Father Pax Branc


Father Pax Branc was quiet and serene as he held Aziraphale O'Connor's hand while they crossed the graveyard. The child was quiet as he held a small yellow flower close to his chest with a sad look. The priest led his young charge to a fairly worn grave stone with text carved into it with delicate care. Aziraphale took his hand back and kneeled down to the grave and set the small yellow flower into the stone vase attached to the tombstone. Father Branc straightened a bit as the young boy started to talk to his deceased mother. Aziraphale told her about his new school, his new books, and how he was fairing in the world Rebecca O'Connor had left behind.

The priest sat down on a nearby concrete bench and let the boy speak his mind to the lifeless stone. It did his heart some good to see that someone cared for the woman enough to visit her final resting place. He knew Michael O'Connor refused to step foot anywhere near the cemetery after stating that Rebecca had deserved the lot she had received. Such a bitter man, Father Branc mused to himself, being privy to the final days of the O'Connor's marriage.

Rebecca had always been a headstrong soul and longed for nothing other than to speak her own mind. She had started the classes at the community college, despite Michael's objections solely to better herself and the world around her. In just a year, the woman was working to expand shelters and aid to those less fortunate and Father Branc praised her for doing the good lord's work. The tune changed after it was discovered that Rebecca had been conducting an affair for the past four years of her adult life. Michael O'Connor began his separation from Rebecca and kicked her and young Aziraphale from his home.

Rebecca and Aziraphale, then the age of three, came to the church seeking sanctuary from the bitter cold of the December month. Father Branc hadn't the heart to turn them away and let them stay in the church. Despite the grim circumstances, Aziraphale remained joyful and innocent to the world around him. Rebecca began to rely on the very places she had helped establish and Aziraphale was her constant companion. Many of the people she helped aided her in any way they could and Father Branc himself offered his services in taking care of Aziraphale while Rebecca worked.

A year after the separation, Rebecca became ill with something she had caught from her lover. The doctor explained to Father Branc that the disease was far too advanced for her to have any hope to live longer than a few months. Rebecca rose to the new challenge in her life and fought the disease with all her strength. After two years, the disease took its toll and destroyed the once strong woman and left her a hollow shell on a hospital bed on a warm summer day. Father Branc had been able to tell her the last rites before she passed on to a fate unsure. Little Aziraphale had remained optimistic throughout it all but even a well constructed dam can collapse. He fell apart sitting next to his mother's bed, sobbing and begging the lord to bring her back to life. Father Branc could only pat the child on the back and offer kind words that his mother would be singing with the other angels. After the funeral, there was one question left to answer, what would happen to young Aziraphale?

Michael O'Connor refused to take the boy, stating he was unsure if the child was even his. The other man in the affair had conveniently disappeared from the city and effectively abandoned his potential son. Many members of the church offered to take the child in, lest he end up in the vast foster system or on the street. It was then that Sister Fauna offered a way for Aziraphale to stay among people he knew. She adopted the boy and gave him a home in her house that sheltered woman and their children from the cold streets. Aziraphale adjusted easily to his new life and became a helper in the church and in his home.

Father Branc watched Aziraphale curl up close to the tombstone and gave a sad smile to him. He knew that the lord had plans for the young child, seeing as he always made sure despite all the misfortune, that Aziraphale fell into loving homes and friends to help him on his journey through life. After letting the child release his sorrow for a few more minutes, Father Branc went over and helped the lad to his feet. He took a handkerchief and allowed the boy to blow his nose before taking the small hand in his again.


They began the long journey back to Sister Fauna's house and got on the subway train to take them into the heart of the city. Father Branc shifted uneasily seeing a familiar patch of red hair in a seat not far from the door. (1)

He set Aziraphale on a seat before taking up a position between his young charge and the dangerous woman he knew. He quirked an eyebrow seeing the head of a young child looking out from his seat next to the redhead. Two gold eyes blinked at the two seated not too far away before he was tugged down back into his seat and scolded by the redheaded woman. (2) Father Branc looked at Aziraphale as the boy tried to peer around him, curious of the other child. "Tut tut my son we do not stare," Pax scolded gently. Aziraphale resumed his proper posture with a show of a small pout.

The older man chuckled before pulling out his small notebook and went to work on the small sermon he was working on for mass on Sunday. Aziraphale glanced at Father Branc before looking around him again to see the other child staring back at him. He blinked and gave a timid wave to the other child, hoping to be congenial like Sister Fauna had told him to be to others. (3) The dark haired boy glanced at the red headed woman a moment before giving a small wave back with a tiny smile.

Aziraphale couldn't resist as he gave a smile back as the train came to a stop. He gave a sad look when the red headed woman got up and ushered the other boy over to the door and out onto the platform. He turned and pressed his face on the train's window to watch the two on the platform. The dark haired boy gave a grin before sticking out his tongue at Aziraphale from his spot below the train's window. The blond boy sniffed in agitation and stuck out his own tongue at the other. (4) Father Branc cleared his throat and Aziraphale turned back in his seat and sat up straight as he was scolded about being rude. He allowed himself a small smile as he thought about seeing the dark haired boy again and maybe being friends. He always wanted a friend to show his small collection of books to and play games with. (5) He put his small hands together and prayed that one day he'd meet the other boy again and they'd be the best of friends.

1) Not that he disliked his sibling, he just couldn't stand what her job consisted of. Plus her journalism left a lot to be desired.

2) Along the lines of if the train came to a sudden stop and brain matter would be involved.

3) He had been friendly before but Sister Fauna deemed it necessary to tell him every few minutes.

4) One is polite to a point but when you're six years old polite usually flies out the window when one is offended.

5) The collection consisted of Curious George, A few picture books, and two copies of the Children's Bible.


Philippe Device-Pulsifer positively hated going to school. He hated the uniform he always had to wear, he hated the teachers, and he hated most of his classmates. (6) He despised it with every fiber of his being, even on what he considered the good days. Today was one of the good days considering that his eternal tormentor was not around. It was no secret in the school that Anthony Crowen was the top bully and no one ever questioned it. (7)

Often Philippe found himself at the bottom of Anthony's shiny shoe with broken glasses and something nearly broken or just broken. It was disturbing that Anthony's teeth always had a sharp look to them as he lorded over another easy victory. (8) Philippe sighed and stared at his backpack between his legs as the train slowed to a halt. At least today he'd be able to eat his lunch today without any harassment and possibly enjoy show and tell with his tormentor making a visit to the doctor. Philippe chanced a bright smile as he got off the train and headed up the stairs with his mother in tow. Yes today was going to be a fantastic day with Anthony away. (9)


6) Some of them were quite nice and they let him borrow their crayons when he forgot his own.

7) When one did, they usually ended up without their lunch or had a toad shoved down the back of their shirt.

8) Philippe associated Anthony with a shark often in his talks with the principal.

9) He was indeed a poet and didn't even know it.

A/N: Sorry for the depressing chapter but I promise it will be happier later!

Disclaimers still mentioned! Good Omens and their characters belong to Neil Gaiman and Sir Terry Pratchett.

I'm not making money off this and it's purely for entertainment.

OCs belong to me.