It was a quiet night, ordinary really, in the streets of London. People seemed merry as they walked to their designated destinations. Some were going into pubs, others waiting by the sidewalk, some having dinner outside instead of inside the restaurants. Ah, yes, London was full of life during the night, however the alleyways in London were not as glamorous, especially when one parks under a flickering streetlight.
"You are certain they will come?" Aziraphale questioned, once again.
Crowley looked at his watch and licked his lips. "Definitely." He turned his head to eye his lover. "Relax, angel."
Cassi leaned forward from the backseat. "Dad? Do they have horns?"
The demon looked at his watch again and searched around for any sign of life. "Not really." He shifted in his seat. "Erm, be best if you don't ask too many questions this time around, Cassi, 'kay?"
"Shit." Crowley and Cassi both turned to cursing angel. "Did you mention to them we only required them and not…" Aziraphale grunted and gestured to the pair walking towards the Bentley.
"Who's that?" Cassi asked as she tried to get a better look, only for Crowley to gently push her back.
Crowley let out a deep sigh and turned to Aziraphale. "It'll be fine." He then turned to Cassi. "Stay here. Lock the doors."
The angel was the one who opened the Bentley's door first.
"Ah," Gabriel chuckled and walked towards his former employee, "there he is." The former supreme Archangel smiled and slapped Aziraphale's back as if greeting a long-lost friend.
"Lord Beelzebub." Crowley welcomed the figure behind Gabriel.
The former ruler of hell grinned. "Hello, traitor."
"That's not a nice thing to say." Crowley smirked. "Especially when it takes one to know one."
Beelzebub's grin grew and they nodded. "Is that her?" They fixed their eyes inside the Bentley.
Gabriel leaned down and tapped the Bentley's window. "Hello." He waved.
Cassi waved back, confused if she was being honest.
"She's not a fish." Beelzebub scolded their angelic lover. "Quite a dear, I'll give you that." They crouched down enough to look inside Bentley. "Good job, Crowley."
"Did you just say 'dear'?"
Beelzebub stood straight in front of Crowley. "Yea? What of it?"
Crowley shook his head. "Ngk…no…nothing." He stammered. "An…an…a mere ob-observation."
Gabriel smiled and placed his hands on Aziraphale's shoulders. "Aziraphale." He charmed. "Seems you were a bit of a fallen angel after all."
Aziraphale chuckled lightly. "Rather." He removed himself from Gabriel's light grasp and went around the car to stand next to his own demon lover.
"Can we get on?" Crowley asked, slightly annoyed.
Beelzebub crossed their arms. "Not sure why you summoned us back here when you and I both know I haven't a clue about your little one over there, yea?"
"We simply wish to learn more about the war between heaven and hell." Aziraphale stated.
Gabriel walked around the Bentley and stood next to Beelzebub. "The war you two stopped?"
Crowley growled in Gabriel's direction.
Aziraphale nudged his lover to behave. "Surely there must be more to it. It seems us stopping it was part of the ineffable plan all along."
"All I know is my boss was not happy. You try getting riled up demons to stand down."
"What were you doing in the restricted section anyway, Aziraphale?"
"I was, um," the angel blushed, "that's irrelevant at the moment."
Gabriel guffawed. "Ah, I should have kept my eye on you more." He cleared his throat. "The Metatron specifically stated no one was to go near those files, especially after the nephilims fiasco. I didn't even know about the nephalems until you guys contacted us." He turned towards his demon. "Maybe we should…"
Beelzebub clicked their tongue. "For the millionth time, no. Stop asking. This one keeps wanting one after he found out it was possible."
"Yes," Gabriel gave an amused smile, "it would be like having a pet. Always wanted one of those."
"Am I like a pet?" All four entries turned towards the other side of the Bentley. "May I be a cat? Cassi closed the door and walked to the other side, setting herself in between her parents. "Is it possible to transform into a cat?"
"Wow. It's as if she has a mind of her own." Gabriel chuckled and reached his hand to pet Cassi; however, the former boss of heaven didn't manage to get not even an inch closer to the nephalem. Aziraphale had wrapped a protective arm around Cassi's shoulder and pulled her a step back while Crowley launched forward and grabbed Gabriel's wrist forcefully, halting any movement. "Ow."
