A few nights later, there came a knock on Aziraphale's bedroom door. Aziraphale looked up from his book, concerned that Crawly had suffered another nightmare.

"You can come in, my dear."

The door swung open, revealing Crawly stood awkwardly in the hallway.

Aziraphale remembered that there was a ward protecting his bedroom doorway, and so he quickly lowered it. "Sorry, the ward is down now. Feel free to come in."

"Thank you," Crawly said, taking a few steps into the room. "Sorry to bother you. I was just closing my curtains when I saw the stars. They're really clear tonight. Do you mind if I go outside to get a better look?"

Crawly looked so hopeful that Aziraphale wouldn't have been able to say no even if he'd wanted to.

"Of course you can."

Crawly's face lit up. "Thank you," he said before dashing away downstairs.

Aziraphale tried to get back to reading, but Crawly's enthusiasm was contagious and he found himself going downstairs to join him. After all, when was the last time he had really looked at the stars? He switched on the kettle as he went through the kitchen, and glanced at the clock. It was almost 11pm.

Crawly was stood in the middle of the courtyard, gazing upwards happily.

"Would you like some cocoa?" Aziraphale asked.

"Yes, please."

Shortly after, Aziraphale brought the drinks outside and they sat together at the little table.

Crawly pulled his cocoa close, but his attention was still on the starry night sky, a smile on his face.

"Pretty, aren't they," Aziraphale said.

"Thanks," said Crawly, which seemed an odd response. "I kinda wish I'd made them bigger though. So much of the detail is lost this far away. But it's really good to be able to see them like this, knowing everyone on Earth can see them too."

Aziraphale's eyes widened in surprise. "You made them?"

"Oh. Yeah. Sorry, I assumed you knew. I was head designer."

Aziraphale gazed at Crawly in wonder, glad to have learnt something about his life before the Fall. They hadn't known each other back when they were both angels, and as curious as Aziraphale felt it had seemed rude to ask about his old life. "Well, you did a wonderful job."

"Thank you."

"The humans are fascinated by the stars, you know. They have built huge telescopes to get a better look. And they have published lots of books that are full of photographs of outer-space. You can have a look through my books later if you like."

Crawly's face lit up. "Thanks, I'd like that!" He took a sip of his drink then put the mug down and pointed up at the sky. "You see that star over there? The super bright one above the treetops? That's one of my favourites. You can't tell from here, but it's actually two stars circling each other."

"Oh! Alpha Centauri," said Aziraphale, glad that he'd recently watched a television documentary about the stars, as well as having read a lot of books on the matter over the centuries.

"Alpha what?"

"Alpha Centauri. That's what the humans call it. They named the stars and the constellations. It's also known as Rigil Kentaurus, which means, 'foot of the centaur.'"

Crawly let out an amused laugh. "What do my twin stars have to do with centaurs?"

It's a part of a constellation called Centaurus. The stars are in the shape of a centaur."

Crawly looked astonished, and immediately gazed up at the sky. "Well, that was entirely accidental on my part. Unless one of the other angels rearranged things without my noticing." He frowned. "I can't see it…"

"It does take a certain amount of imagination, I suppose. I couldn't see it at first. It's probably easier if I fetch a book about the stars from my shop – I'll be right back. Let's nip into the kitchen for a bit so we can look at the pictures in the light."

"Sure," said Crawly, picking up his half-finished drink and carrying it into the kitchen. He put it down on the table.

Aziraphale walked away into the hall and then opened the door to the bookshop. He hesitated, and then turned towards Crawly. "You can come with me if you want - into the shop I mean."

It made sense to have Crawly look through the books himself, rather than Aziraphale carrying a bunch of them through into the kitchen for him to choose from. Besides, he'd been thinking for a while that it was about time to show Crawly the bookshop. It would be nice to be able to have Crawly in there with him while he was working.

Crawly stood up hesitantly. "Yes, please."

Aziraphale lowered the ward and led the way into the bookshop, feeling oddly nervous, which was silly really. He trusted Crawly. Besides, he let the general public in here, and nobody was more untrustworthy than them.

