Aziraphale sat staring at the document in front of him. He'd been doing so for many earthen hours but in Heaven, it seemed even longer.

He'd found it here after he left Gabriel to his new duties, or rather, having the guards take him to his new duties while he insisted Aziraphale explain what the Second Coming was, how it would come about.

Even Aziraphale was in the dark about most of it. All he knew is that he wanted it to happen, he wanted it more than anything. He just had to choose a single human and sign off to initiate the first step, then it would all begin.

His hand shook as he picked up his pen. He was going to place it down but found he couldn't move.

A horrible pain overtook him in that instant, causing him to drop the pen. He gave a yell as his head burned.

You're hesitating, Aziraphale… Why are you hesitating?

"I-I don't…!"

Don't you want this? Don't you want to make me happy?

"I…" Aziraphale wasn't sure if he did or didn't…

Sign it for me...

He knocked into the desk, hyperventilating despite not needing air. Breathing had become a habit due to being on Earth. Earth. Why was he trying to hurt the planet he once, no, still loved?

Aziraphale, sign it.

The whispers grew louder and louder, each one angrier and more demanding than the last.

He couldn't destroy the Earth, not when he lived on it.

Aziraphale-!

"NO!"

The last thing he heard before he collapsed was his own voice.

Aziraphale slowly opened his eyes. He felt his body had been prostrated into a pose eerily similar to that of the original Jesus when he'd been slain upon a cross. Tight, thorny branches and vines wrapped around his limbs, only leaving his head to hang limply free.

The inside of his mind had been transformed into a perfect recreation of the Garden of Eden. It was a fitting place to punish a misbehaving angel's soul.

Aziraphale realized then that he was free. He was thinking thoughts again without Her influence. This hadn't happened since the halo had been placed on his head. He didn't know why he could suddenly gain freedom but didn't want to stick around to find out.

"Have to… get my body back…!" He strained, trying to struggle free of the tree of knowledge he'd been strapped to. "Have to get… back to Crowley…!"

The vines tightened around every part of him: his legs, arms, even neck were strangled back, hitting firmly against the tree.

Aziphale tried again and again but each time he was ripped back, the pain getting more and more unbearable with each attempt. Tears came to his eyes.

"It won't do you any good, my angel…"

He gritted his teeth in anger at hearing her voice, the voice that'd been clouding his mind and changing his thoughts. The one that had turned him against Crowley so she'd have him to herself. "You…!"

"Dear Aziraphale, I have given you a moment's reprieve from carrying out my will…" The voice answered. "Do you know why that is?"

"Because you can't make me sign that document… I was able to fully resist you this time!" Azriphale smiled, staring at the sky in triumph.

"Pride is a great sin, Aziraphale, one that you shall have none of." He heard a laugh like a choir of wind chimes as the light shining down on him grew brighter. "You didn't free yourself, I merely gave you a break. All your pointless struggling and fighting… Oh, it must be so exhausting…"

Aziraphale gritted his teeth in anger as he felt a wave of tiredness hit him at her words. He shook himself out of it just to spite her. "Are… Are you sure you're not the one getting worn down?"

There were a few moments of silence before She spoke again, skipping over the accusation. "You know it's impossible to escape, correct?"

Aziraphale tried to struggle again but found he was still tightly bound. He grimaced when a burning sensation came to his forehead. "Ah…!"

"As long as you wear the Celestial Crown, you will never truly be free." God explained. "Even if you manage to get full control of your mind and body… it wouldn't be long before you're back to being my perfect little angel. I think you know that."

Aziraphale finally stopped fighting, feeling exhausted. He did know that. Was there any way to get it fully off? He had no idea.

"But…"

He raised his head.

"I'm willing to negotiate so you'll sign for the Second Coming. That sounds far more pleasant then just fighting on and on, doesn't it?"

He found himself nodding slowly. It had hurt fighting so long and fiercely, he didn't know how much longer he could before giving in.

"I'll give you anything you'd like besides your full freedom… How about we relocate that restaurant you like so much, hm? It will be moved far from Earth to avoid the destruction."

He didn't answer. Whatever he chose had to be the decision that changed the dark future ahead of the Earth…

"Not enough…? Perhaps if we gather all your favorite places: the store, that park and whatever else and place them on a planet of your very own."

Seeing he still wouldn't answer, the Almighty gave a heavy sigh.

"The demon can be there as well. That's what he's always wanted, right? For you two to escape the destruction and fly far, far away..."

Aziraphale tried to ignore the leap of excitement that filled him at hearing that. Even if they put Crowley's wishes into account, Heaven was just using the same tactic as before: promising something that they made sure wouldn't actually happen. Think, think, how could he delay it? He thought of it then, an idea that may harm many he loved, but it was the only one he saw that saved them. "If I'm signing off… I want to pick the human catalyst that will set it all in motion."

"The carrier?" God asked softly. "As long as they meet the single requirement."

Given how pure she was, surely she did… "She does."

"Then our deal is done. Now, let yourself be lulled back into submission…"

Aziraphale found the vines tightening, a bright light filling his eyes as he felt Her influence creeping back into his mind.

Iit was up to Crowley and the others now to stop the Second Coming, to free him. He just wished he could do more…