Family Part 11

"Is this absolutely necessary?"  Aziraphale asked as he looked around their flat.  There were balloons and streamers and other such nonsense that he just scowled at. 

"Our children only turn a year old once, Aziraphale.  It's something to celebrate."  Crowley smiled as she put the finishing touches on the little cakes that each child was going to get.  She'd looked it up online.  They were called smash cakes and it was a brilliant idea. 

"But they won't remember any of this."  Aziraphale said rather exasperated.  He really didn't like the idea at all, he'd only gone along with it because it seemed to make Crowley happy. 

"That's why we take pictures and video so we can show them when they're older."  Crowley walked over and gave Aziraphale a quick kiss on the lips.  "Plus, my love, you're going off of human memory standards.  They could remember all of it, you don't know." 

"I suppose you're right."  Aziraphale shook his head. 

"Now, how about you go scowl in the garden with Arthur while Deirdre and I finish up in here."  Crowley kissed him again. 

"I don't scowl."  Aziraphale pouted a little before doing as he was told and going outside.  Deirdre and Arthur had just shown up. 

"DEE!"  Eve yelled when the woman came into view.  It was one of the few words that they could actually say.  Freddie was too busy examining the toys that were hanging in front of him. 

"Hello my lovelies."  Deirdre said as she came into the house and picked up Eve.  The little girl giggled as Deirdre kissed her cheek. 

"Dee."  She said, accidentally smacking Deirdre in the face.  Deirdre just laughed and took the hand, pretending to nibble on the chubby little fingers, which caused Even to giggle even more. 

"Thank you for coming to help out."  Crowley walked over and gave Deirdre a quick kiss on the cheek. 

"It's no trouble at all, love.  I know how hard it was to set something like this up with just Adam, I can only imagine having to keep two kids under control."  She nodded. 

"Zira has been almost no help at all."  Crowley rolled her eyes as she went back to finishing up the cakes. 

"Of course he hasn't."  Deirdre shook her head.  "The men are only useful when it comes to eating the food, not when it comes to making it."  She looked at the little girl in her arms.  "Isn't that right, Evie?"  She chuckled.  Eve just stared at her like she was trying to figure out the right answer. 



Putting the finishing touches on the party didn't take very long at all once Deirdre got there.  Newt and Anathema showed up with their children, who pretended to be very bored because it was a baby's party after all.  A few of the other people from neighborhood showed up as well.  The twins thoroughly enjoyed getting cake everywhere and Crowley had even convinced Aziraphale to stay inside and take video of the cake smashing.  She caught him smiling a few times throughout the afternoon and managed to sneak a picture of Freddie offering him a fistful of cake.

"You don't have to do that, dear."  Crowley said as Deirdre started to help with the cleaning up.  Arthur had already gone ahead home with his wife's blessing. 

"I don't mind at all, really."  Deirdre smiled as she moved around picking up empty cups and plates.  Aziraphale was off giving the twins a bath while Crowley tried to tidy up downstairs.  Crowley just watched Deirdre for a minute. 

"Is everything alright?"  There was just something about the way her friend was moving that made her a little concerned. 

"I'm fine, love.  I promise.  I'm just.....well....this has all made me realize how much I miss Adam."  She said it with a sad sort of chuckle. 

"He hasn't been home to visit?"  That seemed a bit odd to Crowley.  She went over and stood a little closer to Deirdre. 

"Not since the last time, no."  She shook her head.  Crowley had just assumed that Adam hadn't stopped by to see them on other visits. 

"Maybe you should go see him."  Crowley offered with a grin. 

"I don't want to intrude.  I think he might have a girlfriend."  Deirdre made a face.  As far as she was concerned there was no girl that was good enough for her son. 

"Oh well then you absolutely must intrude.  Especially if you don't know for sure."  Crowley winked at her mischievously.   "I'll even go with you.  I think Zira wouldn't mind having the kids to himself for a few days." 

"I think Zira most definitely would."  Aziraphale said as he came back downstairs.  "What are you plotting?" 

"I am going to take Deirdre and we're going to go visit Adam who has been a very bad boy and not come home to visit his mother in quite some time."  Crowley raised an eyebrow at him.  There was no room for argument in her tone.  Aziraphale sighed. 

"Maybe it's you he's avoiding."  Aziraphale gave her that look and Crowley just stuck her tongue out at him. 

"Let me call him."  Deirdre said, chuckling as she watched the two of them.  She missed the days when she and Arthur used to be like that.  "Then we'll go, alright?" 

"Alright."  Crowley nodded.  "Just let me know, darling."  She gave Deirdre another kiss on the cheek.  "Now, get going.  I'm not letting you clean up anymore." 

"Alright, alright.  I'll go."  Deirdre gave Crowley a quick hug and waved at Aziraphale.  Crowley walked her  out to the gate and gave her one more hug, standing outside to make sure she made it down the lane okay. 

"You're a very good friend, my love."  Aziraphale said as Crowley came back into the cottage.  He was sitting on the couch holding Eve who refused to go to sleep.  Crowley sat down next to them. 

"She misses him so much.  I hate seeing her so sad."  Crowley sighed a little bit. 

"I know you do."  He leaned over and kissed her cheek softly.  "And I know that you'll do whatever you can to fix it."  Demon or not, Crowley really was a very nice person, though Aziraphale had learned a long time ago not to say that particular four letter word out loud. 

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