Crawly moved carefully through the shop, his hands clasped together in front of him as though worried he might accidently knock something over as they moved past the bookcases.

They emerged into an open space in the centre of the shop, surrounded by pillars on all sides. Crawly made an awed sound as he gazed upwards at the domed glass ceiling. Sunlight usually lit up this area, but now stars shone high above them.

"Your shop is beautiful," Crawly whispered.

"Oh, thank you," said Aziraphale, a delighted blush colouring his cheeks. Nobody had ever complimented his shop before, not even Gabriel when he had first visited.

"And I've never seen so many books!"

Aziraphale showed him around, and then they eventually got back to their original aim.

Aziraphale led Crawly to the astronomy section – a single shelf on a bookcase.

Some of the books showed the different constellations and Crawly seemed both fascinated and amused by what the humans had seen in the positioning of the stars. They found a couple of books that were full of photos taken from the Hubble Space Telescope and Crawly flicked through those, utterly spellbound.

They went back outside with one of the books, and together they found Centaurus in the night sky.

Soon, it was 3am and Crawly was struggling to keep his eyes open. "I'd better call it a night. Thanks for coming outside with me, and for showing me your shop and all the books. It's been fun."

"I've enjoyed it too," Aziraphale said with a warm smile. He was still smiling when he returned to his room to finish the book he'd been reading.

Crawly was pleased to be allowed into the bookshop again the next day. The place seemed even grander in the daylight, with sunbeams shining down from the domed window onto the faded rug below.

They spent most of the afternoon re-stocking the bookcases, and Crawly found working with Aziraphale lots of fun. They talked as they worked and the hours flew past.

"When was the last time you opened the shop to customers?" Crawly asked as he sorted through the final pile of books that needed shelving.

"Only a few days before you arrived, so it's been over a month. How time flies! But I'm in no rush to open again. I've been thinking… it might be nice for you to nip into the shop one day when there are humans here. That way you could get used to being around them before we go out into the street. That is, if you would still like to."

Crawly's heart raced with both excitement and nerves at the thought of being around humans, let alone outdoors among them. "I'd definitely like to, but what about my eyes? Will the humans be scared of them?"

"I imagine they'd probably assume you're wearing contact lenses. They might stare - or ask questions. But I can use a miracle to stop them noticing your eyes, and to stop them noticing you altogether if that would make you more comfortable to start with."

Crawly didn't like the idea of Aziraphale being forced to use miracles every time humans were around, but he supposed there was no other option.

Exhausted after all of their work, they ordered Chinese food to be delivered and then ate it in the kitchen.

Before long they were sat in a companionable silence in the sitting room, both of them reading. Crowley was looking through one of the space books from last night - Aziraphale had allowed him to keep them, and they now lived in one of his desk drawers - and Aziraphale was engrossed in a novel and giving him regular updates on the plot.

Crowley wanted to ask him for a favour, but he didn't want to disturb him from his reading. It was only when Aziraphale looked away from his book long enough to pick up his teacup and take a sip that Crowley dared to ask.

"Aziraphale?"

"Yes, dear boy?"

"Would you- Can I have my wings out please?"

"Oh! Yes, of course," Aziraphale said, a guilty look on his face. "Sorry. I ought to have offered."

"It's alright. I never really thought about it before now."

The truth was, Crowley had only recently felt comfortable enough around Aziraphale to want him to do this.

"I confess… it felt rather invasive when I did it last time," said Aziraphale worriedly. "Did- Did it hurt?"

"Nah. It only made me jump."

Aziraphale looked relieved. "Alright. Shall I do it now? Are you ready?"

Crowley nodded. "Yeah."

Black wings sprang forth and Crowley let out a contented sigh. He stretched them wide, feathers brushing against the back of the sofa.

Michael had allowed him to have his wings out whenever he asked – unless she was in a particularly foul mood – but Sandalphon had never allowed it. He'd said that only angels should be allowed to have wings, demons didn't deserve to have them. In the last hundred years, he'd only ever had his wings out in the Demon Rehoming House.

"Thank you."

"You're welcome. You can ask me anytime you'd like to have your wings out."

