Roommates/Neighbours

"Warlock are you awake?" asked Crowley, giving his son a shake. "You're going to be late for school."

"I don't feel very well Dad," mumbled Warlock. Crowley pressed a hand to Warlock's forehead.

"You do have a temperature…" he rescinded. "It's probably just a cold though. I think you're fine to go to school."

It was at that exact moment that Warlock threw up all over Crowley's favourite pair of shoes.

Safe to say, Warlock would not be going to school that day.

That put Crowley in a difficult position. Warlock was too young to be left home alone – he was only eight years old – and Crowley didn't really know anyone who could watch the kid. He would have taken the day off work, but he didn't have any sick days left.

He was racking his brain for a solution; he gave Warlock his porridge. Warlock was disinterested in his food, which was worrying. "Are you not hungry kiddo?" he asked.

"Don't want to eat. I'll be sick again."

Crowley patted him on the shoulder. "Can you please try to eat a couple of bites for me? You'll feel worse later if you don't eat."

Warlock still seemed apprehensive. "I'll put some honey in your porridge if you promise to eat some for me," offered Crowley, just as he sent a message to Mrs Young asking if she could babysit Warlock for the day. Unfortunately, she couldn't because she was taking Adam to therapy and Mr Young was at work. How irritating.

His son perked up a little at the offer of something sweet. Crowley fetched the bottle of honey from the fridge and set it down on the kitchen table, just a little harder than he intended. Warlock jumped a little. "Are you mad at me daddy?" he asked between spoonsful of porridge. "I'm sorry I'm sick."

"I'm not mad at you, kiddo. You can't help being sick. It's just…" Warlock gave him an inquisitive look.

"You know how daddy had to do special lessons so I could look after you?" he said. Warlock nodded. "Well anyone who babysits you has to have the same lessons. And I can't find anyone to look after you because the only people I know who've done the lessons are Mr and Mrs Young."

He took a sip of his coffee and watched the gears turn in Warlock's mind.

"Adam told me that the new guy down the street looked after him when Anathema and Newt were busy last week. The one with the bookshop," Warlock said, poking his porridge around his bowl. Crowley messaged Mrs Young to confirm this fact and it turned out to be true.

A few minutes later, Crowley had managed to arrange for the town's bookseller to babysit Warlock. It was a good deal. The guy had a completely clean criminal record – without so much as a speeding ticket – had completed the training and he worked from home, meaning that he was available all day. Plus, he adored kids!

The only requests the guy had was that Warlock wash his hands before touching any of the books in the shop.

Warlock finished his breakfast and fetched his backpack from his room. Crowley had packed some books, including his favourite colouring book, and some colouring pencils. "Have you got your shoes on?" asked Crowley pulling on his boots and zipping them up on the side. Warlock fiddled with his laces before promptly giving up.

"Can you do it Daddy? I can't remember how."

Crowley crouched down and tied up the laces quickly. "You really need to learn how to tie your shoes Lock. You're nearly nine."

"It's hard! I can't remember all the steps and if I can remember them, they get all muddled up in my brain." Crowley stood up and dusted off his jeans. He wasn't exactly happy about how the house was often dirty or coated in dust, but he was a busy single father. All in all, he was lucky if he managed to sweep up once a week but with such a young kid (who tended to track in dirt as kids did) that did little to help.

"Come on kiddo," he said. "I need to drop you off at Mr Eden's shop early enough that I can get to work on time."

"Kay!"

Aziraphale had never heard much of this Anthony Crowley fella – granted he had only been living in Tadfield for two weeks. But Anathema said he was a good guy and Aziraphale could always trust her opinions on people.

There was a knock at the door. Aziraphale set down the books he was sorting and walked over to the door. He opened it up with a smile, laying his eyes upon what might just be the most attractive man he'd ever seen.

He was lean, tall, and dressed in a way that Aziraphale would call fashionable but still professional. His bright red hair was cropped short

"That you so much for this dude. I really owe you one," said Crowley, shooing Warlock toward Aziraphale. "Why don't you say hi Warlock?"

Warlock shuffled a little but didn't say anything. "Sorry. He's a bit shy."

"I was shy when I was his age. It's totally alright," responded Aziraphale, crouching down to Warlock's level. "I'm Aziraphale Eden," he said, introducing himself.

"I know who you are," said Warlock. "You looked after my friend Adam when his mum and dad were busy."

Aziraphale's smile brightened. "Adam is a lovely young man."

"I like him. He let me borrow his colouring pencils in class."

"Yeah? Do you have your pencils with you today?" he asked. Warlock gave a little nod. "That's good. I have some colouring sheets that you can do. How about you go set yourself up on that table over there while I talk to your Pa?"

Warlock smiled a little and wandered off, backpack in tow, leaving Crowley and Aziraphale alone together. "I should probably give you this," said Crowley, passing over a plastic bag. "Warlock's allergic to peanuts. He's usually fairly good at knowing what he isn't allowed to have but I've put his EpiPen in there just in case. It's in the box. His lunch is in the bag too. Do you…"

"Yes, I know how to use an EpiPen," reassured Aziraphale.

"Oh good. Guess I don't have to explain that then. And I know this probably goes without saying but Warlock has a lot of trauma. And I know we've taken all the same classes but just… be careful. He's my kid, you know? Don't hurt him."

"I would never."

Crowley waved goodbye to his son and set off for work and Aziraphale went to find those colouring sheets he had offered to Warlock.