Aziraphale was busy beginning the inventory of his books on a ladder. Meanwhile Magdiel (who had miracled a new outfit from a catalogue) sat on the settee, reading a book on human history of the last 100 years. They both looked up when there was a knock at the door.
"We're closed!" Aziraphale called from the ladder, not bothering to look at the entryway.
A high-pitched feminine voice called back, "It's Nanny Ashtoreth, dear!"
Aziraphale immediately climbed down the ladder and greeted his guest by ushering her in. He almost laughed at the sight. It had been years since Crowley had dressed as the nanny who had cared for Warlock, having retired it when the boy turned 11.
"Good afternoon, Brother Francis. It is good to see you again. I had no idea that you owned a bookshop." The tone was one of feigned surprise. Then 'she' noticed the girl standing behind him, "And who is this young lady?"
Aziraphale motioned Magdiel forward, putting his hands on her shoulders to reassure her, "This is my niece, Maggie." He gestured to the lady, "This is Nanny Ashtoreth. She was the nanny of the were the family I was gardener to for a few years."
Magdiel's face clouded, "I didn't know you were a gardener, Uncle Fell. I thought you always had this bookshop."
Aziraphale's face shifted as he tried to come up with a feasible explanation. "Yes, well I was assigned to look after the Dowling's child and see that he was-being led towards the Light." Well, it wasn't a total lie anyway. The angel decided to change the subject. "How is young Warlock, Nanny Ashtoreth?"
Now it was Crowley-Nanny Ashtoreth's turn to look a little crestfallen. 'She' pasted on a fake sad smile. "Ah, I'm afraid the boy is too grown up to need his nanny anymore. But I have found another family to serve since then. Today is my day off, so I decided to come to your bookshop."
Aziraphale nodded, "That's good." He grabbed a folded piece of paper, "I was wondering if you were free that you could do me a rather large favor." He rubbed the back of his neck.
The nanny's eyebrows rose. "Of course, dear."
He handed her the paper, "I'm going to be busy for the next few months with an inventory of my shop. I'm going to start today. I was wondering if you could pick me up a few things for tonight. I found a cookery book and am excited to try using it."
He handed her the list and some money. "I'd be glad to, Brother Francis. But you do know that grocery stores and restaurants deliver nowadays, right? You really must get with the 21st century, dear!" Nanny Ashtoreth waggled a finger and behind him, Magdiel giggled.
When Nanny Ashtoreth had exited the shop, Aziraphale turned to find Magdiel with a puzzled expression on her face. "Is there something wrong, Magdiel?'
She tilted her head, thinking for a moment. "I don't know. That lady seems odd. It feels like her aura is….well, evil."
Aziraphale's shoulders stiffened, but then relaxed. "Perhaps she's a Satanist. I've encountered them a few times over the centuries. It's probably nothing." He tried to begin a smile. Of course, even a low level Angel could feel the presence of a demon, even if he or she never encountered one before in their existence. "Now, I know you were busy reading, but I was wondering if you could help me pull books off the shelves?"
Nearly half an hour later, there was a knock at the door. "Please come in if that's you, Nanny Ashtoreth!" Aziraphale shouted from a far off bookcase, again coming to meet her.
The nanny came in holding two full paper bags of groceries that Aziraphale immediately relieved of her. "Thank you for doing this for me, Nanny Ashtoreth, I really do appreciate it. " When 'she' nodded in the affirmative, he replied. " I'll go and put these away, shall I?"
When Nanny Ashtoreth and Magdiel were alone, an awkward silence hung in the air.
"So," the Nanny began, "You're Mr. Fell's niece then? How long are you staying in London?"
Magdiel looked flustered, "Em...four months. I'm-going to school and Uncle Ezra offered to take me in."
Nanny Ashtoreth nodded. "That was very kind of him."
Aziraphale soon returned and chatted about some new first edition books that he was eager to get his hands on. When the Nanny enquired what Magdiel was studying, Aziraphale blurted out, "Theology."
