"Come...here."

The words were icy calm, barely more than a whisper, but reverberated through the air like a deep hum.

Your body moved of its own accord at the angel's command, while your mind tried to will it to stop. Your breaths came in hitched whimpers as you got closer, and soon enough, you stood directly in front of Aziraphale. You kept your eyes to the ground, terrified to look at him.

"Crowley..."

Crowley's head snapped up at the sound of his name. Aziraphale was still staring at you but he directed his words at the demon.

"Yeah?" Crowley croaked out.

"I think it best if you left us alone for the time being."

You shot a terrified look at Crowley, begging him with your eyes not to leave you. He gave you a sympathetic grimace and began walking towards the front door. Aziraphale was righteously furious, and he knew that fury had the power to destroy entire worlds; however, he also knew Aziraphale's love and care for you far outweighed everything else, and he would never bring you to true harm. This was a lesson you needed to learn the hard way. He grabbed his glasses by the front table before quickly leaving the bookstore, locking the doors behind him.

Now it was just you and Aziraphale. You stood there trembling, waiting for something, anything, to happen. The silence and waiting was absolute agony. A minute went by this way before you couldn't stand it a second longer. You had to say something.

"I didn't know..."

"Which passage were you reading from the book?"

He cut you off abruptly, his tone oddly casual considering the atmosphere of the last several minutes.

Startled at the change, you finally look up into his face. He has his hands clasped behind his back, shoulders straight, and he's peering down at you with an unreadable expression.

You stammer, "I-...It-...I- wanted to just see if I could name the symbols...and the c- candles looked so pretty...I just wanted..."

"Which...passage?"

You swallowed thickly, feeling nauseous.

"I...I don't remember which page!"

"Hmm...how did it begin, then?"

You searched your brain desperately, trying to remember what you said. It all seemed so stupid now. Why did you do it?!

"I can't remember!" you finally cried, covering your face with your hands.

"Yes you can. You're not trying hard enough. Now think...just give me one...word."

Squeezing your eyes shut, you went over everything you did leading up to the passage.

"Powers...of...the Kingdom..." you recited haltingly.

You never saw him move, never heard a sound; one moment you were standing in front of Aziraphale, the next your hands were braced on the cold stone floor, eyes to the ground.

You barely had a fraction of a second to turn and see what was happening behind you when:

!*****************************!

Your backside felt as though it had been hit with scalding hot steel. The pain radiated across your entire bottom and continued to grow in intensity. You screeched, bicycling your legs in the air, hands clawing at the ground.

Aziraphale had knelt down, bending you cleanly over his left knee. Your fear and panic reached a crescendo and you cried out to him.

"No, no, no! Please don't spank me, Aziraphale...please!"

!*************!

You let out a high pitched wail as the sting of the impact mingled with the first. It was like fire, stinging, fierce, and unyielding.

You grasped at his ankle, holding on for dear life. This was so much worse than any punishment you'd ever received, and Crowley spanked hard. This punishment had the fury and fear of an angel behind it, and it was something you never, ever wanted to experience again.

You felt Aziraphale's hand raise once more and you shut your eyes, gripping his ankle tightly, sobbing incoherently.

!******!

Your cries pierced the air and your legs flailed wildly, head shaking side to side in absolute, piteous woe. There was nothing worse than this moment. Nothing could be worse than this moment.

Your bottom was ablaze and you couldn't tell where the pain began or ended. It was everywhere.

You lost your grip on his tartan clad ankle and felt yourself falling towards the ground. You flinched...but you didn't hit the floor.

Gentle, familiar arms had gathered you close and lifted you up. You were sobbing so heavily that you couldn't see anything, couldn't hear, couldn't move. All you felt was yourself being carried like a baby, nestled up close to a worn velvet vest that smelled of paper, tea, and chocolate. Familiar scents...soothing.

Soon you were sitting on the couch, curled up in lap of the angel, sobbing your heart out into his chest. The pain you still felt radiated outward like an inferno, and you whined trying to shift away from it.

A pair of hands turned you inwards and your pain lessened as you wrapped your legs around his waist, pressure now gone from your backside, arms limp by your sides, head resting against his chest. Your hair was matted to your face with sweat and your chest hitched with every breath.

A cool palm rested itself against your heated forehead.

After a while, your breathing slowed and your crying had subsided. The hand on your forehead slowly moved down to your chin and lifted your face up to his own. You looked up and let out a whimper of relief.

Aziraphale's kind eyes now looked down into your own, filled with tears. His lips trembled with emotion.

"Dearest one..." he whispered, his voice shaking ever so slightly. "You cannot imagine how terrified I was moments ago. You simply cannot know."

His voice finally cracked and he wrapped both arms around you, squeezing you close.

