The clock read 7:07 am, meaning it was too early for a certain demon and half demon, half angel to be awake. The cottage was calm around the early hours with only the patter of a cat having the zoomies, doing, god knows what downstairs, could be heard. It had been all but a month that the small family had settled into the cottage and within that month, a lot of new things had been discovered. Demon and angel had known each other for millennia and yet, Aziraphale had no idea Crowley was an excellent cook and would often use fresh ingredients from his garden. Angel could not help but blush when Cassi had teased on how the only reason Crowley had such a skill was to be able to keep his food loving angel fed. The reason for earning such a blush was that Cassi was correct; Aziraphale was flattered and fell in love all over again.
Meanwhile, Crowley learned Aziraphale secretly enjoyed watching horror movies as he thought it was something he and Crowley could watch together. Although never asking him once out on a movie date during the time they had known each other as just friends and secret crushes. It might have started off as simply that, but the angel eventually came to truly appreciate the jumps scares.
As for Cassi, angel and demon discovered she was quite an inquisitive little thing. Wanting to know all about heaven and hell, them, herself, about miracles, and, although this last one made even them curious, if she too had wings. Crowley immediately wanted to answer the question, however Aziraphale thought it best to wait. He was indeed curious himself, however, the thought of Crowley and him having that kind of power to create an actual celestial being was quite frightening to him. He wouldn't dare regret Cassi, but it was worrisome to know others of his and Crowley's kind could be capable of it as well. Capable of creating good, evil, and all kinds of in between in their own capacity. He shook his head immediately as the thought of siding with heaven regarding the matter of rounding them up crossed his mind.
The arm around the angel's waist tightened, removing him from his thoughts. He sighed as he tried his best to continue reading the book in his hand while the other hand began running his fingers through his lover's red long locks. Crowley was in deep sleep, head on Aziraphale's semi perched up chest, one arm around the angel's waist, one leg hugging the angel's for warmth. After rereading a sentence for the millionth time, Aziraphale thought it best to place the book down on the nightstand. He carefully sunk into the bed and sighed once more.
"I swear, if you don't share whatever is the matter, I will only assume it's because of me." Crowley spoke softly.
Aziraphale turned his head. "I'm sorry to wake you, dearest." Crowley stretched out his lithe form and yawned. "Never mind me, do go back to sleep."
Crowley opened his eyes, sleep still present, and glanced at the clock. "G' morning, angel." He leaned in for a quick kiss. "Did not sleep?"
"Good morning, my dearest, and no. I haven't actually tried to, if I'm being honest."
Crowley rubbed his eye and yawned again. "A definite must try. It's relaxing and while you're doing so, it'll let you escape whatever is on your worried mind. Now…" he sniffed, "what exactly is on your mind?"
"Nothing of consequence, really. Mostly…heaven, hell, miracles, all that good stuff."
"That's your problem. We said we would not let all that…good stuff…get to us. Our miracle is safe for now and we will keep it that way." After a silent pause, Crowley smirked and rolled onto Aziraphale, trapping the angel underneath him. "What you should really be thinking about is what exactly happened 82 years ago today." He captured Aziraphale's lips in a passionate kiss.
Aziraphale searched his memories, "I'm not quite sure what you are referring to." Crowley began to trace his angel's jaw with soft kisses. "A lot has happened, but I don't recollect…"
Crowley stopped his menstruations and looked down on his angel. "I swear, angel, you make me feel like a complete loser when I'm the only one who seems to remember our milestones." Aziraphale smiled up at him, a hundred percent clueless on what was so big about today. "Big bomb went off in a church…nazi zombies…magic show…I pointed a gun at you…" Aziraphale understood the events but, again, was not entirely certain what his lover was hinting at. "We got pissed drunk and made a miracle that is currently asleep across the hall."
Aziraphale's eyes widened as his brain caught up. "Oh, I see."
Crowley let a sharp breath out and rolled off. "Definitely a loser for mentally remembering dates."
"No, no, dearest…Cro-Crowley, I think it's nice that you remember it for us. Please." Aziraphale tugged on his demon's arm. "I apologize. You may continue."
