Hi everyone!

So, here's another attempt of Good Omens' fanfiction. I must add it has nothing to do with my first attempt (except for the shipping, but quite honestly… what did you expect?) I really should stop writing these, since I really do have a thousand of other things to do, but I don't seem able to help myself. So, anyway, I hope you enjoy it. And please excuse my horrible grammar and feel free to point out any mistakes!

Good Omens and all characters related are property of Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman.

Chapter 1

Every couple decades or so on, Aziraphale would drop out of the face of earth. He wouldn't say a word about it; he would just disappear in the middle of the night, leaving no note, no quick phone message, no nothing behind.

Crowley always complained loudly after that.

But it wasn't as if the angel could help it. He couldn't tell anyone where he was going; not only for his own sake but also for… oh, well, better not even think about it.

He had intended on leaving the night before; Crowley had asked if they could have lunch and he had said they would, knowing full well he wouldn't be there by the time the demon walked into the store. He also knew that, by the time he came back, he would be lucky to find London still standing, between absolute chaos and destruction.

Yet, she had called. And so there he was, still in London and waiting for Crowley to show up. He would have to come up with an excuse to end lunch quickly. Crowley would protest about his abrupt departure but he guessed it would end up better than if he had left in the middle of the night.

The phone rang. The angel stood up almost instantly and picked up, quite anxiously. Sometimes he wondered why his heartbeat seemed to speed up* whenever he heard her voice. Sometimes he realized it was almost the exact feeling he got whenever Crowley stood too close to him. Sometimes he would much rather not think of it.

"Angel?"

Oh, fake alarm. Well, better to keep with the appearances "Hi dear. Don't you think you're running a bit late?"

"Yeah. Umm. About that. I don't think I'll be able to make it"

"I beg your pardon?" no, he didn't feel disappointed, he told himself. No, he had been planning on leaving early, hadn't he? So, why would he feel disappointed for Crowley cancelling lunch?

"I just… got a quick call from Down There. I'm supposed to meet someone in fifteen minutes"

"Oh, right" Why did he sound so crestfallen?! It was for the best! It would make things far easier! "See you some other day, then"

He hung up, completely missing the demon's also embittered words. He sunk down into his chair once again.

Just then, the bell on the door rang merrily.

*Although that was more or less impossible, seeing his heart didn't actually need to beat.

Crowley stared at the phone for a while, not able to believe that the angel had actually hung up, without throwing some sort of fuss. He was used to Aziraphale's calm demeanor but this was… well, really unusual. The angel cared a lot about being polite and doing things right, which often meant he hated to have meetings called off in such an unceremoniously way. He was also normally more concerned when Crowley was supposed to meet one of his Superiors…

Deciding he really couldn't spare another thought on the silly angel and his strange behavior, the demon continued driving down the lane, finally spotting a parking place close to the restaurant where his meeting was about to be held. He turned the car's engine off and waited for a couple of seconds, trying to put himself together. Hell didn't arranged too many meetings with its 'field's agents' but when it did… it could only mean trouble.

Carefully, he stepped outside the car and started walking towards the restaurant. He was wearing a highly fashionable pair of black jeans, with a dark dressing shirt. He truly liked this new outfit and had been hoping to hear Aziraphale's approve on it but now, it seemed, things weren't going to go his way today.

Sighing, the demon steeped into the bistro.

When she smiled, Aziraphale always had a hard time reminding himself this female-shaped creature wasn't to be trusted or even talked to. If his Superiors were to know that he had continued to meet her, after the Incident, he would never hear the end of it.

However, she looked as angelic as any other average Heaven's Messenger. She still had the soft long brunette locks, the sweet smile and the kind soft brown eyes. She still seemed incapable of evil. She still looked all nice, caring and forgiving.

But she was a Fallen One. And Aziraphale wouldn't let his guard down around her.