"That is an interesting line of study." Nanny Ashtoreth commented mildly, then looked at her watch. "I'm afraid I'll have to go. Things to do, you see."
"Thank you again for your help today, Nanny Ashtoreth," Aziraphale said, guiding her to the door. "Please feel free to come by if you have some free time."
After she had left the shop. Aziraphale saw that Magdiel was once again pensive. "What is the matter, my dear?"
The younger angel just shook her head. "It's probably nothing, but I could have sworn that her eyes look yellow. Like a serpent would have." she shuddered.
"Magdiel," Aziraphale sighed, "If...she makes you feel uneasy, I won't invite her again." Even in disguise, Crowley could not fool the other Angel He would not allow Crowley to enter the bookshop, lest his true self be revealed and he would be reported to Heaven. The thought made him bite his lip. He tried to begin a smile. "How about I do some miracling while I show you some of the city?"
Magdiel's blue eyes lit up. "Yes please!"
After putting on their coats, they walked about the streets while Magdiel took in the sights and sounds of a modern Earth city. Aziraphale couldn't help but be amused by her amazement, after all he had seen London grow from wooden homes and stone fortifications to its present ultra sleek facades.
I wonder where I should take her first? He wondered. He and Crowley had lived in London for nearly 400 years and knew the streets like the back of their hand. Suddenly it occurred to him just where they should go.
It hadn't taken long for the pair to reach The British Museum. On the way, Aziraphale miracled money into the purse of a woman who was bemoaning that she thought she had more, stopped a runaway buggy, and miracled a loaf of bread to a homeless man.
Three miracles in one day, that's better than my average Aziraphale thought to himself, making a mental note of them to write down for his report. It still annoyed him that he had to dance to the strings of Heaven's bureaucracy after being cut off from it following the events at Lower Tadfield.
It had not escaped Aziraphale's notice that he knew that they were being followed by something during their sojourn. It was fairly subtle too. Aziraphale noticed a circular shadow from the corner of his eye, but whenever he turned his head to look, it disappeared from sight. Knowing that it wasn't just his imagination made the angel feel uneasy. Was this Hell? Or was it Heaven keeping tabs on him? He shook his head. Heaven wasn't made of shadows, so it could only be the former.
"Come, child." He said, gesturing the younger angel up the steps to the museum while she had been busy gawking at the scale of the exterior.
They spent the entire afternoon in the British Museum, Aziraphale guiding Magdiel around the various eras in human history. Luckily, they were both angels, so neither got tired, therefore the pair spent hours looking at the exhibits. As Aziraphale had been present during most of Earth's past, he happily explained where he was during each era, and its significance to humans, much to the awe of Magdiel.
They reluctantly but happily exited with the rush of tourists as the museum closed. Sunset began to descend over the city, casting a golden shadow over everything.
"Let's get back to the bookshop." Aziraphale said.
Aziraphale was wary during the entire trip back to the shop. He always tried to look with the corner of his eye, or discreetly look over his shoulder to see if there was anyone following them, but found nothing. He let his body relax as they finally made it.
He was surprised to find a small package addressed to him. In the corner was an "A" with Crowley's residence on it. Clever demon Aziraphale thought to himself.
"What's that, Aziraphale?" Magdiel asked curiously, swinging her eyes first to the box, then to him.
He shrugged and smiled sheepishly. "Don't know. Guess I'll find out." He laughed.
After unlocking the door and stepping inside, he placed the box on his register desk and, taking a mail opener, sliced it open. Under a small mountain of paper was a black sleek mobile phone. He read the note which said: "I've set up the phone for you, including the wifi." Aziraphale's eyebrows knit together. He had often heard Crowley complain about the book shop not having wifi, though what it was had mistified him. He read further. "Password is 'garden' and my number is already programmed in.' There were more instructions on how to do something called 'text', research on the 'internet', and how to order food from the grocers and restaurants.
"Brother Aziraphale?" Magdiel's voice half startled him from his reading.
He stuffed the phone in his pocket, deciding to call Crowley later. "Yes, my dear?" he half turned around.
