Discorporated Part 2

The first thing that Crowley had to do was miracle up a will and a death certificate.  After having both of those in his hand, he had to sit and cry for a good thirty minutes.  It made everything absolutely final.  Aziraphale really was discorporated permanently.  The will said that everything that had been Azirpahale's was now Crowley's and that included the bookshop.  Crowley hadn't realized that Aziraphale actually owned the entire building which took up a whole block and that he was letting his tenants run their businesses rent free until all the paperwork was signed. 

"The only thing that's changing is the name on the deed."  Crowley assured his tenants.  Aziraphale would be very angry with him if he started trying to charge rent.  The solicitor that Crowley had spoken to said his claim to the property would be strengthened if he were actually living there.  He took his time moving in.  He decided not to change a single thing about the flat above the shop other than moving his houseplants.  They actually fit in quite nicely with the decor. 

"I think I'm all set."  Crowley said with a little smile.  He felt a slight chill and then there was that presence that told him Aziraphale was there, watching him.  "I'm doing everything I can, angel."  He sighed heavily as he ran his fingers over one of the leaves.  He could have sworn he felt Aziraphale's hand brush his.  Crowley raised an eyebrow when there was a knock at the bookshop door. 

"I'm sorry, we're closed."  Crowley said as he opened the door just a bit. 

"Oh, I know, sir.  My name is Francine.  I run the little bakery two doors down.  Mr Fell has been so kind to all of us in the building.  We're so sorry to hear of his passing."  The woman actually reminded Crowley a little bit of Madame Tracy. 

"Thank you."  Crowley offered a small smile. 

"We, the other tenants and I, were wondering if you would be okay with us holding a little memorial service here in the shop."   She was holding tightly to the edge of her apron as she asked.  Crowley could tell she was extremely nervous.  He opened the door a little wider and cleared his throat. 

"I...um....I think that'd be wonderful, actually.  Anyone that wants to come.  I'll arrange refreshments."  He cleared his throat again.  He was trying very hard to keep from crying. 

"Thank you, sir.  Thank you so much.  I'll give you all the details when we know exactly when we'd like to arrange it.  Thank you."  She smiled. 

"I'm the one that should be thanking you, actually."  Crowley smiled back and then shut the door when Francine went off to tell the others.  "You hear that, Zira?  They want to give you a little service.  The people around here really like you."  There was another little cold draft and the sensation of being touched. 



"Who's this?"  Sgt Shadwell answered the phone as he always did.  He hadn't quite gotten the hang of phone etiquette even after all these years. 

"This is Crowley."  The demon answered. 

"Your honor."  Shadwell's tone changed immediately.  "What can I do for you?" 

"You can put Tracy on the phone."  Crowley always kept things short and to the point with Shadwell. 

"Misses!  The phone is for you!"  Shadwell called as he put the phone down on the table.  There was a little bit of discussion in the background and then Tracy picked up the phone. 

"Hello?"  She said softly. 

"Madame Tracy. "  Crowley's tone changed a bit.  He was far more friendly with her. 

"Oh, Mr. Crowley.  How are you doing, love?  I was so sorry to hear about Mr Aziraphale."  There was a hint of sadness in her tone. 

"Actually, that's kind of why I called.  I need some help.  Could you come by the shop?  Whenever you have a chance."  Crowley cleared his throat.  He'd been doing that a lot to try to keep his emotions under control. 

"Of course, dear.  I can come by tomorrow.  I'm afraid I don't remember the bookshop's address."  She rummaged up a piece of paper and a pen and wrote it down when Crowley gave it to her. 

"Thank you, I really appreciate it."  Crowley smiled though she couldn't see him. 

"It's no trouble at all, love.  See you tomorrow."  They both hung up. 



Madame Tracy arrived at the shop the next day.  She didn't even have to knock because Crowley had been watching for her.  She gave him a quick hug and a kiss on the cheek before shutting the door and hanging up her cape. 

"What is it that you need, dear?"  She touched Crowley's arm. 

"There's a bit of a situation that you are uniquely qualified to handle."  He bit his lip for a second.  "That whole psychic thing wasn't entirely a put on, was it?" 

"Not entirely, no."  Tracy shook her head.  "Though I am very limited on what I can actually do."  She looked around the bookshop for a moment before looking back at Crowley. 

"So, here's the thing.  Aziraphale....well....he's not an angel anymore.  He gave up Heaven to get back down here and now he's haunting the bookshop."  Crowley gestured to the shop around him.  Madame Tracy just stared at him for a long moment. 

"Oh that is so very romantic."  She said softly.  Crowley raised an eyebrow.  "Darling, think about it.  Aziraphale gave up all of Heaven to be here with you haunting the bookshop.  That's how much he loves you."  She smiled. 

"That's how much he loves his bookshop."  Crowley said with a rather adamant shake of his head.  Crowley was suddenly very cold all over and one of the books fell off a nearby table.  "He's never done that before....."  Crowley tilted his head. 

"He's disagreeing with you, love.  It's not the bookshop he came back for."  Tracy smiled and started to get a bit misty eyed.  It was so beautiful. 

"Right."  Crowley wasn't at all sure how to handle that information.  He just sniffed a bit and looked at the book that was now on the floor and then looked at Madame Tracy again.  "The thing is, I need to strengthen his connection to the bookshop.  He needs to be stuck here." 

"Why would you want that, dear?"  Most people wanted their loved ones to move on. 

"Like I said, he gave up Heaven.  If he's not here haunting the bookshop, he just.....disappears.  No Heaven, no Hell, nothing.  Just.....nonexistence.  I can't let that happen."  Crowley ran his fingers through his hair.  "And I'm hoping that maybe strengthening his connection to the bookshop could help him....I don't know.....manifest."  He shrugged. 

