffee. You would have known that if...”
“Why are you interrupting us?” he cut in.
Crowley straightened up and inhaled sharply. “This is my coffee shop and it looked like you were bothering one of my regular customers and a friend of mine,” he said. “Unless I read it all wrong,” he added, looking at Aziraphale expectantly.
“I wasn't bothering Aziraphale!” Brown was fuming. “He invited me to...”
“I didn't,” Aziraphale cut in, feeling that it was the right moment to intervene.
“Aziraphale?”
“I didn't invite you anywhere, Tim. Besides, I was telling you I didn't want you to buy me a drink. I was trying to turn you down gently, but you didn't listen,” he said, encouraged by Crowley's support.
Brown's eyes widened and his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. “Well...” he mumbled. “You could have said that.”
“He was trying,” Crowley pointed out.
Mr Brown jumped to his feet and threw an annoyed look at Crowley. Then he glanced back at Aziraphale and said, “It was nice seeing you. Despite... everything.”
Aziraphale did not return the courtesy.
“If you change your mind, you know where to find me,” Mr Brown added and then rushed out of the coffee shop.
“That was... something,” mumbled Crowley, turning his gaze back to Aziraphale.
“Thanks for stepping in. He really wasn't taking the hints.”
Crowley chuckled. “They were more than hints, angel. He wasn't going to listen. I know the type,” he said.
“Me too. Unfortunately.” Aziraphale sighed lightly.
“Hey! I'm sure a cup of hot chocolate could fix that. For today at least. What do you say?”
“I'd like one,” Aziraphale said, smiling faintly.
“On it!” Crowley winked at him playfully before he walked away to get his order ready. He returned a few minutes later, saying. “It's on the house.”
“You really don't have to.”
“That's the least I can do after one of my customers was bothering you,” Crowley told him. “Enjoy your drink, angel!” Then he left to serve other customers.
Aziraphale watched him in silence for a while longer. Then he finally glanced at his drink, which looked like a little piece of art. It turned out to taste even better. Crowley truly outdid himself.
There were times when Aziraphale wished Crowley wasn't so perfect. He was truly conflicted. Every day he had to remind himself that Crowley was out of his reach. He couldn't be his knight in shining armour. They could only be friends.
Sometimes Aziraphale thought that Crowley was interested in him romantically, even though it didn't make any sense. After all, Crowley was a taken man who ran a coffee shop with his partner.
Aziraphale desperately needed to move on, so he eventually agreed to his friend Maggie's offer to set him up on a blind date. As part of his 'shock therapy', he even agreed to meet this mysterious man at the coffee shop. Maggie thought it could help him overcome his crush on Crowley, but she couldn't be more wrong.
The man Maggie had set him up with was nice and quite good-looking, but Aziraphale kept glancing at Crowley out of the corner of his eye the entire time. He noticed that Crowley was watching them too. It made Aziraphale shudder all over his body.
Crowley was polite when he took their order, but Aziraphale couldn't shake off the feeling that his usual spark was missing. If Aziraphale hadn't known any better, he would have assumed that Crowley was a little jealous.
The date went smoothly, but there was no promise of a second date. Aziraphale didn't think it was right to lead Maggie's friend on. He didn't think he could date anyone until his infatuation with Crowley wore off. The problem was that his feelings weren't going anywhere.
“No date today?” Crowley asked Aziraphale the next time he came to the coffee shop. It was an innocent question, but the lightness in his voice was still missing.
Aziraphale's heartbeat quickened at the mention of his date. “No. It was a blind date. Maggie's idea,” he said, feeling a need to explain. “There will be no second date.”
“Oh. I'm sorry to hear that,” murmured Crowley. Then he asked in a softer tone, “Is it a tea or hot chocolate kind of day?”
“Surprise me.”
Crowley gave him a small smile. “As you wish,” he said and started preparing a surprise beverage.
