Chapter 4

Raziel slowly opened her eyes. The whole penthouse was in complete darkness, not a single light on to illuminate the space around her. She groggily reached for her phone, squinting through the dark to find it. When she finally grasped it, she noticed that the only contact listed was Crowley. With shaky fingers, she dialed his number and held the phone up to her ear. On the first ring the demon answered it.

Raziel called out, "Hello?" His voice was deep and the background noise of bustling London was audible. "Crowley? Where are you?"

He scolded her, saying "You made the Angel worry about you so much that he almost came down here to check on you himself."

"Relax, he's obviously taken with you", she said standing from the couch and examining her aged face in the mirror. "Where are you off to?".

"Im driving to your place" Crowley responded.

Calling out as she walked to the elevator, she said "Let's meet at Nina's cafe, get a table for three and don't forget the sushi".

When she hit the button for Heaven on the elevator at the entrance, everybody else looked at her. They all knew who she was, because she still sparkled more than usual. The whole consuel was reunited in a buzzing hum of voices as Metraton checked one of the glass board.

Metraton, greeting her with a smile, spoke, "Ah, Raziel, a pleasure to see you again." The emphasis on "see" was impossible to miss.

Returning the smile, she politely addressed the assembly, "I apologize for the intrusion, but I'd like to have a word with the Supreme Archangel."

Aziraphale, slightly trembling under the gaze of all, murmured, "Of course."

"I'm looking forward to talking with all of you later, but for now I'd really like to have some croissants," she said, flashing a smile.

Aziraphale headed towards her and before they departed, Raziel asked Metraton "Before we go, do you think you could give us a bit of privacy? I would really appreciate it if you cleared the area so that we could have some time alone."

"Of course not a problem" Metraton responded with a smile.

When they exited the elevator, Angel radio had been shut off. Raziel giggled when she saw Aziraphale in an old sweater with a huge grin on his face. The street was cast in a quiet, nocturnal hush and Crowley was lying on top of his Bentley in front of Nina's cafe. As soon as Aziraphale appeared, the car turned on its headlights.

Taking the bag of food from Crowley, Raziel couldn't help but grin. "Great, I'll be inside while you two engage in some quality make-out time," she quipped.

As Raziel stepped aside, Crowley put his hands around Azirphale's rosy cheeks and drew him close. The angel's eyes fluttered shut as Crowley pressed his lips passionately into Azirphale's, pressing the angel firmly against the car in a moment of passionate bliss.

When they entered the cafe, Raziel was already seated with her chopsticks raised, about to spear a california roll. She smiled up at them and started to speak, but as she opened her mouth, marinara sauce trickled out of the corner of her mouth and dripped down her chin. "Oh fuck," she said, dropping the chopsticks in an empty plate. She wiped her face with a napkin as they sat.

"I won't take up any more of your time, I'm leaving you guys" she said abruptly, before taking another bite.

"What do you mean?" Aziraphale questioned as he picked up a piece of sashimi, while Crowley filled three cups with sake.

"I need to have a private conversation with her, so I'll be going," she said as she reached for one of the makis.

"Do you think he'll be angry with you for doing this?" Crowley asked, lifting one of the glasses to his lips.

Aziraphale's lips curved upward when he spotted the look of concern in Crowley's eyes for her friend.

"Nope, I chopped up some words with her while ya'll were daydreaming in la-la land," she drawled, her eyes widening as she tried the notorious puffer fish sushi.

Aziraphale almost spilled the sake but he quickly wiped his mouth and then spoke. "Is there anything I can do? Maybe I should say something..," said Aziraphale worried.

"No need to worry," she assured him, "everything is taken care of. I just wanted to let you know."

Crowley lifted his cup of sake to his lips and asked, "You want to go?" His face looked like he was ready for a fight.

As she nods her head to herself, she quietly murmurs, "What is it I really want?". Putting the chopstick aside, she peered at Crowley and asked, "You know it was Her who sent me here, right?"

"That thought had occurred to me," Crowley answered right away.

Aziraphale's face twisted up in confusion as Raziel clarified further. "You remember the night I first spoke with Crowley? Well, Dad was actually behind that," she explained. "He wanted to see what both of you had planned."

"That sounds to be a human under God's eye" Crowley joked.

"Do we really know him?" Raziel asked, taking a sip of his sake. "We've given him our own idea of what he looks like, out of convenience. Everyone has their own view—you think of him as someone good, while Crowley sees him as a boss who only has one vision. Is it just nature that we can only understand him through our own eyes?"

Crowley made a quip about the possible source of their wisdom, "Sounds like some lessons from up there."

"Or down there!" Aziraphale added with amusement, and they all started laughing.

"Anyway, I hear someone calling me but before I go, I wanted to let you two know that the choice is up to you and not dictated by some old angel" She said as she pointed her finger back and forth between them. Raziel finished his glass of sake before continuing, "Now I'll leave you to do what you pleased."