"Oh, nononono, I'm not some puppet you can control." Aziraphale pleaded with his eyes, the same ones he knew Crowley could never resist. And just like that, demon was back on him again. "You irritate me." He stated with an annoyed tone and yet, he continued his kisses onto Aziraphale's skin.
Aziraphale smirked triumphantly while he wrapped his arms around Crowley. "I'm sure I do." He mumbled while Crowley's hands began to unbutton his tartan pajamas, wanting to touch as much skin as possible. His body moved on its own as one of his legs wrapped around Crowley's waist and felt how Crowley was definitely putting an effort into his human body; there was no way he could not feel it.
Crowley practically assaulted Aziraphale's soft lips and grunted into their kiss as he began to roll his hips forward, making the angel moan in response. The thin, dark duke managed to unbutton Aziraphale's top and afterwards, he rose slightly as he began to unbutton his own. Yellow eyes invested on the bruised lip angel beneath him. Aziraphale's breath was shaky as his hands explored Crowley's chest as it became exposed. Crowley dived back down for another kiss.
It was all going deliciously perfect, day by day, while living together. They had begun to initiate more than just simple snogging. They knew what humans did when words were not enough to show how much they loved each other, and they had decided, together, they would give it a try when they felt ready. With each passing day, it had become a possibility as their make out sessions started to cross the line of what was considered appropriate in public. They were quite sure, emitting all kinds of noises while dry humping each other was frowned upon out in public, especially in front of their daughter. When she witnessed such an act, whilst getting a snack from the kitchen, it was suggested they get a room and take a cup with them. Aziraphale had raised an inquisitive eyebrow while Crowley had suggested she go to her own room.
Crowley left wet kisses on Aziraphale's neck, chest, and kept going further down, while his hand began playing with the angel's nipple. "Does…does that mean, technically, it's her birthday?"
"Wh- wha?" Crowley stammered breathlessly.
"Cassi. If today is the anniversary of when I realized I loved you, our first kiss, and all that. Does that mean Cassi was miracled eighty-two years ago, today? It would mean it's her birthday, would it not?"
"Angel, at the moment I really don't want to talk or think about our daughter, or anything else other than what we are doing and about to do."
The angel smiled, "Right, of course, you're right." Crowley then licked his lips as he found himself facing the seam of his lover's bottoms. He was ready. Yes, they were definitely ready to do what humans do to show their love. However, "We should celebrate…like the humans do. A birthday party!"
Crowley let his forehead fall on Aziraphale's lower stomach, taking a small swift of what could have been. Demon knew Aziraphale's mind was now miles away. He grunted and crawled back up.
Aziraphale sat up and began putting his pajama top back on. "Nothing big, of course. We can go into town for some decorations, maybe a cake, or would you like to bake it yourself? I'd rather do it ourselves than use a miracle frivolously, lest heaven and hell find out our location. I can…" he gasped, "I can entertain. What do you think?" Crowley grinned ear to ear, trying his hardest not to say anything rude. "Great!" Aziraphale did his last button and excitedly stood from the bed.
Crowley knelt on the bed, "Ngk…how great." He said through gritted teeth. Aziraphale gave him a long kiss before stepping out of the room. If they wanted this to happen, they would have to go into town, the earlier the better. The later they celebrate in the day, the less Cassi would feel special, or so was Aziraphale's thinking. Crowley grunted as he plopped down onto the bed. "God, is this part of my eternal punishment? I can take the fall…the boiling sulfur…the eyes…my stars…but this? If I knew this would be part of my punishment, I would have kept my mouth shut instead of asking those damn questions." He groaned.
"But I wasn't born, was I?"
Aziraphale placed another item into the trolley Crowley was rolling. "Eh, no, my darling, but it doesn't mean we can't celebrate you, does it?"
"I suppose. I've never had a birthday party or attended one before."
"Well, that ends today." He smiled lovingly and walked further down the narrow aisle. "Anything in particular you desire, my darling girl? Anything at all? Your wish we shall grant."
Cassi beamed at one wish in particular. "Can I drive the car?"
Crowley scoffed at the ridiculous thought. "Absolutely not."
