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A/N: 1/10 done! Only 90 more chapters to go! Aren't you proud of me?

010. Years

Gabriel sighed as he finally got back into the apartment he shared with his lover. His day had definitely been a tiring one, and he wanted nothing as much as to rest without any disturbances. Therefore, he wasn't exactly joyful as Raphael came to him, a broad smile on his face, and informed him that they had a guest.

"Who is it?" he snapped irritably. "And can't they wait for, well, another few months or so? Because I now plan to go to sleep and not wake up before summer at the very least."

"Now, that's not really possible," he heard a familiar, yet disturbingly unidentifiable voice from the next room. "You see, I'll soon have to return to Earth."

Earth? That word definitely tugged at Gabriel's curiosity. As far as he knew, there was only one being on Earth who might come to visit them, and he was...

"Aziraphale!" he exclaimed when his little brother came to view. "Oh, how I've missed you!"

The young angel gave him a cheeky grin. "So you can postpone your little nap for some time, then?" he asked teasingly, earning a good-natured huff from the Heavenly Messenger.

Gabriel hadn't seen Aziraphale for years. The last time he had set his eyes on his little brother had been when Aziraphale was walking out of Heaven, his head held proudly up, refusing to take shame in his change in rank. He could still remember the long hair, glittering in the light like stranded gold, golden armour shining, the departing angel every bit the best warrior of the cherubim order even if he was now a mere principality.

Now, Aziraphale had certainly changed during his lonely years on Earth. The once perfectly neat honey-golden hair was now just a messy bunch of wavy locks, tied back with a piece of string. His body was nowadays a bit rounder -- thanks to eating, no doubt -- although he was still fit as ever, travelling around the Earth all the time. There were a few smudges of dirt in the human-fashioned clothes he now wore instead of his perfectly spotless armour, and his eyes, which Gabriel knew to in reality be heavenly blue, appeared more bluish grey. Even a couple of freckles had found their way onto his delicate skin. All in all, he didn't look much like the angel general he had once been.

However, there was a sparkle in Aziraphale's eyes that hadn't been there since the Fall. Even though he had indeed shown a lot of enthusiasm in training the warriors, he hadn't been as eager then to show his fighting skills as he now was to tell them about the Earth and the humans. A smile was on his lips, and laughter threatened to burst out at every moment -- not the controlled, small smile and laugh Gabriel had already become accustomed to much to his grief, but the ones he remembered from before the Fall.

Ever since the Fall Aziraphale had lived like in a shell, one that wasn't even visible, but still there. He had been the perfect general -- enthusiastic, skilled, precise, always in time. As he now looked at his brother, who could have very well pretended to be a young mortal man rather than one of His angels, Gabriel couldn't imagine them being the same person. Aziraphale looked so young now, exactly like he should have; he looked innocent and carefree, not like an old veteran who has seen too much and been betrayed too many times to trust much anymore.

Never had he been happier about witnessing such a drastic change in character.

"You look fine, Aziraphale," he said, and meant it. "It seems Earth has done you a lot of good."

"Well, I certainly feel fine," his brother replied happily. "These humans -- oh, they were definitely interesting in the Garden, but now! Especially the children. I just love them, they are so curious and lively."

"Pretty much like you, I'd say," Raphael commented, a smile on his lips. He, too, had noticed the change in Aziraphale, and was just as delighted as Gabriel.

"Whatever you say!" laughed the angel. "I love them. Abel in particular is just the cutest little thing I've ever seen. The day he took his first steps I was probably prouder than Eve."

Gabriel remembered the days of Aziraphale's childhood, the first tiny flutters of pearly white wings, the mix of pride and nervousness that had filled his heart when he watched his little brother flying about. Just like back then Raphael now stood at his side, arms wrapped around his waist, a reassuring presence that was not about to abandon him. And, just like then, he felt that Aziraphale was slipping from his grasp, leaving him, growing up in ways he couldn't control.

Bittersweet, perhaps, but still he felt the joy was greater than the grief.

They talked for a long time still, of the events of Earth as told by Aziraphale, and those of Heaven, the narration given by Raphael and Gabriel in somewhat equal parts. The young principality gave his latest official report straight to the archangels, who promised to get it properly filed, and told of everything he was planning to do in the near future, like exploring further the lands around where Adam and Eve lived. After all, there were other humans, too, and he wanted to see them all.

In the end, however, Aziraphale had to leave, a fact that greatly grieved Gabriel but couldn't really be helped. They bid their goodbyes, exchanging promises of visits to come - preferably sooner than in another few years. Then Aziraphale left the Heaven, two archangels watching as he exited the Pearly Gates.

Michael happened to come across them as they were returning to their apartment. "Did Aziraphale leave already?" he asked. As they gave him the positive answer, he continued, "He visited me, too, came right to the practice field. He borrowed a sword from one of my warriors and challenged me into a fight. I did win, but not by far - he clearly hasn't let his skills disappear." A proud grin lit up the warrior's face. "You should have seen the faces of the few youngest cherubim there."

"It must have been a true wonder to them, seeing a mere principality almost beating their leader," Raphael laughed. "Well, they will learn. Even I know that Aziraphale is a great warrior."

"And that is all you do know about the art of battle," Michael said teasingly. "Although you hardly need to know about how wounds are created, given how great you are at treating them."

"Oh, hush, you." Raphael smiled mildly. "Now, if you'd excuse us, I do think Gabriel would like to get some sleep." A hand on his lover's shoulder, he then started to lead the Messenger towards their apartment and the bed there.

Michael smiled after them. Then he turned to look at the Pearly Gates, a thoughtful look on his face.

Behind the Gates there was the Earth. And Aziraphale.

Next Prompt: Red.