"Step back." Crowley growled.
Beelzebub clapped in both amusement and awe. "This is an interesting sight."
"Um," Gabriel gestured his chin towards his immobile wrist, "Aziraphale?"
Aziraphale said nothing and took another step back.
"Let him go, Crowley." Beelzebub commanded calmly. "He's not going to harm your little one."
Crowley looked back at Aziraphale and finally let go of Gabriel once Aziraphale nodded slightly.
"As I was saying," Gabriel soothed his wrist and stood close to his own demon, "the great plan was for us to finally settle things between the opposition once and for all. The war between heaven and hell is meant to be. The only thing you two managed to do was prolong it. War first, second coming afterwards."
"Tell us about the other one. The other nephalem."
"He's a piece of work." Crowley replied with a scowl. "Bit of a bad influence that one."
Cassi clicked her tongue. "Dad doesn't like him."
"Dad?" Beelzebub grinned. "Domestic life treating you well, yea?"
Crowley smirked.
"He's really not that bad." Aziraphale defended Cassi's only friend. "He's, um, an alright fellow."
Crowley rolled his eyes. "Ugh, Aziraphale doesn't see the bad in him."
"Do you really live up in the stars?"
Beelzebub smiled. "We do." They pointed up into the sky. "Right around there. Just the two of us. Your friend, Cassi," their tone was serious, "their dad was a very powerful demon. A duke of hell. If your dad says he is bad news, there is a reason for it. Demons can tell when one is bad." They whispered the last part.
Crowley cocked his head. "How do you know his dad was a duke?"
Beelzebub turned to Gabriel. "Ah, yes." Gabriel snapped his fingers as he remembered and handed Aziraphale some files that appeared out of thin air.
"Wha-" Aziraphale scanned through them, "How?"
Gabriel shrugged. "Turns out heaven needs to work on their security system. I simply waltz inside. Someone even greeted me as I walked by them."
Aziraphale skimmed through the files before handing them over to Crowley. "Erm…thank you." The angel smiled politely at Gabriel.
"Don't mention it. Consider it a thank you for helping me months prior."
Crowley looked through the files. "Th-this says…says an institutional problem." He stammered. "Demons and angels have been having relationships for years. Ngk…heaven has been keeping it a secret by eliminating both angels and demons."
Gabriel raised a finger. "Ah, yes. I did read that, but I was not aware of it." He chuckled. "Seems the higher ups did not want me to know of such a thing."
Aziraphale shook his head in disapproval. "Did you not question why angels were disappearing?
Gabriel sucked air through his teeth. "I don't have time to know every angel. I barely knew your name."
"Right then, you got your files, what's your plan then?" Crowley and Aziraphale exchanged looks. "Well," Beelzebub continued, "you can't stop the war." They crossed their arms. "Earth will eventually turn into a battlefield."
"A pile of burning goo." Aziraphale whispered.
Gabriel clapped his hands loudly. "Right. We're off then." He took Beelzebub's hand in his. "Good luck!"
Amidst their disappearing act, Beelzebub gave Crowley some friendly advice. "You cannot stop it. Let it take its course. You three are welcomed to stay with us when all this comes crumbling down."
Cassi groaned as she walked into the bookshop on Whickber street. "Why can't I stay at my own flat?"
Crowley locked the door behind him and removed his glasses. "Because we are the parents and we said so."
"For your safety, darling." Aziraphale smiled at his daughter and breathed a sigh of happiness as he looked around his beloved shop. "It will be only for a day or two." The angel removed his coat and placed it on the back of his armchair while his hands carefully roamed through his desk full of knick knacks and rellies. Crowley went to stand behind the angel, embraced him from behind, placed his chin on the angel's left shoulder, and whispered something that made Aziraphale blush.
Meanwhile, Cassi looked away, giving her parents some privacy. It wasn't long until her phone vibrated. "Um," she looked up from her phone and towards her parents, "may I go across the street for a cup of coffee?"
Crowley turned to her. "Wha…no."
Cassi groaned. "Dad, please. I've been cooped up with you two for months. The last time we were here, we only went to the Ritz, where you and papa practically ignored me as if you were on a date, with your googly eyes and everything."
