Chapter Text
Chapter Eleven: I’ll Be Waiting
The Eternal Flame
“Grab the snowglobe,” Aziraphale instructed. “Let’s make another circle.”
“What do you use to summon a bookshop?” Anthony asked as he picked it up.
“Books, I suppose?” Asa answered as he cleared enough room around the Eternal Flame for their summoning circle, trying to judge how big the bookshop might be.
Jesus and Adam put their white board markers around the circle, as Anthony put a few of his “Astrophysics for Everyone” books from the garage around. Asa offered his journal chronicling all of his dreams and their notes and ideas for stories.
Crowley manifested a white mug with angel wings, set it down, and stepped aside for the angel.
Aziraphale entered the circle, holding a ring of keys with an angel wing keychain.
He held up a book and started to read. “It was a nice day. All the days had been nice. There had been rather more than seven of them so far, and rain hadn’t even been invented yet.”
The air felt charged around them.
“But clouds massing east of Eden suggested that the first thunderstorm was on its way, and it was going to be a big one.”
Snow started to fall.
“Um. Hullo,” Aziraphale began politely. “I know I left you in such a state. But I want you to know I’ve missed you so much. And we’d appreciate it if you wouldn’t mind joining us.”
Red brick started materializing inside the snow, as the humans slowly started to back away.
Aziraphale turned his key in thin air to unlock the door.
“You are the whole world.”
The large pillars and red walls towered over them.
“Let there be light,” said Aziraphale.
The lights inside the bookshop turned on.
He patted the door. “Good bookshop.”
They all turned and looked at each other.
“This is up to you four, now,” said Adam.
Jesus nodded. “We’ve given you all the tools we can. We’ll wait right here.”
Aziraphale opened the door. “After you.”
Asa took Anthony’s hand and stepped inside in wonder. “It’s just like I imagined. Over all those dreams…”
“What are we meant to find, here?” Anthony dared to ask.
“Our happily ever afters. I suppose.” Aziraphale breathed a sigh of relief, being inside his bookshop after so long.
Crowley took a seat on his favorite worn-out settee, thread bare after hundreds of years of drunken chats with his angel. He put a reverent hand over the familiar fabric. “You know, I quite like the old ones, too.”
Aziraphale sat next to him, and took his hand. “Same, dearest.”
On the desk, exactly where they had left it, was the Book of Life, full of empty pages still to be written.
Asa peeked inside and read. “There were four of them in that bookshop, which was the whole world.”
“An angel,” said Aziraphale.
“A former demon,” said Crowley.
“A bookseller,” said Asa.
“And an astrophysicist,” said Anthony.
Aziraphale added their names to the Book of Life. “Two humans who looked an awful lot like them, but were their own unique persons, from their own, safe, and happy universe.”
Asa took a seat in the Chesterfield. “So, what is a happily ever after?”
They were all silent, deep in thought.
“That’s the question, isn’t it?” Anthony started pacing. “Is it marriage? Or sex? A few sentences at the end saying exactly your truth and being completely understood no matter how unrealistic that sounds?”
Crowley spoke up first. “For me, it was dismantling the system the only way I knew how. With Aziraphale at my side.”
Anthony leaned on Asa’s chair. “Fair enough. For me that was studying the stars and having Asa by my side.”
“I think that's why the ending on all of my favorite stories are terrible,” said Asa.
Anthony raised an eyebrow. “What do you mean?”
“Well, we never really want the story to end, do we?” explained Asa. “When you have a complicated story that expands eons, it’s hard to bring that to a satisfying conclusion. To name a few off the top of my head, Game of Thrones. Quantum Leap. Alf…”
“Alf? That alien puppet show from the 80’s?” Anthony clarified.
“Yes! It had the worst ending!” Asa huffed.
“Don’t tell me you wrote Alf fanfiction to fix that ending…”
Asa was silent.
“Hoo-hoo!” Anthony snorted. “Oh, I’m absolutely looking that up when we get back!”
“I think you’re on to something though,” Crowley jumped in. “It’s hard to make happy endings for people who try to be heroes, innit? And that’s really the problem of all the universes. Everyone always waits for someone else to fix everything!”
“You know, I quite agree,” said Asa. “We need more regular folks making a difference and speaking truth to power.”
“Our attempt on that didn’t go so well,” Anthony grimaced. “But at least we gave it a go.”
“Maybe we can inspire others to speak up, and it will make a difference,” Asa answered. “If not in our lifetime, then in others. Isn’t that what we’re here for? To make life better for those who come after us?”
“I will say, our attempt on that didn’t go so well, either,” Aziraphale sighed. “But yes, at least we tried.”
“And you gave us our universe,” Anthony said. “That wasn’t for nothing. And you both retired. Well, one of you did. And the world’s fate should always have to be on you, anyway.”
“Like Adam and Jesus said, I'm starting to think the missing pages wouldn't have helped your story or universe even if we found them.” Asa stared at the blank pages. “There were just too many things that needed fixed.”