Crowley took off his glasses, setting them down on the table. "Will you meet me at the bookshop Angel?" he asked. Aziraphale seemed taken aback. "I'll explain later," Crowley continued, "but right now I need to tell Raziel a secret."

Aziraphale answered without knowing, "But that won't remain a secret."

Raziel leaned in and whispered softly into Aziraphale's ear, "He wants to be alone so that he can expose his true feelings. Also, I saw Muriel unloading an entire rack of books by colors at the store earlier," Raziel finished with a wink.

Aziraphale stood up from the table and hugged Raziel and asked her to visit him before leaving. When he closed the door Crowley looked at Raziel and stood in front of her.

He spoke on a rasping whisper, his voice barely audible. "Why didn't you tell him who you are?" His eyes were glued to her face as he awaited her response.

"He's not ready yet, but I'll come back if he needs me," Raziel said softly "You took your time, Crowley, but I knew you'd figure it out," she added with a motherly smile.

The woman tenderly stroked Crowley's face, cupping his cheek with her loving hands. She beamed at him with affection in her eyes as she said "My beloved son"

Crowley wrapped his arms around his mother's waist and nestled into her, pressing his face against her chest. As they embraced in the comforting warmth of their love, she tenderly ran her fingers through his hair.

Crowley stammered to say something, but the words failed to come out. She placed a gentle hand on his cheek and gave him a tender kiss on the forehead.

"You stay proud of your accomplishments," she said warmly.

He looked up at her nervously and asked, "Will I be able to remember this?"

"Yes," she replied softly. "We'll meet again."

She watched him fondly as she slowly walked out of the cafe.

After the meeting Crowley clucked his tongue and set everything right and tidy at the cafe. He spotted Aziraphale precariously perched atop the ladder, neatly arranging a full shelf of books. His coat was carelessly slung over one arm as he worked with purpose and grace.

Aziraphale nervously asked from his elevated perch, "Is Raziel okay?" while Crowley stared up at him. Remembering the last seconds of his existence was still fresh in Crowley's mind and skin, he lied, "Yes, she was called away by someone, but she is fine."

He climbed down from the ladder, holding a musical score from Les Misérables. "What if we could recreate the miracle we did with Gabriel?" he suggested. "Maybe we can talk to her and..."

Crowley pressed his lips to Aziraphale's in a tender yet passionate kiss, the same as when they had kissed in the bookshop all those years before. Aziraphale then threw the book aside and leaned into another deep kiss with the demon. He took Crowley's face in his hands and supported him as he guided them both to sit on the couch, Crowley cradling the angel's waist.

The angel snatched Crowley's glasses from his face, her arm moving in a blur of motion. The sound of shattering glass filled the air as the lenses fell to the ground. Crowley's eyes narrowed and he growled, "I forgive you" his lips curling into a devious smirk.

A very faint, shy smile crossed Aziraphale's face. "About the glasses or the last time?" he asked and opened his eyes.

Crowley rested his forehead on Aziraphale's and laughed. "I love you angel," he said

Aziraphale continued the kiss taking Crowley's coat and shirt while the demon do the same with his clothes. Without losing the contact of their lips, they lay down on the floor, Crowley over Aziraphale, both embracing each other as tight as they can.

Crowley touched Aziraphales face fondly and break the kiss to take a look at the angel beauty. He observed every detail of him and was filled with emotion in seeing his beloved so close to him. "I love you so much" Aziraphale whispered Crowley ear holding his hand above his heart so he could feel it beat.

Crowley smiled tenderly at him running his hands through Aziraphale's white hair caressing every single strand with care, he lifted a bit from the angel's weight so he could get closer without hurting himself in any way.

They kissed again slowly enjoying every single stroke of their tongues touching each others warm lips like two eternal loves sharing their passion for eternity .

The angel caressed the demon with his gentle hands. He stroked the demon's hair full of life and vigor. He traced the lines of his face with his fingertips, letting his touch linger on his eyelids, cheeks, and lips.

The time stopped around them being their little hideout for all eternity until suddenly Crowley ears picked up some voices coming from outside.

"I told you, you couldn't leave the bookshop". The angel looked at him confused not understanding what was going on but soon enough he also noticed the humans were awake and walking down the streets.

As both were putting on their clothes, Crowley offered Aziraphale his hand and asked,"Would you let me tempt you to a spot of lunch?" His face lit up with a beaming smile.

The angel took his hand and said, "I believe there is an empty seat at The Ritz."

The steel of knife and fork scraping the plate, the clinking of champagne flute as it is filled with wine.

After a few minutes, the waiter finished bringing out all of the dishes and placed a bottle of champagne in an ice bucket. He then backed away from the table.

Crowley took his glass to make a toast "To us".

"To us" responded Aziraphale joining his glass.

There were not just one nightingale actually singing in Berkeley Square, for the first time.