Moments like that made Aziraphale wonder what Crowley truly thought of him and what his relationship with Nina was like. Aziraphale had heard of polyamorous and open relationships and wondered if that was what Crowley and Nina had, or if he himself could possibly engage in something like that. The only conclusion he came to was that he couldn't. Not even for Crowley. Aziraphale was a very monogamous man who loved the notion of being someone's person. One and only. He knew he wouldn't handle sharing a romantic partner well.
His friendship with Crowley was unique in itself. Aziraphale didn't want to be greedy. He could live with his infatuation and in accordance with his own principles. But it still hurt at times. The sense of regret was profound and haunting.
Aziraphale tried to focus on the positives. Finding a good friend in life could be just as rewarding as finding a romantic partner. Aziraphale knew and cherished that. However, there was also a tad of sadness in this way of thinking, because Aziraphale was a romantic at heart and Crowley seemed like his soulmate. He felt a little silly for thinking that because considering their ages, they hadn't known each other that long. It was less than a year and they were both in their mid 40s. Yet Aziraphale felt as if they'd known each other for most of their lives. Nonetheless, he didn't know what Crowley thought of that because he'd never dared to ask.
Their friendship continued to grow despite Aziraphale's conflicted feelings. Sometimes he wished they could see each other outside the coffee shop or his bookshop. Nothing was really stopping them, but somehow that proposition never came up in their conversations. Aziraphale was too shy to suggest it because it would feel too much like asking Crowley out on a date, and that was something Aziraphale couldn't do.
The good thing was that Crowley was always there in the coffee shop, preparing coffee, tea and other beverages for other people. Whenever Aziraphale wanted to talk to him, he could walk the short distance between his bookshop and the coffee shop and order a cup of tea or hot chocolate. Since the bookshop was always closed on Sundays, he spent many Sundays lazing around the coffee shop for hours, occupying a small table for far longer than was considered appropriate. Crowley never said a word. Neither did Nina.
One day, however, Crowley was nowhere to be seen when Aziraphale entered the coffee shop. At first, he thought Crowley was in the backroom or loo. But the minutes went by and he wasn't coming back.
“He's not here,” Nina told him eventually.
“Oh.” Aziraphale's smile fell.
“I know. He's handling some paperwork for our business. Out of the two of us, he's the better one at the task. The ladies at the City Hall love him and are more helpful when he comes. You know... he can be all charming when he wants to be,” she said with a wink. “He'll be back in an hour or two if you want to return then, but if you'd rather wait, I can make you something to drink.”
Aziraphale shouldn't be spending hours waiting for Crowley's return. He had his own bookselling business to attend to. He was about to decline the offer, but Nina continued her train of thought.
“Of course I won't make it as special as your boyfriend does...”
Aziraphale's heart skipped a beat at the term.
“My what?” he asked daftly.
Nina gave him a pointed look. “Oh, please...” she murmured. “You've been flirting for almost a year now.”
Aziraphale could feel his cheeks burn with blush. “It's... It's not like that,” he mumbled. “We're not... We're only friends!” he assured her hastily.
Nina chuckled, shaking her head. “Are you trying to convince me or yourself?” she asked cheekily.
“I swear that's all we are, Nina. You are not threatened in any way!”
She raised her eyebrow in confusion and said, “I don't think I follow.”
Aziraphale sighed. “I'm not trying to steal your boyfriend,” he said as plainly as he could.
“My boyfriend?” she asked, clearly confused.
“Your partner, if that's how you prefer to call him,” Aziraphale muttered, trying to hide his embarrassment.
“Crowley?”
“Yes! Who else?” Aziraphale didn't think he'd ever been this confused in his life.
Then Nina started laughing out loud and she couldn't stop.
“What?” he asked, utterly taken aback.
“Have you thought Crowley was my boyfriend this entire time?” she replied with a question, barely able to get the words out because of the laughter.
“Yes!”
“He's not and he's never been my boyfriend,” Nina told him. “He doesn't swing that way and neither do I!”
Aziraphale's eyes widened and his mouth fell open for a second. “But... but he called you his partner the first time I came here,” he said in confusion.
“Maybe. He's my business partner or a partner in crime as I sometimes call him,” she explained. “Crowley is like a brother to me. Even if I was attracted to men, I would never date him. That's just... NO.”