"I…I…how do you even know? I was wearing my glasses." Crowley's cheeks turned slightly red. "May I remind you, for someone who is grounded, you do enjoy the occasional outing or two with…ugh…your…your…that one."
"Of course you can, my darling." Aziraphale scrunched his nose and smiled lovingly.
"Huh? Nonono…Azira-"
Cassi dashed to the door. "Thank you, papa. Love you, papa." The nephalem waved at her parents. "Love you too, dad."
As the door closed, Crowley turned to Aziraphale. "Angel." He placed his hands on his slinky hips. "You give her too much freedom." He wiggled an accusatory finger at the soft angel.
Aziraphale chuckled. "You are too protective of her. Let her enjoy herself. She is quite right; it's only us she spends most of her time with. A small outing across the street will do her some good. Let her breathe a little." The angel hopped onto his desk. "Besides, my love," His pupils dilated as he looked at his thin, dark duke while he opened his legs, "I would so much like to try what you whispered to me some moments ago. I'd be lying if I said I hadn't thought of it myself."
Crowley smirked and snapped his fingers, closing all the window shades throughout the shop and locking the door. The demon sauntered to his angel and stood in between his legs. "Had you?"
Aziraphale wrapped his arms around Crowley's neck and pulled him closer. "More or less."
The demon gestured to the sofa. "There?" His voice was deep and seductive.
Aziraphale shook his head. "You said desk." He chuckled. "Well?"
"Well, what?"
"On your knees."
Meanwhile across the street, Cassi had walked into the busy coffee shop and sat at one of the tables. "There's an angel in your flat." Elliot greeted.
"Muriel." Cassi replied as a matter of factly. "They are staying there while we are at the shop. My parents miss the shop and decided to let Muriel borrow my flat." She crossed her arms. "Without consulting me first…the audacity." She huffed.
"Hey." Nina walked over to the table. "You're back. Mr. Fell's and Mr. Six Shots of Espresso in a Big Cup's daughter."
Cassi smiled. "Nina. How have you been? How's Maggie?"
"Busy mostly. Both of us really. The record shop has had many customers this past month."
"Has it?"
Nina chuckled and looked in the direction of her girlfriend's shop. "It has. She was sure you were going to be her last customer and was ready to close. By some miracle, people began purchasing records as if it was water. She had to hire an assistant to keep up with orders."
"That's great. I'm glad it all worked out for her."
Elliot grinned. "A miracle, huh?"
Nina took Elliot in. "Oh, hello."
"Nina, this is my friend, Elliot."
"Charmed." Elliot nodded.
"Boyfriend?"
Cassi waved her hands in front of her. "Wha…what? Nonono…friend…um…friend. Erm…please, do…do not tell my parents you saw him, especially my dad."
Nina chortled. "I promise. So, same drink then, like last time?"
"Um…"
Elliot shrugged. "Whatever you want, little nephalem."
Cassi nodded at Nina.
"Two iced americanos coming right up." Nina smiled and walked away.
Elliot crossed his arms and leaned forward. "So, what did you find out?"
"Did you know your dad was a duke of hell?"
"Was he?"
"Explains so much."
"How so?"
"Why you're so grumpy all the time." Cassi reached for Elliot's face and pressed a finger on the corner of his mouth and pulled upwards. "Grumpy nephalem." She giggled wholeheartedly.
Elliot furrowed his brow and feigned annoyance. He chuckled as he gently placed his hand on Cassi's wrist, holding her hands on his face all while Cassi continued to giggle. A mere second later, Cassi halted her giddiness and removed her touch on her friend's face. "I have to go." She said seriously.
Elliot was perplexed by the sudden change of mood but did not stop her when his friend stood. "Call you later? Give me the details of what happened?"
"...mhm…" Was all she said before she power walked out the shop.
Out on the street, Cassi ran towards her parent's bookshop and miracled the damn door opened. She did not notice her parents at the back of the shop, or anything for that matter, as she ran up the spiral staircase.
Aziraphale removed himself from Crowley when he planted his feet firmly on the ground and fixed his trousers. Crowley wiped his mouth with the back of his hand, pulled up his own pants, and stood. "Cassi?" Aziraphale called concerned.