"I don't think we've been at your place since… well, I really don't know. After all these millennia, memories tend to become somewhat fuzzy…"

"You had never been at my place, Karin"

"Ah. That explains a lot" she giggled somewhat girlishly and the angel smiled. Somehow, she always managed to bring a smile to his lips "I like it. It's a bit dusty but suits you fine, I guess"

Aziraphale, who couldn't tell if he was being mocked, patronized or complimented, settled for another smile "You look fine, my dear"

"Well, thank you! You don't look that bad yourself!" she smiled mischievously and leaned closer to him "You have lost weight, I noticed"

"Just a couple of pounds" he said, somewhat bashfully "Hardly noticeable, really"

"Just because he hasn't complimented you about it, doesn't mean he hasn't noticed"

"W-What?!" the angel knew he was blushing madly and Karin smiled even more kindly "I don't know what you're talking about"

"Sure you don't" she leaned against the chair's back, smirking teasingly, making her seat lost its balance and almost crashing against the floor "Dear, this is highly uncomfortable!"

"Well, maybe you have forgotten, but we, angels I mean, aren't really into getting all too-comfortable. It would be like…"

"Yeah, I know" she pouted "but I also remember you were all into the making the guests feel welcome and be outrageously polite"

"Touché" the angel said, smiling "Shall we move this conversation to the back store?"

"Yes. I have the distinctive feeling I really want to see this back store of yours…"

Crowley couldn't really hide his relief when he saw the male-shaped creature waiting for him. He had expected to face a rather menacing evil looking kind of bloke, but it turned out to be an old acquaintance of him. Not that the demon had any friends Down There, but some of the other demons were okay-enough to be of his liking.

And, after spending almost a millennia being under his command, Crowley rather enjoyed working for Lust.

"Crowley!" the other demon exclaimed, with a calm smirk, offering him a friendly hug which was never completely unusual coming from him. He had always been known for his… umm… irregular behavior "Long time not seeing you!"

"Hello" he responded smoothly, smirking lightly "It's been a while, indeed"

"Take a sit, boy, take a sit!" the Deadly Sin continued, before sitting down once again "Fancy a drink?"

"Yes. Yeah, that would be great"

Lust smirked some more and gestured for the waiter to come forward. The waiter, a young boy not older than 17, approached them looking somewhat apprehensive "A bottle of your finest scotch, boy" the higher-ranked demon ordered and dismissed the kid with a wave of his hand. Crowley just watched in silence "So; expecting someone else?"

"What?"

"Oh, come on Crowley. Relief was written all over your face when you saw me. Perfectly understandable too, considering your recent entry to Hell's Very Black Books"

"Well, I…" Crowley felt himself blushing and fought it back. He would not embarrass himself in front of one of his Superiors, never mind if he felt somewhat comfortable around him "I was expecting some sort of Hell's payback, eventually"

"Brilliant, if you ask me" Lust proceeded with his speech, his smirk going wider "Averting the Apocalypse! And showering Ligur with Holy Water! Who knew you had it in you? Quite a backbone, my boy"

Crowley frowned. He didn't like being called 'my boy' by no one else than a certain angelic individual. It sounded just wrong otherwise "It seemed like the proper thing to do at the moment" he explained as calmly as possible "I certainly never expected them to send you to talk to me, really"

"Talk to you? Like in 'scolding' you or something? Crowley, you're definitely losing it" another smirk "That's not the sort of thing we do Down There. Either we punish you ruthlessly or we pretend it never happened. I'm merely here to replace your previous Supervisor, my sis, Envy, I think"

"Ah… yes. She never liked me too much"

"Figures. Which is the main reason she didn't pay too much attention to your work. And which brings us down to the reason of my visit. But we'll get down to it later. For now, cheers!" he exclaimed happily, their drinks having finally arrived.

Crowley lifted his own glass and took a sip. Maybe, it wouldn't be as bad as he had expected…

"This is an awfully nice couch, Zira" Karin exclaimed, plopping on it "yes, very nice indeed. And definitely, not something you would choose"

"Crowley brought it" the angel explained, not looking at his companion "Figured it would be for the best, seeing how much time we spend here"

"Oh? Is that so?"

"I know that look, Karin. And it's not what you're thinking"

"And you sound awfully disappointed about it" another smirk. Hmph, she was getting better at the whole I'm-evil-thing; so, the angel decided, it would be wise to avoid any further discussion on that particular matter "So… how are things between you and… eh… Louis?"

He always had problems finding the right way to designate Karin's lover. Lover would have the most accurate word, in fact, but it just didn't seem to grasp the whole meaning of what those two had. The term was too vague and he had always thought it did no justice to the relationship.

For you see, Karin's lover was also the reason of her Falling.

