For A Thousand Years Part 2

He gave the sword away.  Crawly couldn't believe it.  The angel had given the flaming sword to the mortals.  He wondered if there would be any kind of repercussions for the behavior.  If he would actually get in any kind of trouble.  Heaven seemed a bit more forgiving of things like that, of course, but it was still something that they'd both worried about.  They spent the day together talking as the angel sheltered him from the storm with his wing, not even minding that he was getting wet himself.  It was a lovely conversation that Crawly would have enjoyed for a lot longer if not for the angel being called away.  

The next day, Crawly slithered through the garden.  It was a very efficient way to travel, really.  He was searching for the angel.  For Aziraphale of the Eastern Gate.  He wanted to talk to him some more.  It was entirely possible that Crawly was actually developing feelings for the angel in a very short amount of time.  He liked to think that the angel felt the same way.  

"You gave the sword away?"  Crawly heard a loud voice say from seemingly nowhere.  He made his way very slowly toward the bright light that shown down on the angel.  

"Yes, I did.  I'm sorry, my Lord, but they needed a way to defend themselves.  She's expecting and you just cast them out into the world with nothing.  I had to do something."  The angel pleaded as he looked up into the light.  

"No, you didn't.  Being cast out was their punishment for disobeying me.  They were supposed to fend for themselves.  Whatever would happen, would happen."  The voice sounded angry.  That definitely sounded like God.  "You can either repent or you can be punished."  

"I'm sorry, my Lord, but I can not repent for something I do not regret doing."  Aziraphale stood up straight.  Crawly was very proud of the angel for standing his ground.  It made him love him that much more.   "I stand by my decision.  If that means I must be punished, then so be it."  Aziraphale said.  Crawly was waiting for the angel to fall.  For his wings to turn black and for him to become a demon.  They could absolutely spend more time together then.  

"So be it."  God said.  "If you so love these mortals that you would defy me to help them, perhaps you should enjoy spending your life as one of them."  The light got a bit brighter and Crawly had to look away.  When he looked back, the bright light was gone.  Aziraphale stood where he was, his wings completely gone, his clothing changed to a dingy gray rather than the shining white they had been.  

"NO!"  Crawly hissed loudly as he made his way over and shifted into his humanoid form.  "You can't do that!"  He screamed at the sky.  

"Crawly, stop."  Aziraphale said, putting a hand on his arm.  "It's alright."  He offered a small smile.  

"It's not alright at all.  She's punishing you for helping someone!  How is that fair?"  Crawly looked up at the sky again before looking back at Aziraphale.  

"I'm sure it's all part of the plan." Aziraphale said with a shrug.  "Now, rather than dwell on it, perhaps you could help me find some shelter out there in the world."  

"Of course.  I can do that at least."  Crawly sighed and wrapped his arms around Aziraphale.  A snap of his fingers and they were in another part of the world.  He could miracle up a shelter and some food and do everything he could to make sure that Aziraphale was safe.  

"You are awfully nice for a demon."  Aziraphale commented.  

"Never wanted to be a demon."  Crawly shrugged.  That seemed to be enough of an answer.  Crawly wanted to stay with Aziraphale.  To live with him and just be with him, but work unfortunately took precedent.  He had other people he had to go tempt.  Things he had to set in motion.  He would visit as often as he could, though.  

It was hard for him, watching Aziraphale has he started to get older and older.  He was one of the oldest living humans, after a while.  Managed to make it nearly two hundred years.  And Crowley would spend all of his spare time with Aziraphale.  He would talk about his assignments and his various adventures.  It hadn't taken long at all for him to fall in love with Aziraphale and he made very clear that the feelings were actually mutual.  

"I can heal you.  Can make you young again.  All you have to do is ask."  Crawly said with tears in his eyes as Aziraphale grew weaker in his bed.  "Please, you can't leave me."  

"It is the way of things."  Aziraphale whispered, barely able to speak.  He reached for Crawly's hand and the demon immediately took it.  "I've lived far longer than I should have already."  He laughed softly and it turned into a cough.  

"What am I going to do without you?" Crawly asked, rubbing Aziraphale's chest to help ease the cough.  He wanted to miracle everything away.  To make him vibrant and young again.  

"You will go on.  And you will do what you do best."  Aziraphale smiled.  He tried to squeeze Crawly's hand but it was a wasted effort.  "We will find each other again.  I promise."  

Those were the last words that Aziraphale said before closing his eyes and breathing his last breath.  Crawly just stayed there, holding his hand and sobbing.  He let out an unearthly wail that echoed all of the pain in the world.  When he finally went back to hell to get his next assignment he was extremely grateful to find that Aziraphale was not there.  God had given him that much mercy at least.  While Aziraphale had kept his faith in God even with everything that happened, in that one particular moment Crawly's faith was completely obliterated.