Here's a new chapter! Sorry for the wait, I seem to have misplaced the USB where this chapter was...

Anyway, hope you'll enjoy!

Chapter 26

On January 8th, the day that vacations were officially over, Crowley waltzes into Hell's Headquarters, wearing the most self-satisfied smirk in the history of human-kind. It's 6 o'clock in the morning; far too early for him to be awake, but he has spent the last week at Aziraphale's, just enjoying each other's company and being domestic and he's in such a good mood that even having to arrive early at work can't bring him down.

For the past week he has been so blissfully happy that he even overlooked the fact that they spent a lot of time planning the wedding. His days have been so joyous, that now they're over (because they both have to get back to work and Aziraphale has to sort of move back to her fiancé's apartment), he's not sure how he can carry on.

Right now none of that matters, though. Right now all he knows is that Aziraphale cooked him breakfast and even made him some coffee to go.

The meeting room is empty and he can't blame his colleges for arriving late. The first meeting of the year is not something anyone looks forward to, especially when Hastur starts blabbing about all the things they didn't do last year and starts commanding them to think of ways to improve.

Personally, Crowley can think of hundreds of things they could do, but he also knows his boss never listens. He's too old-school to pay much attention to Crowley's ground-breaking ideas. All for the best, he supposes; the world could be a very dark place if someone actually put some of his plans into motion.

He waits for a few minutes, taking small sips from his coffee, entertaining himself with some YouTube videos. He finally hears the door opening and he looks up, finding himself face-to-face with Hastur.

"Crowley?" He questions, obviously surprised by his early arrival. It's understandable, really, given that Crowley doesn't usually leave his bed until at least 9 o'clock.

But since he didn't spend the night in his bed that was impossible,

"Morning boss." he says, raising his cup in a mocking salute. Hastur frowns and so does Ligur, who has just walked into the "bizarre" scene.

"You're up early."

Crowley rolls his eyes dramatically,

"Well, you did say the meeting started at 6 sharp."

They stare at him as if he had grown a second head and he can't help but smirk a little. Nothing is as satisfactory as confusing his co-workers with his "odd" behavior.

"Alright everybody, let's get this party started. I didn't get out from bed… Crowley?!" Scarlett exclaims as she enters the room, as baffled as the other two. Crowley rolls his eyes once more,

"Yes. Can you three please stop acting so surprised so we can actually start this meeting? If I had known that arriving early would cause such a delay, I would have stayed in bed for a little longer."

"Oh, I bet you'd have." Scarlett says, recovering from the surprise quick enough. "What happened? Your girlfriend kicked you out of bed?"

Sort of. She had yelled at him that she was going to start breakfast and he'd better have taken a shower and be ready by the time she finished,

"That's none of your business."

"Girlfriend, huh?" Hastur says, a malicious smile playing on his lips. "She's not that pretty brunette we met is she?" Crowley scowls,

"As I said, it's none of your business."

"Ah, come on Crowley…"

"Can we concentrate?!" He exclaims, frustrated. "We've got work to do." It's his co-workers turn to roll their eyes,

"Really Crowley, you should know better than try to change the subject. We want to know everything about this girl. Not only has she managed to get you out of bed at this ungodly hour but she's also making you smile like that."

"Huh. Never pictured you as the caring type." Crowley argued, scowling lightly.

"We aren't." Hastur deadpans, smirking.

"But we're big gossips." Scarlett adds, a huge smirk on her lips.

Such gossips, those co-workers of yours. He shudders at the memory. He'd rather not think about that, "Once again, I repeat, that's none of your freaking business."

Sensing they aren't going to get anything else from him, they drop the subject. Everyone takes their usual places and the meeting begins, although Crowley pays it little mind. He's got plenty to plan, just not work-related.

All for the best, really. The world doesn't need Crowley getting any more involved in Hell's business than he already is.

At some point during the first month of the year, Crowley is seriously reconsidering his career-path. Maybe he should consider becoming an actual wedding planner. Sure, it's stressful as hell, but he sincerely doubts that any bridezilla would be worse than his current boss. Besides, he does enjoy looking through all those glossy magazines promising the best choices for rings/dress/make up/whatever.

It's very… cheerful.

He's an optimist and a romantic at heart and he knows it. Regardless of how bad his life has turned out, he can't help being one of those people who sees the glass as half-full. Which is the exact reason he is so determined to make Aziraphale stop being so pessimistic.

It's a difficult task, but he's willing to try.

However, he has to admit that after a whole day of skimming through wedding magazines, he's feeling slightly depressed. It's one thing to look at these things with Aziraphale at his side, making jokes and commenting on how she wouldn't be caught dead wearing those dresses or that hairstyle or so much makeup; it's an entirely different one to look at the pictures and think of how she'll look when she walks down to aisle, ready to marry a man that isn't him.

He knew he was in for heartbreak and he really doesn't regret having met her but it still hurts.

He closes the magazine he's currently reading and sighs. He's back at his apartment, with no company other than his plants. He stands up and paces around the place, willing himself to relax. His whole body is tense and he can feel the tears threating to fall at any moment. He won't cry, though. There's no point. He knew there was no future for them. Even if she wasn't engaged, there's really nothing there for him.

