Family

Shortly after the wedding, Crowley and Aziraphale talked the owners of Jasmine Cottage into selling it to them.  The fact that they were offering three times market value might have had something to do with it.  They just both really loved Tadfield and Aziraphale had a strong feeling that Adam was partially responsible for that.  When Aziraphale expressed his desire to stay in Tadfield, a discussion started that ended with the book shop being given over to Anathema and Newt to run.  Aziraphale still owned the shop and had given them a list of books that were not to be sold under any circumstances.

That had been five years ago.  Crowley had been maintaining the garden since they moved in and it was the most lush and beautiful garden in the whole of Oxfordshire.  Whenever he was asked about how he managed it, he simply told them that the plants did most of the work, he simply encouraged them.  This usually got him very strange looks but he didn't care.  He certainly couldn't tell anyone that his plants were terrified of disappointing him. 

Crowley was sitting at the little kitchen table staring out the window and trying to figure out what it was that he was feeling.  There was something in the back of his head that kept poking at him but he wasn't quite sure what it was.  And it wasn't just at the back of his head.  There was something deep down inside that was like an itch that he just couldn't scratch.  He needed to figure it out or it would just keep bothering him.

"Happy anniversary, darling."  Aziraphale said as he came up behind Crowley and put a little present down on the table in front of him.  He wrapped his arms around Crowley's shoulders and kissed his neck softly.

"Is it?  I'm sorry, I completely lost track."  The days seemed to all be running together the last couple of months.

"That's quite alright, dear.  And you don't have to worry.  You gave me an absolutely fantastic gift this morning."  He smirked a little and kissed Crowley's neck again.  Crowley chuckled softly.

"Well, I would hope you enjoyed that."  He shifted a little in his seat so that he could give Aziraphale a kiss on the lips.

"Go on.  Open it."  Aziraphale kissed back before standing up straight and going around to sit across from Crowley.  He'd actually been searching for a few weeks to get him what he thought would be the perfect gift.  He'd also done a bit of research to make sure that it was the traditional fifth anniversary gift.  Crowley opened the box and inside was a little wooden keychain that had their initials engraved in it as well as their wedding day.  He picked it up and looked at it for a moment.

"Wood is the traditional fifth anniversary gift, dear."  Aziraphale smiled.

"Well, then what I gave you this morning really was perfect."  Crowley said with a wink and a smirk.  The smirk changed to a grin when Aziraphale turned bright red.

"Yes, quite."  Aziraphale cleared his throat.  He then looked at Crowley a bit hopefully.  Crowley leaned across the table and gave Aziraphale a quick kiss on the lips.

"I love it, thank you."  He kissed Aziraphale one more time before sitting back in his seat, chuckling at the relief that showed on the angel's face.

"So, my darling.  What shall we do today?  I thought perhaps we could head into London for the day.  There's a new restaurant I would love to try.  If you're amenable of course."  Aziraphale smiled.

"Yes, that sounds wonderful."  Crowley nodded, looking at the keychain for a moment.  It really was a very thoughtful gift.  That was Aziraphale.  Thoughtful and kind and loving and the most adorable of beings in existence.  And then there was that little itch deep down inside again.  Something that just wasn't going to leave him alone.


Crowley had actually obeyed the speed limit for most of the trip from Tadfield to London.  He considered it his little gift to Aziraphale.  The angel wouldn't have a heart attack and could get a nice look at the scenery along the way.  And Aziraphale had rather enjoyed the trip.  They spent part of the day at a museum as the restaurant that Aziraphale wanted to go to was open for dinner only.  After the museum, Aziraphale wanted to stop by the shop.  It had been a pleasant visit with Anathema and their two children.  Newt was off running some kind of errand that Crowley hadn't really been paying attention to.  He was too busy watching the kids play together.

Dinner was absolutely wonderful and everything that Aziraphale had expected.  On this particular occasion Crowley had even joined him in the meal and he did enjoy it.  They'd even ordered dessert even though Aziraphale feigned being far too full to eat it, though he'd eaten every last bite.  Except for the three that Crowley had taken, of course.  They went for a walk after dinner and just enjoyed the evening air before making their way back to the car and heading home to Tadfield.  Not needing sleep meant it didn't matter what time it was when they started to head home. 

That same feeling had been bothering Crowley all day.  He was a bit quiet on the drive home, trying to go over what could possibly be causing it.  When he went through the events of the day, he realized something.  The feeling had been at its absolute strongest during the visit with Anathema.  Both of the kids had hugged him before going off to play and it was like a million alarms went off in his head, but he'd just ignored it. 

"Something bothering you, dear?  You've been awfully quiet."  Aziraphale said when they got back to the cottage.  He took off his coat and hung it by the door. 

"No....I mean....possibly....well....yeah."  Crowley finally gave in and sighed as he removed his own jacket.  Aziraphale took it from him and hung it next to his.  He walked over and gave Crowley a quick kiss on the lips, putting his hands on his shoulders. 

"What is it, dear?  You know you can tell me anything."  Aziraphale smiled as he moved a hand up to Crowley's cheek.  Crowley took off his sunglasses so he could look Aziraphale in the eye as he finally gave a voice to what had been bothering him all day long, and if he were honest for quite a while before that. 

"I want a baby."  He braced himself as he waited for Aziraphale's response. 

"Oh."  Said quietly was the only response Aziraphale gave. 

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