"Right.  So you want to keep him here so that he keeps being at all."  She could understand that.  "I'm sure I can do it but it's going to take a lot of work.  And several people.  They'll all need to be here specifically for Aziraphale." 

"Would a....memorial service be of assistance?"  Crowley raised an eyebrow. 

"Absolutely.  That's the kind of energy that will help keep him here.  I know a couple of spells that can lock him down."  She smiled.  Crowley gave her all the details that Francine had given him that morning.  He set her up in a hotel room and then got to work.  He needed for Aziraphale to be able to stay. 





Crowley had been expecting a small gathering of maybe thirty or so people coming to pay their respects and say a few words.  They could all still fit in the bookshop and it wouldn't be a problem at all to provide refreshments.  What he hadn't expected was literally hundreds of people coming by the shop and standing around outside.  They'd gotten a special permit to block off part of the street so that everyone would have a place to gather.  There was a podium with a microphone so they could all say a few words if they wanted. 

Crowley stood completely amazed as person after person got up and talked about how Aziraphale had helped them in some way or another.  They all had the same story.  They would need help and Aziraphale would give it to him.  They would try to thank him and he would decline, saying it was just part of being a good person.  Over and over and over again.  He always helped and never wanted anything in return. 

While all of this was going on, Tracy was in the shop working her magic on trying to make sure Aziraphale was firmly rooted in the bookshop and would never disappear. 

"And now a few words from the new owner of the building."  A rather vibrant drag queen said from the podium.  She had rainbow hair and garish makeup and Crowley had a pretty good idea of why Aziraphale had liked her so much.  She was pointing at Crowley for quite a few seconds before his brain connected that his legs needed to be moving. 

"I....well.  I was quite surprised to see all of you here.  I thought there'd maybe be a couple of dozen people at best.  But to see all of this....."  He motioned out to the crowed.  "I guess when I really think about it, it's not all that surprising after all."  Crowley smiled a little.  "The man that you all know as A.Z. Fell was my absolute best friend for a very, very long time.  I went out of my way to do something almost impossible just because he said he'd never talk to me again if I didn't."  Crowley chuckled and there were murmurs of laugher in the crowd. 

"He had that effect on people.  He never asked for anything in return, but you would move Heaven and Earth if he ever needed it.  He was......the best person I have ever met in my life.  And not just because of how kind he was.  But because he saw me, a wretched creature that some would call absolutely evil, and he offered me shelter.  He took me under his wing and we became best friends.  Even when we fought, we never stayed mad at each other for long."  Crowley cleared his throat.  His voice was starting to shake.  He took a minute to take a few deep breaths to try to calm down. 

"He loved me even when I didn't deserve it.  Of course he never thought I didn't deserve it.  Everyone deserves love, he would say."  Crowley had to pause to wipe at his eyes.  "I was selfish, though.  I kept my feelings to myself.  I didn't tell him what was really going on.  What I'd thought about him from the very first moment I met him."  Crowley took another deep breath.

"I was so completely in love with him with everything that I was.  I did everything I could to keep him safe, even if it meant hurting myself in the process.  I should have told him while he was alive.  While we had the chance, but I didn't.  I kept it all inside and now I will never be able to tell him how much I will always love him."  The last couple of words almost didn't make it out and Crowley actually started crying.  The drag queen put an arm around his shoulders.  There were some words of encouragement from the crowd and Crowley made his way off the stage.  No one was offended when he decided to go hide in the bookshop for a bit. 

"Crowley....."  Aziraphale said softly.  His voice didn't sound quite right but it was his voice nonetheless.  Crowley looked up at the transparent apparition standing in the middle of the bookshop. 

"Zira....."  Crowley still had tears rolling down his cheeks. 

"It's an amazing thing, the power of love."  Madame Tracy said from the other side of the ghost.  "I'm afraid he's not solid so you're not going to be able to touch, but he'll be able to appear to you whenever he wants now.  And he's definitely not leaving the shop." 

"Thank you."  Crowley went around the ghost and gave Madame Tracy and huge hug.  "Thank you so much.  Anything you need from now on you just ask and it's yours.  I don't care what.  It's yours."  Crowley gave her a kiss on the cheek. 

"I'll keep that in mind, dear.  Now, I need to get back before the mister starts to worry."  She smiled and patted Crowley's arm. 

"Zira...."  Crowley turned to the ghost who was now looking at him.  Oh he wanted to touch him, to hold him close.  "I'm.....I'm sorry." 

"What on Earth are you apologizing for, Crowley?"  Aziraphale tilted his head a bit. 

"For...well...."  Crowley gestured to Aziraphale's form. 

"This isn't your fault in the slightest and you know it, silly man.  Stop blaming yourself."  He moved a little closer to Crowley.  "But you can blame yourself for not telling me how you feel.  Though Tracy did tell me that it was your love that was able to do this." 

"Not just me.  There are hundreds of people out there that love you.  I never realized how much good you were actually doing around here."  Crowley looked toward the door and then back at the ghost in front of him. 

"Part of the job description."  Aziraphale said with a shrug.  Crowley laughed softly and shook his head. 

"You're incredible."  He smiled.  "I'm just glad that I've got you back, in a way.  Maybe I can find a way to make you at least partially corporeal." 

"We can worry about that another time, dear.  For now you have guests to attend to.  And I need to check on my books."  Aziraphale smirked a little. 

"Everything is in it's place, angel.  The shop hasn't even been open this whole time."  Crowley chuckled.  He wanted so bad to kiss his angel but he would have to do with just being able to look at him. 

"I'll see to that myself, thank you."  Aziraphale did smile before floating off to inspect the books.  Crowley just rolled his eyes and went back to deal with the rather large crowd of people  that loved his angel almost as much as he did.