Aziraphale shuffled forward in his seat and then his wings appeared too, a wing hanging down on either side of the armchair.

The angel's feathers were the purest white, and they reminded Crowley of how his own feathers used to look before the Fall. He felt oddly homesick and nostalgic, remembering his old life.

Aziraphale beamed. "Oh, this is nice. I don't have my wings out very often. In fact, I've become so used to not having them out that I tend to forget myself and knock things over when I do!" Aziraphale chuckled. "You don't realise how big wings are until you try to manoeuvre around a cramped little bookshop!"

For the rest of the evening they read with their wings out. Crowley couldn't help but think what an odd sight they must look.

Crowley ran his fingers through his feathers, tidying them as best he could though he couldn't reach all the way back. Perhaps it would be nice to have Aziraphale preen his wings for him - and to return the favour - but it didn't feel right to ask. Besides, as fond as he had become of Aziraphale recently he still didn't feel ready for that level of physical contact between them.

As the sky turned dark outside, Crowley stood up to go to bed.

"Shall I put your wings away for you?" Aziraphale asked.

"Is it okay if I keep them out?"

"Of course. I'll be in here all night reading, so if you change your mind later just let me know."

"Thank you. Good night, angel."

"Good night."

That night, Crowley curled up in bed and fell asleep with his wings wrapped around himself.

The next morning Aziraphale awoke in his armchair, feeling confused. He had only meant to rest his eyes for a moment. He hadn't intended to fall asleep.

Unlike Crawly, Aziraphale didn't need to sleep, and so he always felt guilty whenever he did so. It felt like he had wasted precious time. The clock on the wall told him that it was 8am - he had been napping for hours.

There came the sound of the kitchen door opening far below, and he realised that Crawly must be heading outside into the courtyard.

Aziraphale's book was still open on his lap and so he picked it up, intending to read it again, but now he found himself considering the merits of a morning coffee. He shifted in his seat, feeling uncomfortable, and then he freed his wings from where they had been pressed tightly against the back of the armchair.

Crawly must still have his wings out too - he would not be able to put them away himself. It was a relief to know that none of the neighbours would be able to see into their little garden and spot him. But then Aziraphale realised that if Crawly flew high enough then the humans would be able to spot him from their windows. Even worse, Aziraphale had forgotten to put a ward above the garden. If Crawly wanted to he could easily fly away.

Heart racing, Aziraphale leapt from his seat, his book tumbling to the ground. He almost tripped over it as he ran across the room, knocking over a vase with one wing and a pile of books with the other.

He ran from the room, letting out a pained sound as his wings caught against the doorframe. Frustrated with himself, he folded his wings in close, and then he raced along the corridor and down the stairs.

But surely Crawly wouldn't try to escape? Humans would see him, and where would he even go? They both knew what Heaven would do if another angel found him before Aziraphale did.

Gabriel's words echoed in his mind - demons are cunning and manipulative. Perhaps Crawly had realised there was no ward, and had asked to have his wings out on purpose in order to escape. Crawly knew he could go into the courtyard unaccompanied whenever he wanted, and once he realised Aziraphale was asleep it was the perfect opportunity.

No, surely Crawly would never betray him like that. They were friends. Weren't they? Crawly seemed to like living here, but he was still being held captive - no matter how nicely he was treated – and so it was only natural that he would want to be free.

Aziraphale stepped out into the garden, fearing the worst, but there stood Crawly, watering can in hand and his wings folded tidily behind him.

Crawly turned towards him with a smile on his face - which instantly dropped away. "What's the matter? Did I do something wrong?"

"No. Not at all," Aziraphale reassured him. Then he decided to tell half of the truth. "I was just worried that if you flew high enough the neighbours might see you. It would certainly give them a shock!"

Crawly's brow creased in confusion. "Fly?"

"Yes. I have no problem with you having a fly around, of course, but don't go too high. No higher than the top of that tree over there. Just in case the neighbours are peeking through their windows. I'll just put a ward at the perfect height..."

He started chanting, and the ward formed above them, invisible to the human eye. He hoped it wasn't too obvious that he'd never put a ward up there in the first place.