"We're doing just dandy, thank you very much" she smiled dreamingly and the angel couldn't help to smile in the same manner "He's here too, you know"

"I figured out that much. Not that I wasn't hoping otherwise"

"Oh? Wanted to see me all sulky and depressed because he left me all-over-again?"

"NO! I didn't mean…"

"I know what you meant" another smirk and Aziraphale realized it was getting rather infuriating "And yes, he's your friend's new Supervisor. I expect it would save him a bit of trouble, for a while"

"Crowley and I…"

"If you dare to say you're not friends, I'm going to start yelling at you. Honestly hon, one can't live with so much denial" Her face suddenly got stern and serious "As I was saying, I think Louis would be able to save your friend a bit of trouble for a while… yet, I believe things are going to get pretty nasty around here"

"Meaning?" he wasn't used to her solemn tone and didn't like the way the conversation was heading. Something was very off…

"Well… we think there's a particular reason why Louis got Crowley's case assigned" a short pause for dramatic effect and Aziraphale found himself leaning closer, his heart beating so furiously it was painful "Tell me, dear, how would you feel about Falling for him?"

"We shall make a quick review of your progress and then I shall inform people Down There about it. A small report or something should keep them pleased"

"Right. Fine by me"

"This would be the good time to tell me if you expect me to find something that might look suspicious but that you have a more-than-logical explanation for it. It would also be the perfect time to state said explanation"

"Such as?"

Lust sighed dramatically and threw his arms up, as if he was getting frustrated "Your relationship with a certain angel, whose name, I believe, starts with the letter A"

"Ah… that" he had been expecting the matter to be approached, but the demon had decided not to make it too easy for his Supervisor. And, of course, there was also the smallest chance that he wouldn't even have to mention it… "There's nothing to say, really. You know how angels can be"

"Exactly"

Crowley didn't like the tone but decided to play oblivious. It wouldn't be getting him anywhere to get his new boss pissed off after so little time in his company; nevertheless, it wouldn't be wise either to let him know too much about him so quickly "How's your girlfriend, by the way? You're still with her?"

"Yes, still" the other licked his lips, smirking mischievously "And she's really looking forward meeting you"

"Is that so? I didn't know you liked me that much, Louis. Quite frankly…"

"Oh, it wasn't me the one who talked to her so highly about you" another malevolent grin and Crowley had to fight back a shiver. This didn't sound right at all… "But, back to your problem; are you sure you don't want to talk about your relationship with this angel?"

"No. There's nothing to discuss"

"Really? 'Cause I could…"

"It's not the same" Crowley sighed inwardly, which didn't go unnoticed by his companion "Aziraphale's just an acquaintance, okay?"

"Right"

"Hey, I'm not the one who made an angel Fall for dating her"

"Well, I'm not the one who stood in front of Metatron AND Beelzebub with an angel" a smug smirk spread across the other demon's handsome features, while Crowley found himself unable of articulating a single word in his defense "Rumors travel fast, don't they?"

"Well, we were just trying to avert the Apocalypse"

"Whatever for?"

"Do you know how boring Hell can be? I wasn't willing to go back Down There for the rest of eternity. I quite like Earth, thank you very much" he was playing cool but also knew he wasn't fooling no one.

"If you say so" a sigh; a somewhat very sad sigh "Are you sure…?"

"This is getting irritating"

"Okay, have it your way" Lust tilted his head to the side, pondering something. Silence settled around them for a while. A very unnerving silence, I must add, which made Crowley feel the need to explain himself further "You might run into some incongruities in my reports; that's because we have a sort of… Agreement, if you will. But that's all. Really"

"Hmph"

"What?"

"Well, that's the sort of thing you should never let anyone Down There know about. It's not a perfectly acceptable excuse for incongruence. Would get you killed, most likely"

"I…"

"They don't have any evidence, you know? About your relationship with the angel. I think they're expecting me to find them. Or…"

"What?"

"Well, Crowley, I think we have found ourselves in a bit of a mess. Which could led us into a very nasty ending… or into getting a commendation"

"A commendation for what?"

Lust picked up his glass of scotch and gazed at it gloomily. Then, he clank it against Crowley's, in a toast mockery, slightly frowning "Tell me, how would you feel about making an angel Fall for you?"

So… here it is. I hope you liked it; let me know what you thought. Should I continue?

Thanks for reading through!