What the fuck just happened?! Was he really running away from the potential love of his life? He never in a million years would have suspected the angel to be the one to try and change their relationship. Truth was Crowley was scared. Scared that it was a passing fancy, or that the angel had been the victim of a body swap. No, he'd smell the difference. Unlike Heaven, he knew what Aziraphale smelled like; fresh cotton with a hint of coconut. A scent he'd taken comfort in being near over the years.

Being around Aziraphale was always the highlight of his day, highlight of many millennia if he was honest.

Looking up he realised he'd managed to drive the whole way home barely looking at the road. His demonic car saved his skin yet again.

He needed to curl up and sleep. Things might look better in the morning, which seemed like a weird idea considering his best friend, who he'd wanted for 6000 bloody years just declared their love for him. He should be over the moon. But he didn't deserve it. And that was the biggest problem, how could he accept something so pure?

He couldn't even be bothered to miracle his way inside so he trudged up the stairs to his flat.

A residual smell of sulphur caused him to hesitate. He hadn't smelt that after Hastur's visit earlier. Maybe he just hadn't been paying attention. He really needed to get a handle on his mind. Passing through his front door his strength had almost run out completely. Frowning he disrobed and crawled into bed feeling as weak as a newborn kitten. Something wasn't right but he was too tired to think on it. It did occur to him that the scent of sulphur may have been too recent but as soon as the brought appeared it vanished again leaving him to fall into a deep sleep.

XxXxX

Aziraphale wasn't panicking. He really wasn't. Just because he hadn't heard from Crowley in nearly 3 days didn't mean the demon had vanished on him. He wouldn't, surely. He'd tried ringing him numerous times but had had no reply.

He'd tried to convince himself he didn't need to check up on him but the longer it went on the more concerned he became.

Pacing his shop again he stared at the door, waiting for that bell to tinkle and that demon to stroll in, dressed in black jeans that were far too tight to be comfortable, hips swaying in that mesmerising way.

He found himself smiling at the fantasy before shaking his head clear. Something wasn't right. Usually if Crowley was going to disappear he'd let him know. What if Hastur has returned? What if they'd worked out their deception?

No, he had to go and check on him and if that made the Demon angry then so be it, he should return his calls.

XxXxX

Aziraphale anxiously twisted his ring as he hastily climbed the stairs to Crowley's floor. As he stepped out of the stairwell he was assaulted by a metallic tang in the air and his unnecessary heart stuttered.

For the first time in a millennia he actually ran to his destination, the scent getting stronger.

"No, no, no, no, no, no. Oh please no," he prayed to whoever might be listening that he was wrong.

He stumbled to a stop outside Crowley's front door and his heart leapt into his chest. He could feel it and smell it. The demon's front door frame had been blessed.

"Crowley?!" he shouted as he hammered on the door. "Crowley?! Open the door. Are you alright?!" He was hoping against hope that it had happened after Crowley had returned home but the lack of contact didn't bode well. Looking around he made sure no one was around before he miracled himself inside.

"Crowley?! Answer me!" He went from room to room looking for his friend, frantically flinging doors open until he found him curled in a ball under his duvet, trembling and muttering nonsense. "Oh my dear boy! We have to get you out of here. Can you hear me? Your front door has been blessed and I'm assuming that's not a good thing."

There was no discernible or coherent response.

"Come on Aziraphale," the angel said, "we need to get him in some clothes and home. Right…" He quickly miracled the demon into some comfortable clothes and grabbed his sunglasses before tackling his biggest immediate problem; how to move him.

"Oh Crowley, dear. I wish you could help me, I'm feeling rather useless right now." He sighed as he tried to think of the best way to move the demon. He didn't think he was capable of miracling them both all the way back to the bookshop and still be able to function. It took a lot of energy to travel that far normally, but with a powerless passenger, and a demon at that, he would be in no fit state to care for him.

"Oh dear oh dear." He twisted his ring again as his eyes flitted about the room for inspiration. Finally he noticed Crowley's car keys on the bedside table. He was sure they hadn't been there before.

"Oh, oh thank you dear boy," he breathed assuming the demon had managed a small miracle. Snatching them up he hoisted Crowley up and miracled them down to the Bentley.

Once he had his friend settled he was glad he hadn't tried to get them all the way home, he was exhausted just from getting them downstairs. He put the keys in the ignition and waited.

"Now, how do you do this? I suppose it's going to be a crash course in driving. Oh, oh dear that was a poor choice of words. Hmmm maybe you could get us home old friend? To my home I mean," he patted the steering wheel affectionately, after all the car was infused with demonic energy. A few moments passed before the car burst to life. "Oh thank you!" The angel grinned. "To the bookshop please. I think we'll be safe there."

"Ngk," came from Crowley, his fingers weakly twitching as the car pulled away.

