"He's back again."

"Huh?" Aziraphale raised his head from his book to peer at the demon who was sitting on sofa across him. "I'm sorry, what did you say, dear?"

"That young angel you've been meeting at the park", Crowley (who Aziraphale had started to think as Anthony, though he hadn't yet dared to call him on that name) clarified, "He's back."

"Oh." Aziraphale worried his lip between his teeth. He had hoped that the demon wouldn't have noticed - neither the meetings nor that he had lately been avoiding his younger brother.

"So…? You aren't gonna go, then?" Crowley – Anthony – pressed on.

Aziraphale sighed and put his book away. "No; I'm afraid it would only cause him more confusion if I did."

"Why's that?" Anthony asked (Aziraphale gave up from trying to dub him as anything else). "Here I thought that all those kitchen psychology phrases that you've picked up from Dr. Phil were finally starting to pay back."

"Dear, there's nothing wrong in watching Dr. Phil, thank you very much", Aziraphale said coolly. "Besides, that's not the point. The real issue is that my views of certain things may be little too… radical for Castiel due his current set of mind."

Anthony sniggered. "Sorry, it's just… well, the "radical" is far from being the first term that comes in to my mind while looking at you…!"

"You know what I mean, demon", Aziraphale said snappishly, but the word "demon" lacked any fierceness that had colored it not even so long time ago and could almost be considered as some kind of an endearment. "My thoughts about Heaven and the Big Plan would easily be branded as a heretic. I wouldn't want to either be ratted out by Castiel or otherwise alienate him from me. And they could also find out about my friendly footing with you, which would cause lot of troubles for you, too!"

"Yes, yes, I get it, angel… But somehow I just can't help but feeling a little sympathy towards the little one; he seems to be in the tight spot." Anthony shrugged, looking little sheepish.

"That's… surprisingly compassionate, coming from you", Aziraphale noted. But at the same time… it really wasn't so surprising, at all. The angel had come to understand that Anthony was full of things that weren't all that common for demons.

"Yeah, not in my work description; please don't tell the boss?"

"No need to be spiteful, dear; it was an honest observation", Aziraphale quickly placated. He knew that Anthony felt defensive about his "better side" and was little regretful for pointing it out. "And you are right; Castiel would need a friend right now. It just can't be me, not before he has made his choice."

It was hard for Aziraphale to leave anyone – and most of all, his own brother! – on their own devices during the time of duress, but this time there just didn't seem to be anyway he could be on help without causing even more problems. After Adam rewrote the timeline that leaded on the Apocalypse-that-never-came, Aziraphale's disobedience was also washed away from Heaven's memory, and he had done his best to stay under the radar, thank you very much. Even starting to talk with Castiel at that first time had been risky thing to do (which was exactly why he hadn't wanted Anthony to know about it at the first place – the demon wasn't a coward, not at all, but h certainly wasn't the bravest one out there, either, and Aziraphale hadn't wanted to cause him worries), but it had been too hard for him to fight the temptation of being able to talk with another angel after so long time…

Besides, Castiel was such a sweet child.

"So, what are we going to do with him, then?"

Aziraphale looked at his – friend? Was he allowed to call him that? – and shook his head, feeling defeated. "I - I honestly don't know."

"I could… I could ask Fergus to talk with him. If you want, that's it. Can't be sure if he would, though", Anthony offered, looking unsure.

The offer took Aziraphale by surprise. "Fergus?"

Anthony nodded. "They met shortly, at Hell. He seemed to like the kid, in his own way. Like he was a puppy dog or something."

"But – but do you think that would be any help for him?"

Anthony shrugged. "I'm not sure but it could be worth of trying." Lowering his voice, he continued, "I'm having the impression that there's something big going on here. Fergus don't really tell me anything about it – not wanting to make me put my hand on something that may bite back, probably – but Hell is surely cooking up something… volatile."

Aziraphale nodded slowly. "I've been thinking same about Heaven."

"Yeah… Surely makes one feel thankful for being on retirement, don't you think?"

"Indeed… You really think Fergus would be inclined to talk with Castiel?"

"He should be; and he's suave enough to not pin it back on us. Want me to ask him?" Anthony ensured, while he was already fishing up his phone from his pocket.

"Yes – No. I don't know… Can I think about it overnight?" Aziraphale asked.

Anthony shrugged. "However you want; he's your brother, after all." Already having his cellphone in hand, Anthony checked the time. "It would be dinnertime soon – Care to join me?"

Aziraphale smiled, his mood suddenly brightening. "Certainly, dear. Ritz?"

Anthony smirked. "Where else, angel?"

As they stepped outside, Aziraphale was already half certain that he would ask Anthony to call Fergus during the evening. After all, his own change of heart happened when he realized that person he had most common with was the one he should have been seen as his sworn enemy, so – who knows? Maybe history would repeat itself…