Crowley scratched his jaw. “I do think someone was determined to destroy us and I don't think it was Michael. A dark force. And I don't think it was Satan.”
“We can’t change the past, dearest. But we can change the future.” Aziraphale held open his fancy box of pens.
They each took one, intimidated by the blank pages before them.
“What if…” said Asa, “We write each other’s happy endings? We know each other pretty thoroughly. And then it’s still, well, a surprise.”
They all looked at each other, and nodded.
*
As they wrote, new stars appeared in the sky over them.
“Look at that!” Anthony jumped up. “Stars being born as we speak.”
“A star factory,” Crowley grinned with pride. “Imagination is a powerful thing.”
“What?” Anthony turned to him. “You mean, we’re creating those?”
“Yes, as we write,” the former demon gestured up. “It’s an imagination star factory. Like the Archive that Adam and Jesus mentioned. Each new story creates a new universe. Endless possibilities.”
“Like the single grain of sand. From the Never-ending Story. All that was left of Fantasia,” said Asa.
“Fantastica,” Aziraphale corrected. “In the original novel, that is.”
Asa put down his pen. “I think that covers everything. An Armageddon-proof world, other universes to see, and your own pocket bookshop protected in a bubble for as long as you need safely on our shelf.”
“Shh!” Anthony playfully smacked him. “Don’t spoil the ending!”
“Oh, we have more in store for you both. Don’t worry about that.” Asa grinned.
“And we wrote in a few things for you,” Aziraphale put down his pen. “But try as we might, even with our combined miracles, we couldn’t fix everything.”
Crowley huffed. “Best I could do was cursing Bezo's hair and all of Musk's marriages, and giving the killer whales on Earth a desire for revenge against yachts.”
"It's a well orca-strated scheme," deadpanned Aziraphale.
Asa laughed, as Anthony and Crowley groaned.
“That's all right," said Asa. "I suppose we are overdue for a worldwide labor movement, at any rate. It's up to the humans to fix our own mess.”
“Do you want to remember meeting us?” Crowley asked.
Asa and Anthony looked at each other, considering.
“Yes. Because if we don’t, I think I’ll always have questions,” Anthony answered.
Asa held Anthony’s hand. “I think it will be more relaxing to know the reason for my dreams. And it will be a chance to see how you and the other universes are getting along.”
“I suppose this is goodbye?” said Anthony, but even as he said it, he couldn’t help but feel sad at the thought.
“Naawww,” drawled Crowley. “You both have earned yourselves your own Guardian Angel and Guardian Former Demon.”
“And that trip we took together was quite a lot of fun,” Aziraphale grinned. “Perhaps we’ll get a chance to take another one.”
“Maybe it’s written in your story, but we won’t spoil anything either,” Crowley stood. “But in any case, we want to thank you both. For bringing us back and giving us this chance.”
“Well, goodbye, just for now, then," said Asa.
They all stood politely facing each other.
And then wrapped their arms around each other in a huge group hug, as the snow started falling harder outside.
The South Downs on the New Earth
Anthony and Asa sat, hand in hand, in their red lawn chairs watching the night sky, reflecting on their adventures on a nighttime picnic under the stars.
“I like that they stood up to God and Satan at the end, and envisioned a new world that isn’t beholden to the dysfunctional systems in that universe,” Anthony said. “I even like that they were willing to give up what they loved most to make that happen. But I’m glad they didn’t have to lose everything, in the end.”
Asa nodded. “I know Crowley said he didn't like eternity. But things were just getting good in their world. Technology had improved, there are so many new inventions every day. They went through 5,000 years of riding horses and Crowley’s only had his Bentley less than a century.”
“Humans really are a small blip in the timeline of space," Anthony agreed. "I know if I created the stars, I would want to be there to see it.”
Asa looked at him. “Darling, I’ve been wanting to ask. Does this change anything for you? Knowing what we know?”
“Honestly, not really,” Anthony smiled. “I mean, I could write a detailed book on pocket universes that no one would read. I could spend the rest of my life trying to prove those other worlds exist but no one would believe me anyway.”
Asa looked up at the stars. "I feel like I can be at peace and have an easy retirement with you, even knowing everything we know. Destiny or not, I'm glad that we got to find each other in our own way. And it seems our love story continues forever, which you have to admit is very romantic."
Anthony squeezed his hand. “We got to see all the versions of us across the multiverse and it seems we are the safest and happiest right here. I think the data shows we don't need to change a thing.”
“Do you hear that bird?” Asa asked.
Anthony listened. “That’s definitely a nightingale.”
“How can you tell?”
“Well it’s not an owl. And it’s night.”
“You wouldn’t know a nightingale if it perched on the end of your nose.”
Anthony leaned forward in his chair. “It’s definitely, definitely a nightingale.”
They listened, hoping that Aziraphale and Crowley could hear the nightingales in their universe.