"Scared? I thought you were angry."

Azirphale shook his head.

"Oh no. I don't know that I've ever been more terrified in my entire existence than seeing you near that circle."

"But I don't understand. It was just so pretty and I just wanted to see the lights!"

Aziraphale took a deep, calming breath before sitting you back on his thighs. You whined at the contact to your bottom but sat still, as his eyes had taken on sternness.

"I am partly to blame for what happened here today. I should have told you about the circle, what it is, why I have it. I should have told you that it is off-limits because it's dangerous. That circle is for our defense. If can manifest powers so great that it could discorporate me, Crowley...even you, my dearest."

Your eyes went wide at this. You remembered Crowley's frantic eyes as he surveyed the circle, testing it with his feet, making sure you weren't harmed.

"Not only that, it can call down beings from Heaven...beings that aren't as forgiving as I am. Beings that could wipe out our very existence if they so chose. It's an ancient power that should never be taken lightly."

He took your face in his hands and brought it close.

"You could have DIED today."

Your face paled, and Aziraphale carefully pulled you close to him once again.

"I'm so sorry." you whispered in a tiny voice.

"Yes, I know you are. And I forgive you with all of my heart because by some power you are still here with me and with Crowley. I can't even imagine what must have gone through his mind when he came home."

"Well," drawled a low voice from across the room. "I can honestly say that I'm just grateful for fast reflexes."

You both turned your heads to the door and there stood Crowley, hands in his pockets, looking over at the pair of you on the couch.

"See the two of you made up. Glad to see it."

He was trying to keep things light, otherwise his emotions from the last hour would get the better of him...again. After he'd left the bookshop he ran straight into the bar across the street. It took six shots of whiskey to soothe his nerves slightly. He didn't think he could handle more of that today. He sauntered over to the couch and plopped down next to you both, peering into your tear streaked face. He nodded knowingly.

"So you finally went and stirred up the righteous wrath of an angel. Think you'll try it again?"

You shook your head so rapidly that it nearly gave you whiplash. You winced and laid your head back on Aziraphale's chest.

"Don't tease her, Crowley. It's been a long day for all of us."

Crowley nodded his head and gave Aziraphale a questioning look. Aziraphale pursed his lips, looking down at the top of your head on his chest, then back to Crowley. His eyes were brimming with tears but he gave him a small smile. Crowley sighed in relief and sank back into the cushions.

You stayed this way for quite some time, the three of you each running through the afternoon in your heads. Finally, it was Aziraphale who spoke.

"Right then. I'm afraid we're not quite done, yet, young lady."

Your breath caught and your body went still. You looked up at him slowly, eyes wide.

"What-what do you mean?"

"There are a couple of matters that still need to be dealt with, the first being my bookshelf."

His voice was no longer terrifying and cold as before. This was Aziraphale's normal, scolding tone.

"But...I thought that earlier...that was for everything."

Aziraphale gave you a stern look.

"Oh no. I spanked you harshly for endangering your life so recklessly. That was the appropriate punishment for such a wrongdoing. That has been dealt with and is over. The shelf, on the other hand, is another matter entirely. You may not have known the circle was dangerous, but you know full well you're not permitted to climb on my bookshelves!"

And with that he pulled you off of his lap, took your hand in his, and gave you five sharp pops on top of your knuckles. You yelped and rubbed the sting away. Crowley observed it all with a smirk.

"Don't you ever let me catch you doing something like that again. Do you understand me?"

You nodded.

"I'd like to hear words, please."

"I understand. I won't climb the shelves again."

Aziraphale nodded, satisfied.

"That's better. Now, the last item."

Your face crumpled up, feeling completely worn down by everything. What else had you done?

"The matter of your writing assignment."

Before you could stop yourself you let out a groan of complaint.

Suddenly you were spun around and Crowley landed one smart smack on your bruised backside. You let out a shriek and covered your bottom with your hands.

"Stop your complaining and pay attention!"

Your lip wobbled but you shut your mouth and turned back to a cross looking angel.

"As I was saying...your writing assignment. You're going to complete it twice before bedtime. Am I clear?"

"Yes." you said sadly.

"And I did warn you that if it wasn't finished by the time I return, some time in the corner was needed."

You started to protest, but Crowley's glare caught you eye and you snapped your mouth shut.

"So, I think thirty minutes will be sufficient. I suggest you think over everything that's happened today, and hopefully that will help cement all of the lessons. Off you go."

Your head down, feeling completely dejected, you marched over to the corner of the room, planting your face deep in the recesses of the walls. Behind you came murmured conversation that you couldn't quite make out.

Eventually footfalls told you that they had moved to a different room. You know better than to turn around, so with your face pressed into the corner, you made a solemn promise to never, ever stick your nose where it didn't belong again.