For a Thousand Years Part 14.
1863
Crowley had actually been searching for Aziraphale this time. The talisman that he'd been given was telling him exactly where to go. Who to look for. He assumed it had been long enough that he would be able to find his love as an adult. When he walked into St James Park, the feeling to look up hit him rather sharply. The talisman was spot on. His angel was in the park. He smiled a little before looking up. The smile faded, though, as soon as he saw the lovely golden glow coming off a woman that was very much not blonde.
She was sitting on a park bench and watching the people go by. Her back was to Crowley just then but the glow was definitely there. She was wearing a black dress in a style that indicated she had money. Her dark hair was pinned up under a hat with a black lace veil. She'd lost someone recently, of that he was certain. He was still very confused about the glow that indicated his angel until he started to move closer and got a view of her front. The woman was very heavily pregnant. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He thought it would be best to just leave her alone, let his angel grow up and then try again. That was until he noticed that the woman was crying.
"I'm terribly sorry to bother you, miss, but are you quite alright?" He asked as he slowly approached her bench. He could see the glint of her wedding ring as she held onto a handkerchief.
"I'm fine." She cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes under her veil.
"I couldn't help but notice that you're crying." He moved a little closer. "And I believe I'd be no gentleman at all if I didn't at least stop to inquire the cause. If you're willing to share, of course." He made sure to stay far enough away that she wouldn't be uncomfortable with his presence, but close enough that they wouldn't have to speak loudly. She was quiet for a few moments and then looked up at Crowley.
"Today would have been my husband's 25th birthday." She said before clearing her throat. Crowley could tell she was trying to keep the tears at bay.
"I'm very sorry for your loss." He offered. He wasn't quite sure why he was being so nice. Hell would definitely be angry with him if they found out. "May I ask how he died? I will completely understand if you wish not to answer."
"We were living in America in Boston. My husband was....well, he wasn't a quiet man when it came to what he believed in. He always fought. He joined the army in the North." She cleared her throat again. "I received the notice of his death just shortly before finding out he was going to be a father." She ran her hand over her belly. Crowley moved closer and took a seat on the bench next to her.
"I am so terribly sorry." He sighed. "It's a horrible thing, to lose the one you love like that." He took his hat off and placed it in his lap.
"Do you have experience in this area?" She asked. "I apologize if it's too personal...." Crowley smiled a little.
"After what you've just told me, I think it wouldn't be at all too personal to answer your question." He cleared his throat. "I do have first hand experience. My wife died recently." At least it was recently for him.
"Do you have any children?" She looked down at her belly and then back up at Crowley.
"No. She wasn't in the best of health when we married. Children were never a possibility." He cleared his throat himself, suddenly getting emotional. They were both quiet for a few moments. "I'm being terribly rude, I haven't introduced myself." Crowley offered a hand. "I'm Anthony Crowley."
"Abigail Rausing." She took the offered hand and Crowley kissed the back, smiling at her.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs Rausing, even given the circumstances." Crowley gave her a little bow as he sat next to her. They actually ended up spending the rest of the afternoon on the bench talking. It was a lovely day and the conversation was wonderful. Crowley even insisted on walking her home.
"Would it be too much to ask if I might see you again Mr Crowley?" Abigail blushed slightly as she asked the question.
"It wouldn't be too much at all, Mrs Rausing. I'd be delighted to call on you again." Crowley gave her a little bow.
"I look forward to it." Abigail said before going into her house. A fast friendship formed and they spent as much time together as possible over the next few weeks. Crowley was even one of the first invited to meet the baby after it was born. A lovely little boy named after his father, of course. Crowley and Abigail remained good friends. He even became a sort of surrogate father for the young man that was his angel reincarnated. Even after Abigail remarried.
Through the entire time that Crowley knew both Abigail and her son, he never said the word angel even once.
Crowley had actually been searching for Aziraphale this time. The talisman that he'd been given was telling him exactly where to go. Who to look for. He assumed it had been long enough that he would be able to find his love as an adult. When he walked into St James Park, the feeling to look up hit him rather sharply. The talisman was spot on. His angel was in the park. He smiled a little before looking up. The smile faded, though, as soon as he saw the lovely golden glow coming off a woman that was very much not blonde.
She was sitting on a park bench and watching the people go by. Her back was to Crowley just then but the glow was definitely there. She was wearing a black dress in a style that indicated she had money. Her dark hair was pinned up under a hat with a black lace veil. She'd lost someone recently, of that he was certain. He was still very confused about the glow that indicated his angel until he started to move closer and got a view of her front. The woman was very heavily pregnant. He took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He thought it would be best to just leave her alone, let his angel grow up and then try again. That was until he noticed that the woman was crying.
"I'm terribly sorry to bother you, miss, but are you quite alright?" He asked as he slowly approached her bench. He could see the glint of her wedding ring as she held onto a handkerchief.
"I'm fine." She cleared her throat and wiped at her eyes under her veil.
"I couldn't help but notice that you're crying." He moved a little closer. "And I believe I'd be no gentleman at all if I didn't at least stop to inquire the cause. If you're willing to share, of course." He made sure to stay far enough away that she wouldn't be uncomfortable with his presence, but close enough that they wouldn't have to speak loudly. She was quiet for a few moments and then looked up at Crowley.
"Today would have been my husband's 25th birthday." She said before clearing her throat. Crowley could tell she was trying to keep the tears at bay.
"I'm very sorry for your loss." He offered. He wasn't quite sure why he was being so nice. Hell would definitely be angry with him if they found out. "May I ask how he died? I will completely understand if you wish not to answer."
"We were living in America in Boston. My husband was....well, he wasn't a quiet man when it came to what he believed in. He always fought. He joined the army in the North." She cleared her throat again. "I received the notice of his death just shortly before finding out he was going to be a father." She ran her hand over her belly. Crowley moved closer and took a seat on the bench next to her.
"I am so terribly sorry." He sighed. "It's a horrible thing, to lose the one you love like that." He took his hat off and placed it in his lap.
"Do you have experience in this area?" She asked. "I apologize if it's too personal...." Crowley smiled a little.
"After what you've just told me, I think it wouldn't be at all too personal to answer your question." He cleared his throat. "I do have first hand experience. My wife died recently." At least it was recently for him.
"Do you have any children?" She looked down at her belly and then back up at Crowley.
"No. She wasn't in the best of health when we married. Children were never a possibility." He cleared his throat himself, suddenly getting emotional. They were both quiet for a few moments. "I'm being terribly rude, I haven't introduced myself." Crowley offered a hand. "I'm Anthony Crowley."
"Abigail Rausing." She took the offered hand and Crowley kissed the back, smiling at her.
"It's very nice to meet you, Mrs Rausing, even given the circumstances." Crowley gave her a little bow as he sat next to her. They actually ended up spending the rest of the afternoon on the bench talking. It was a lovely day and the conversation was wonderful. Crowley even insisted on walking her home.
"Would it be too much to ask if I might see you again Mr Crowley?" Abigail blushed slightly as she asked the question.
"It wouldn't be too much at all, Mrs Rausing. I'd be delighted to call on you again." Crowley gave her a little bow.
"I look forward to it." Abigail said before going into her house. A fast friendship formed and they spent as much time together as possible over the next few weeks. Crowley was even one of the first invited to meet the baby after it was born. A lovely little boy named after his father, of course. Crowley and Abigail remained good friends. He even became a sort of surrogate father for the young man that was his angel reincarnated. Even after Abigail remarried.
Through the entire time that Crowley knew both Abigail and her son, he never said the word angel even once.
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