"There you go. Feel free to take flight," Aziraphale said, taking a step back to give Crawly room. He thought he might even have a go himself - it had been a while after all.

But Crawly didn't move and he seemed uncomfortable. Perhaps he didn't want to fly. Aziraphale felt like a fool - he had convinced himself so completely that Crawly might try to fly away that he had assumed flying was something Crawly wanted to do. The poor thing looked bewildered.

"Only if you want to of course," Aziraphale added quickly. "You don't have to."

"I- I can't fly," Crawly said in a quiet voice.

"You can't?"

Aziraphale looked at Crawly's wings in confusion. They looked strong and healthy. If his feathers had ever been clipped then they had certainly grown back in, so Aziraphale couldn't see any reason why he shouldn't be able to fly. Perhaps his previous owners had lied to him.

"How come you can't fly?" Aziraphale asked.

"Demons can't fly," Crawly said. "The tablets stop our powers, and we can't fly without our powers. I'm too heavy for my wings to lift me. I've tried it before – when I lived with Michael - and it's no use."

"Oh," said Aziraphale, feeling foolish and wishing he'd paid more attention when he'd been reading the manual, but in his defence there had been an awful lot to take in. "Sorry. I didn't realise."

He had never really thought about how he was able to fly, but now he really thought about it, the physics were all wrong. He had always taken for granted that he could fly, just as he took for granted that he didn't need to sleep, eat or breathe.

Crawly gave him a smile, as if to say that it was okay, that he was not offended, but there was a sadness in his eyes that broke Aziraphale's heart.

"What if I try using my powers to give you the ability to fly? Would you like to fly again?"

Crawly stared at him. "R- Really? Yes, please, I'd like that a lot!"

"Alright, I'll try. Are you ready?"

Crawly nodded. He seemed nervous, but also excited.

With a thought, Aziraphale used a miracle to bestow Crawly with the power of flight.

Aziraphale moved back to give Crawly space. "Did it work?"

"I- I feel different. I think it might have worked. Shall I try?"

Aziraphale nodded.

Crawly flapped his wings a few times, as though to test them, and then he flapped them again, but faster this time, and his feet left the ground by a few inches. He let out a sound of surprise. His wings stilled, and then he dropped back to the ground, staggering slightly as he regained his balance.

Crawly turned towards Aziraphale, a huge grin on his face. "It worked! I was actually flying for a second! Thank you! I'll try it again…"

Crawly's wings started to flap again, and this time he jumped up into the air, wings working furiously to keep him airborne. Crawly was wobbly and unsure of himself at first, until, soon, he was hovering, his eyebrows creased together in concentration.

It was like watching a young bird take flight for the first time.

"Shit!" Crawly gasped as he started to veer to one side. He managed to correct himself, wings beating frantically.

"You're doing very well," Aziraphale called up to him. "If you fall, I'll catch you with my powers like a safety net. Don't worry."

"Thanks," Crawly said between quick breaths. "Guess I'm rusty at this. It's been a while."

6000 years, Aziraphale realised with a start. No wonder he was so unsure of himself.

Crawly flew higher, wings flapping at speed, and Aziraphale had to tilt his head back to watch him, gusts of air blowing against his face with each wing beat.

There was a look of determination on Crawly's face, his confidence buoyed, but then he ended up flying a little too close to the bookshop, and half-collided, half-landed on the windowsill of the upstairs sitting room.

Crawly turned around awkwardly, and looked down at Aziraphale with an embarrassed grin.

"Would you like some assistance getting down?" Aziraphale called up to him, giving him a fond smile.

Crawly shook his head, a look of steely resolve on his face. He stepped from the window ledge and glided down, hovering several feet off the ground for a moment before landing.

Crawly was panting, clearly exhausted, but with a huge grin on his face. "That was incredible! I could feel the air through my wings again! I never thought-" he broke off, his voice cracking with emotion. He gazed at Aziraphale with such adoration that Aziraphale felt his cheeks blush.

Crawly sat down heavily at the little table. "Sure takes it out of you," he said after a moment, letting out a chuckle. "Thank you, Aziraphale. The last time I did that I was still an angel."