Aziraphale could barely comprehend what he was hearing. It all was so confusing and maddening.
“So he's single...” Aziraphale managed to mumble.
“Oh, yes. Single and gay,” Nina emphasised with a knowing smile. “Aziraphale, he doesn't make special drinks off the menu for all our regular customers. He doesn't spend hours every week chatting with them. Crowley likes you. He hasn't liked anyone this much in a very long time. It's just not easy for him to say those things out loud. He needs more encouragement.”
Nina sounded sincere. Besides, she had no reason to lie to Aziraphale's face. Still, it all was difficult to grasp in such a short time.
“Are you okay?” Nina asked him suddenly, with a hint of worry in her voice.
Aziraphale didn't know what to say. His heart was pounding in his chest and he struggled with breathing normally.
“I... I...”
“Should I call an ambulance?”
He shook his head violently. His problem wasn't medical. He just needed a moment of peace and quiet.
“I need to go,” Aziraphale mumbled. “I just... I need to think.” As he said that, he took a step back.
“Maybe you should stay here and take a seat,” Nina offered. “To calm down.”
“I'm calm,” he lied without thinking. “Just... sorry!”
Then he ran out of the coffee shop, leaving Nina and a few other confused customers behind. He could hear Nina call his name one more time, but he ignored it. He was having a moment and didn't feel like being around other people right now.
Aziraphale didn't flip the sign to 'open' when he returned to the bookshop. He wasn't able to deal with customers and act normally. He needed time to calm down and think through everything he'd learnt. It was a lot to process. Everything he'd thought about Crowley was untrue. Crowley wasn't taken and was apparently gay, and according to Nina he liked him too. All those things were good and more than welcome, but Aziraphale was overwhelmed and strangely panicked. He'd never actually let himself believe that something could ever happen between him and Crowley, and now it became a real possibility. Aziraphale even pinched himself to check if he was dreaming, but the pain that shot through him felt real and didn't wake him up.
It all appeared to be real. That thought was both exciting and scary. For the first time since they met, Aziraphale allowed himself to think that he and Crowley might become more than just friends. It could end badly, but above all, something brilliant could come out of it too.
There was only one problem in all of that. Aziraphale would have to talk to Crowley and clarify the misunderstanding and lack of proper communication. He wasn't good at those things.
Suddenly the door to his bookshop flew open, bringing him back to Earth and startling him.
“We're closed!” Aziraphale said quickly before he even raised his head and looked at the person who entered his shop.
Then he did and instantly froze. It was Crowley.
“I can read and I saw the sign,” his friend said timidly. “But I'm not here to buy your books, angel. I'm here because I think we need to talk.”
Aziraphale inhaled sharply. His heart was beating so loudly that he was surprised Crowley didn't hear it.
“Nina told me something bizarre. Something I find hard to believe. At first I thought she was having me on,” he admitted.
Aziraphale shook his head and said, “She wasn't.”
“Angel,” Crowley said in a hoarse voice, coming closer to him. “You thought Nina was my girlfriend this whole time.”
“You called her your partner,” Aziraphale pointed out. “What was I supposed to think?”
“I suppose I'm not the best at choosing words,” Crowley admitted. “I thought my crush on you was obvious and you never mentioned it because you weren't interested. At least not in a romantic way.”
“I've had a crush on you too. This whole time.”
They both released the breaths they'd been holding. Their feelings were finally out in the open.
“We started it all the wrong way,” said Crowley.
“We did.”
“I feel so silly now.”
“You and me both,” Aziraphale told him. “What shall we do now?”
“I was going to ask you out. If we were at the coffee shop, I'd offer to make you a cup of hot chocolate or tea, and I'd try to make it even more special to impress you,” said Crowley.
“Is that what you've been trying to do this whole time?” asked Aziraphale, smiling softly at him.
Crowley chuckled lightly. “Kind of. But we're not at the coffee shop,” he pointed out.
“We're not, but it's across the street.”