"I was wondering about something." She began. He raised his chin in a signal for her to continue. "I was looking at what people were wearing while we were out today. I can't help but notice that your clothes are a bit...out of fashion."
Aziraphale raised his shoulders, not perturbed by the question. "That's what's nice about this century, Magdiel. Anyone can wear whatever fashion suits them, be it modern, or old-fashioned." He glanced at the clock, "My goodness, it's time to start dinner. Would you like to help me?"
In the cramped kitchenette, Aziraphale looked at a recipe for Shepherd's pie from a yellowing cookbook with his spectacles on, while Magdiel was busy cutting the potatoes.
"Aziraphale?" She asked, still concentrating on her task, "May I ask you something?"
"Certainly." He replied, though he didn't take his eyes off the page.
"Why do you wear glasses? You're an Angel, so you have no use for them, right?"
At this, Aziraphale did chuckle a little, then took them off. "I suppose that I have gotten used to wearing them to blend in to humanity, that I forgot that my vision is well..perfect."
During dinner, Magdiel was pensive. Aziraphale shifted slightly. "Is the food not to your liking? Maybe you're just not used to eating mortal food."
"It's okay, I guess. You're right, I'm just not used to it yet." Magdiel commented.
"I suppose you are just unaccustomed to anything that isn't heaven based. It's alright. I can cook for myself if you don't want to eat." Aziraphale said quietly.
If Crowley were here, he wouldn't hesitate to try his cooking, even tease the angel about it a bit. Even ask aloud why he was trying to cook, for which he would have replied 'for fun!' That sentiment sent a flood of cold down his stomach. Suddenly, the food did not taste good, it seemed heavy in his body. He did continue to eat however, trying not to look as though he was uncomfortable. Internally, Aziraphale wondered if Gabriel warned her about the ills of eating what he called gross matter.
"By the way, there's a bedroom upstairs if you want it." he pointed to the upper floor.
"I don't sleep. Angels don't sleep. Surely you know that." Magdiel replied coolly.
Aziraphale shifted slightly. "Of course, but I thought you might like some place for privacy." He attempted a chuckle, "Surely you don't want to watch me turn pages and organize books all day."
"Thank you." she said awkwardly, smiling shyly, "I've never had my own quarters before, actually."
"It has a nice window seat to look out on to the city. You know the phrase 'Fools rush in where angels fear to tread?' " She looked confused, but Aziraphale laughed. "That's what Soho was like from the 60's onward. It was...well not a reputable place for an angel to dwell. For a time it was a place of disrepute, and now it's less so...more metropolitan. Lots of cafes and shops."
They finished dinner, and Aziraphale gathered the dishes. "Why don't you get settled upstairs, and I'll do the dishes? If there are any books on the bed, just move them aside, and I'll put them somewhere else, later."
"Thank you, brother Aziraphale!" She replied, running up the stairs, closing the door with a loud click. He craned his neck to see if he was alone, then pulled out his phone. He read the instructions
-A.: Are you there?
-F: yes, finally have a moment to talk. She's busy upstairs setting up the spare bedroom.
-A: You let her have your room?!
-F: Well, I had to. Only way I could have the privacy to write to you.
-A: Text, it's texting, angel.
-F: Whatever. she's….asking a lot of questions.
-A: So? She's never been to Earth has she?
-F: About me. I'm wondering if she is trying to figure out what kind of angel I am, or if I'm even acting like one.
-A: Don't worry, just keep in contact with me. I'll try to help.
-F: Don't think you should come by again. She saw your eyes.
-A: SHIT!
-F: Language, dear.
-A: Sorry. I'll come up with a game plan. I think she's not all she says she is, especially if she's working for Gabriel.
F: Thank you, my dear, goodnight.
A: 'Night, Angel.
Above him on the second story landing, Magdiel had silently miracled herself out of her room. She carefully replaced her own phone in her pocket, and pursed her lips.
Tbc….
a/n: I'm sorry that it took so long to write this. I didn't know how to move the conversation along for a while.