"You said anything."
"Eh…he said anything…I said nothing."
The small family continued to walk around the small shop, gathering items needed for a simple birthday party. By simple, Aziraphale meant a lot of balloons, party hats, streamers, the works. Crowley's definition of simple meant quite an extraordinary amounts of different alcoholic beverages. "Cassi, look, they have costumes. Do you want to make this a costume party? A masquerade perhaps. Oh, Crowley, they have angel wings and head gear with tiny little demon horns." The angel eyed Crowley from down the aisle. "I say, I've often wondered, why aren't you horny?"
Crowley rolled the trolley further, meeting his lover within the aisle. "Pfft…I was this morning."
Cassi rolled her eyes and fiddled with a random object. "Parents drag you here too, huh?" She turned to her side to find a rather tall, twenty some guy next to her. He had short dark brown hair, hazel eyes and an uneasy feeling surrounding him. "Can't take them anywhere." She gave a single nod and continued to mindlessly look around. "Big party, I gather?"
There was a distinctive roaring in her body, she could not quite point it out, but whatever it was, it made her uneasy. Cassi felt something drown her and, if she was human, this would be the moment the overwhelming feeling would certainly make her faint. "I'm Elliot." The boy introduced himself. She said nothing but tried her best to will her feet to move and keep away from the stranger. Cassi could feel a sharp, almost stabbing pain in her chest. The love she held daily, the one which calmed others around her, did nothing to serene her own being. "Saw you walk in with…um…your parents and you're finally alone." She gulped and could feel her eyes sting, tears ready to come out of nowhere. "So…" he cleared his throat, "this will sound like I'm a total nutter but would you like to…"
Cassi felt a somewhat wash of relief when she felt a familiar hand on hers. "Cassi," Crowley called pulling her out of her thoughts as he eyed the boy, puffing his chest slightly, radiating a distinctive get the hell away from my daughter aura, "I think we got everything." He led her away, wrapping a protective arm around her tense shoulder.
"Bye… Cassi." The boy called after them.
In no way was Cassi a small child but no matter how old one gets, being with your parents, at least for some, could feel safe. She was eighty-two and yet, as Crowley paid, she wrapped her arm around Aziraphale's arm and held on to his coat tightly. Crowley and Aziraphale moved normally with the angel even making a joke they may have gone overboard. It wasn't until they were outside, Cassi's tears finally showed. Aziraphale nodded and cooed at her as he gently placed his hands on her cheeks. "Shhh, I know, my darling girl, I know."
Crowley slammed the car's trunk shut after placing their items inside. "Bit of a nasty prick."
"Yes, well, that was…engulfing, even for me. What was he?" Aziraphale led the sobbing girl into the backseat and climbed inside after her, encouraging her to place her head down on his lap as he tried to soothe her. "I've never felt that much hate coming from any person."
Crowley slammed the door behind him, started the car and hastened out of the car park. "I'm not so sure it was even human. Didn't smell like one."
Cassi's sobs stopped echoing as Aziraphale stroked her hair, miracling her to sleep. She loved to dream after all, and after a nasty encounter with someone who radiated an overwhelming amount of hatred, Aziraphale could only hope she dreamt about the stars. "A demon. I mean I know you, well, they hold hatred but that much?"
"Nah, did not feel fully demonic but the feeling was worse than Hastur's."
Aziraphale looked down at the sleeping girl. "Awe, our poor child and on her birthday. Should we be worried?"
"I don't believe so. If we see him again, I might just have to tell him nicely to fuck off." Crowley grinned all too pleased with himself. "Right…so…I say we forget about the weird bloke, set up the party decorations, bake a cake, do present exchange, have a wonderful lunch, and we three get pissed off drunk for the rest of the day. What do you say?"
"Tsk, Crowley, the last part is hardly party etiquette."
"Uh, nope. There is no room for etiquette today. We are, after all, celebrating our miracle's…only daughter's birthday and we…we have got to make up for the last 81 birthdays we have missed! Then in the evening, you and I celebrate…erm… continue what we were doing this morning…in our room…or wherever you please…I won't complain. What do you say?"