But as the date of the wedding draws closer, he starts getting more and more desperate. He's hoping Aziraphale will have a change of heart in the last minute. Heck, he's even considering showing up at the wedding and begging her not to get married. He also knows those are pointless thoughts; Aziraphale has made up her mind. She'll go through with it even if she's somewhat in love with him, because she believes it's for the best.

And remember. I'm always watching.

He shudders at the memory. Yes, it is probably be for the best. She'll be safe that way; isn't it more important that she's safe than having her by his side? Yes. However, it'd be so much easier to be selfish.

If he could have her; he'd keep up with his work. He wouldn't ever slack off again. He wouldn't give his sister a reason to punish him. He wouldn't let anyone hurt Aziraphale.

But in the end it doesn't really matters what he does or doesn't do. This was a damned love from the very beginning.

The sooner he understands that, the better.

I'm thinking of going ring shopping tomorrow. Thoughts? He texts Aziraphale as he stares blankly at the window. It's been a tiring week, but if he can see Aziraphale tomorrow, he'll be happy.

Sure. 9 o'clock?

He stares at his phone for a couple of minutes. 9 o'clock means waking up early and he really hates that. However, for Aziraphale?

Of course.

He heads towards his bedroom, his steps lighter and a small smile playing on his lips. Their situation might seem hopeless most of the time, but whenever he's with Aziraphale…

There's always hope.

The next morning, however, he realizes just how hopeless the situation is. He arrives to pick Aziraphale up and instead, ends up with Anathema on the passenger's side, because as it turns out, "Capitan Engel was called in for an urgent meeting."

He knows he has no right to feel angry. There are things beyond their control; a meeting with superiors is not something they get a say on. Still it is frustrating,

"So, how's working for the famous Capitan Engel?" he asks Anathema, in an effort to lighten up the mood. It's obvious she can feel the tension he emanates, but she has been quite civil regardless of his gruff greeting. The girl smiles,

"It's great; I never really pictured myself working for Heaven and even less as a Field Agent but I went with a friend to one of the Recruitment Fairs and after listening to Capitan Engel's speech… well, I was smitten. So I was quite excited to get the chance to work with her."

He nods absent-mindedly; that's new, he didn't know Aziraphale was one of Heaven's Recruitment Speakers, "Must be tiring for you."

"Oh, yes, quite," the young woman nods eagerly, "she does lots of things; they're always asking for her input on many of Heaven's biggest projects. Like today; she's going on a meeting with the people from Manchester, even though Manchester is part of the North Garrison territory…"

Manchester? What is Heaven planning on bloody Manchester? Really, Anathema should know by now that she's not supposed to speak about such things with people who are practically strangers. Then again, she thinks he's just a wedding-planner.

"I see. How long have you've been an intern, Miss Device?"

"A year." she informs him proudly, "I've got six more months to go by Capitan Engel's orders and then I'm going into a Training Camp. That's quite… exhausting, I've been told."

More deadly that exhausting, from what Crowley has heard. He looks at Anathema and doesn't think she'll make it, however, he doesn't comment,

"What does your boyfriend think?"

Anathema blushes furiously, "I haven't really discussed it with Newt. He's not… well, he believes field work is too dangerous."

"Huh. Well, I suppose his input doesn't matter that much."

Anathema doesn't answer and Crowley eyes her curiously. He really doesn't think his question needs quite so much thought,

"Actually, it does." She informs him after a while. "When we start a family…"

"Woah, wait a second." He interrupts her, perplexed, "You've been dating for like… what? Three months? And you're already thinking of starting a family?"

Anathema blushes some more, nervously playing with a lock of her dark hair,

"I know it sounds crazy. But we just… we're meant to be. I know it. I don't need to date him for a long time to know it for sure."

Crowley nods. He can relate, truly. He feels the same way towards Aziraphale, even if their situation is completely different and basically impossible. She's the one. He has known it from the moment he first saw her, even if it took him over a year (and the threat of her very imminent marriage) to force him to admit it to himself.

"Besides, I've got Grandma's Agnes prophecy to go by."

"Ah… What?"

Anathema laughs quietly,

"You're going to think I'm crazy but you see, Grandma Agnes Nutter was something of a Seer." Crowley arches an eyebrow and Anathema carries on, a big smile on her face, "she once told me that one day I would meet a boy, sleep with him right afterwards and spend the rest of my life with him." She blushes again, her voice a quiet whisper now, "Newt and I met at the Trainee's Party a year ago and…" she waves her hand meaningfully, making Crowley smirk, "anyway, I didn't think about it afterwards, even if I paid him more attention than necessary. And then when Capitan Engel asked me to pick some information from Mr. Archangel…"

Huh. He wonders if Aziraphale knows the full story. Probably not, but it doesn't really matter. Her match-making instincts are pretty good, it seems. "Good for you. Love is something quite… precious."

Anathema giggles happily and Crowley can't help to feel a little envious. "I know. Everyone should have the chance to experience it at least once in their lives."

"Yes, they should."

It's a dreadful thing that, in his particular case, he won't ever get the chance to experience it fully.

But it's not like he ever expected any different.

So... thoughts, anyone? Let me know what you think!