As they raced through London, Aziraphale had to close his eyes. Being in the passenger seat on one of Crowley's drives was bad enough but being in the driver's set with no control was truly terrifying. Thankfully it didn't take long to get home and Aziraphale miracled them inside, laying his charge in his own bed.

Crowley looked paler now than he had at his flat. No doubt the small miracles he'd performed hadn't done him any good physically. The angel watched him nervously as his trembling increased, he wasn't sure the demon could even hear him now. He felt cold to the touch when usually he was so warm so Aziraphale found every blanket he could and wrapped them around his demon.

"Oh dearest. This was Hastur wasn't it? He must've found someone to bless your front door. Why didn't you call me, you silly demon?!" He tried healing but it didn't seem to have much effect other than lessen the tremors. He sighed and sat heavily on the side of the bed, smoothing Crowley's hair back from his face. "I think I'm going to need help and there's only one person who might just be able to help."

XxXxX

It took some time to find a phone number but find it he did. Nothing could get between an angel and his prize.

"Miss Device? I'm terribly sorry to bother you. It's Aziraphale, you might remember me from.."

"Stopping the end of the world," she finished.

"Well, yes."

"You must be the angel."

"Indeed. I'm in a spot of bother and I really think you're the only one that might possibly be able to help."

Aziraphale explained his predicament and was pleasantly surprised when she insisted they come to Tadfield immediately before he'd even finished his story. "I'll get him bundled up and in the car straight away. Thank you Miss Device."

A few miracles later and the pair were on the road again, Crowley's demonic car taking charge once more, with a weak encouragement from its owner.

XxXxX

"But why are they coming here?" Newt questioned. "I mean is it safe? Are we safe having a demon under our roof?"

"A demon who helped stop Armageddon," she corrected. "Look. They need my help. It's the least I can do."

"But why? I mean it's not like we sat back and did nothing."

"I'm a witch, Newt. Healing and help go with the title. Besides if this is the beginning a retribution from either side wouldn't it be better to have them on our side?"

Newt was unconvinced.

"Look the minute they arrive I'll place wards around the cottage ok? We'll be safe," she assured him, pressing a light kiss to his nose.

The heard the car arrive as it screeched to a halt. Anathema was first out of the door as she saw Aziraphale stumble out of the car.

"Do you need help?"

"Where should I put him?"

"Spare room, top of the stairs to the left," she told him and in the blink of an eye the three of them were inside.

"Terribly sorry. That must have seemed extremely rude. It was just the fastest and easier way to get him inside," Aziraphale explained as he swayed slightly on his feet.

"Are you alright?"

"Oh yes quite. Transporting an unconscious demon like that is just rather a drain on the old battery. I'll be fine in a moment."

Anathema was looking Crowley over. She reached out and touched his face. "Hmm cold and clammy."

"He needs to be warm. He's still a bit serpentine in nature."

"Thought you might need these," Newt puffed as he brought in the fallen blankets from the car.

"Oh yes! Thank you," the angel breathed, taking the bundle from him and laying them gently over his demon.

"Serpentine?" Anathema queried.

"Oh dear. Yes. He can transform into a snake. Um he's actually The snake, from the garden."

"The garden?" Newt raised his eyebrows.

"Yes, Eden," Aziraphale replied, as if it was the most obvious thing on the planet.

"Wait. You're saying he is the demon from Eden? The snake who tempted Adam and Eve with the Apple?"

"Yes, quite so. And he's my…. very dear friend. He's not a bad demon. Well truth be told he's quite appalling at being a demon. Far too nice, although he'd never admit it. Still something of the angel he was in there I think," He sighed as he gazed at his friend. "Do you think you can help? I've tried healing him but nothing much seems to happen. I suppose an angel isn't meant to heal a demon." He bit his bottom lip when he thought it might tremble.

"It might take some time. Let me place wards around the house, make sure we have no unwelcome visitors and I'll come back with the books."

Aziraphale nodded, not trusting his voice and gave her a small smile.

"We'll find something. I'm sure of it," she assured him, squeezing his shoulder as she and Newt left the room.

Aziraphale sighed and pulled a stool from the corner of the room, placing it beside the bed.

"Are you warm enough, dear boy? I know, I know, you'd tell me to stop fussing. But that's the problem isn't it? You can't tell me." He reached under the pile of blankets and took hold of one of Crowley's hands. "We will fix this. And when we do, and you're fit again we are not going to let them get away with it." There was a harshness to his voice that was seldom heard and it registered somewhere in Crowley's mind, because his fingers twitched slightly in the angel's hand.

Aziraphale choked back a cry of relief that Crowley was still in there, he hadn't discorperated, there was still hope. "As a Principality you'd think I'd have more power. You'd think I could reverse this confounded blessing. Very cunning, blessing a door rather than you. I hate to think what would have happened if you'd been blessed physically." He swallowed down the lump in his throat. "Don't leave me on my own Crowley. Please? I know it's a selfish ask but, I need you to stay."

XxXxX