“Yes, it is, but I don't want to take you there now. Nina's there and... Isn't it weird that we've been meeting only at our workplaces?” Crowley asked.
“A little,” Aziraphale agreed. “I've been thinking about it too.”
“We should explore new places together.”
“That would be nice.”
“What's the better occasion than our first date?” Crowley asked him. “That is... if you want to go out with me.”
Aziraphale could barely contain his excitement. He could barely believe this turn of events. “I'd love to,” he said without hesitation.
Crowley gave him the biggest smile Aziraphale had ever seen on his face. “Great. Now?”
“Now? Don't you have to go back to work?” Aziraphale asked in wonder.
“Nina can handle the coffee shop by herself for one day,” Crowley assured him. “She encouraged me to come here and ask you out. She emphasised that I shouldn't come back too early.”
“I believe that makes her our matchmaker.”
Crowley chuckled and said, “I'm sure she'd like that title.”
“She deserves it. So... if we both have the rest of the day off, what shall we do?” Aziraphale asked.
“Whatever we want,” Crowley told him. “Do you have any wishes?”
Aziraphale hesitated for a second. “Well... we spent all our time together indoors, so maybe we should break that pattern for the sake of a new beginning,” he suggested. “The weather is quite nice too.”
“Yes,” Crowley agreed. “We're having a surprisingly sunny May this year. We should make the most of it,” he added with a flirtatious wink. “What would you say to a nice stroll around the St James' Park? We could buy some frozen peas and feed the ducks.”
“I'd love that,” said Aziraphale with a big smile. “You've been telling me so many times about your duck-feeding trips to the parks. I've always dreamed of joining you.”
“Oh, angel... You could. I was hoping that one day I could persuade you to join me.”
“Mission accomplished,” he said in a playful tone.
They both laughed. Then, before they left, Crowley came up with another idea that could make their first date even more special. “How about a picnic?” he asked. “I believe you've mentioned once or twice that you wanted to go on a picnic.”
Aziraphale melted at his words. “You remember,” he said in disbelief.
“Of course I do.”
“A picnic is actually my ideal date,” he admitted timidly.
“So that's what we should do today,” Crowley decided, taking his hand. “Feeding the ducks and having a picnic. Does it sound good?” he asked.
“More than good.”
Their first date was a bit unusual and almost a year overdue, but it was theirs and they wouldn't change a thing about it. Other people usually had their early dates over coffee or tea, but they had done that before without dating. They had spent almost a year at the coffee shop, getting to know each other better. This new chapter in their lives required a new setting.
However, Aziraphale continued to come to the coffee shop regularly. In fact, he kept visiting Crowley at work daily, but now he could proudly call him his boyfriend. None of the regular customers were surprised. Apparently, he and Crowley had been obvious the entire time.
Crowley's special drinks became even more special now, for Aziraphale knew that they were prepared not only with care, but also with love.
Aziraphale had never been happier. For the first time in his life, he was confident enough to believe that he would marry his boyfriend one day, and he'd be even more proud to call him his husband.
He was right in his assumptions. Aziraphale and Crowley got married the following spring, with the wedding reception taking place in the coffee shop where their love had been born and blossomed. It was kind of funny, considering Aziraphale didn't even like coffee and had only come to the establishment to support a new business in the neighbourhood. He couldn't have known back then that that day would change his life forever.
Aziraphale didn't take up drinking coffee, even though he believed Crowley was an excellent barista. Crowley didn't mind that and was always happy to make a special cup of tea or hot chocolate for him. During their wedding, Crowley vowed to do so for the rest of his life.
“I promise you a hot chocolate kind of life,” he whispered into his ear when all their guests eventually left.
Aziraphale chuckled lightly. Crowley was a little tease. He loved him for that and couldn't have wished for a better husband.
“I am a thirsty man,” Aziraphale replied in a playful tone. “My thirst isn't easily quenched.”
“We have the rest of lives to try.”
Aziraphale pulled him into a kiss sweeter than any cup of hot chocolate Crowley had ever made him. He was not disappointed with its taste.