“Do you ever wonder if there’s anything more than this?” Asa asked, thinking about what the angel and former demon wrote in the Book of Life for their story.
“I don’t need anything more than this. I have the universe out there and I have you. I have everything I’ve ever wanted.”
Asa melted at his husband’s loving words. “I suppose that’s really satisfying isn’t it? To know the outcomes of every possible version of ourselves, and to know that the angel and demon thought they were happiest with us, on our timeline? And it makes me hopeful that some part of our story continues, through the heat death of the universe.”
“Even that’s not a deal breaker.”
“Maybe we can visit them, when we are done here.” Asa said, hopefully. “Unless they visit sooner.”
Anthony looked up at the stars. “Maybe we keep creating each other in an infinite loop. Going round and round again as angels or humans. Maybe we learn a little each time, like they did.”
“I like not knowing all the answers,” Asa admitted. “Even knowing everything we know now. We asked a literal angel and demon and they had no idea. I think that helps. Everyone is just as clueless and doing what we can with what we have.”
“I guess if I had to choose what to believe, whether it's an uncaring God who rigged the game so we'll always lose, or whether the Big Bang was just a big accident, or whether two bumbling immortals who love each other despite their differences somehow magically created everything, I guess I really like that last one. And I’m glad he replaced the car I lost, too,” said Anthony, looking at the driveway. “I certainly couldn’t afford a Bentley on my retirement money, with all those unsold books in the garage.”
“I’m glad we all had this little adventure,” Asa grinned. “And I’m glad we still have our happily ever after.”
Anthony leaned over and they shared a kiss, under the stars.
The South Downs on the Old Earth
The South Downs in Aziraphale and Crowley’s Earth looks a little different than the one in Asa and Anthony’s.
Behind their quaint little cottage is a giant bookshop, for one thing, that definitely stands out in their cozy little village, with just a few modernized touches. And just beside the bookshop is Bentley, back in her dark colors, with a thin, stylish, yellow racing stripe.
Aziraphale and Crowley sit in their own red lawn chairs, holding hands, staring up at the night sky, with all the snacks and alcohol and treats that were left for them by Asa and Anthony from their summoning circle surrounding them.
“What time is it? Is the Ritz open yet? We’re definitely overdue an extremely alcoholic breakfast at the Ritz,” said Crowley, before he thought better of it. “Or at least an extremely luxurious breakfast at the Ritz.”
“It’s nice to know that Asa and Anthony are out there, isn’t it?” said Aziraphale, staring at the night sky. “When I focus, I can still see them.”
“Me too. And you know, I think I hear their nightingale,” whispered Crowley.
When they concentrated, they heard the bird’s song, along with Asa and Anthony arguing about whether it was a nightingale or not.
“Of course it’s a nightingale!” Crowley threw up his hands. “This is the happy ever after so of course there are nightingales!”
“For us, too, dearest.” Aziraphale leaned over, and they gave each other a kiss in the privacy of their own garden, under their own apple tree.
Crowley reflected on their adventures, listening to Asa and Anthony’s conversation. “Maybe all of it is true at once. We are part of the fabric of the universe. We are part of human imagination. We are living our own retirement inside a pocket universe snow globe of the bookshop which had the entire world. We rewrote the rules. There's a lot unfinished but that's what stories are for.”
They watch Asa and Anthony some more.
“I guess she’s right. Watching it from this side,” said Aziraphale. “Our love really is the messiest, silliest, most predictable thing in the universe.”
“Listening to them has made me think,” Crowley scratched his jaw. “Maybe we don't need the big talks and smooches to be happy. We just need freedom to be ourselves and time to figure out the rest.”
“Maybe love doesn’t always have to be a big sacrifice,” Aziraphale agreed. “Maybe we can grow and change and learn on our own time and schedule. I’m just glad I have more time with you so we can.”
Crowley squeezed his hand and leaned back. “So? What happens now?”
“Whatever we like.” Aziraphale grinned. “I was wondering if you could show me how to access that archive…”
“Oh, sure.” Crowley pulled out his phone. “There’s a search box up at the top. This is where you can search by ship…”
“Like a boat?”
“No, it’s short for ‘relationship’ because the cool kids like to use less syllables.”
“I suppose that makes you a ‘cool kid’ then because you’ve been calling me ‘Angel’ since the beginning.”
Crowley paused. “Do you not like it?”
“Darling, I love it,” Aziraphale answered, and then looked closer at some of the stories that came up on the search. “Um, this is all rather…”
“Oh. Yup. Sorry about that. See, this bit on the side is where you can filter. The letters here mean how smutty you want it, you can filter on your preferences.”
“That’s better!”
Crowley stared at the screen. “Wait, did you mean include ‘E’ or exclude?”
“Include,” Aziraphale smiled at him.
“Oh. You astonish me.”
Outside, a light snow started to fall, and up in the night sky, new stars appeared.