Discorporated Part 10

There weren't a lot of people that Crowley kept in touch with over the years.  He had one or two that he talked to, but mostly he'd let the people that didn't see him on a daily basis drift out of his life.  That wasn't the case, however, with Pepper.  She'd made sure that he didn't have any serious injuries immediately after the accident.  She'd been there for him at the funeral, which was held a while before the memorial service.  She checked on him every couple of months or so.  He'd been at her wedding and he even remembered the names of all of her children.  As the phone rang Crowley realized that he'd known Pepper for over 30 years.  Time really did fly.  

"Hello?"  A young voice answered the phone.  

"Is this Franklin?"  Crowley asked with a grin.  

"No, this is Tommy."  The young boy said with a bit of a pout.  

"I'm terribly sorry about that.  You sound far too old to be Tommy."  Crowley didn't bother to hide the amusement in his voice.  

"I'm not old at all!"  Tommy said.  

"You're right, Tommy.  I apologize.  Is your mum home?"  Crowley walked over and lay down on the bed, staring up at the ceiling.  

"She's in the garden.  Who may I say is calling?"  There was a giggle after the question.  

"You know exactly who this is, don't you young man?"  Crowley asked.  

"Alright, alright.  I'll go get her."  The phone was set down and Crowley could hear the footsteps running away.  After a few minutes, the phone was picked up again.  

"Been a little while since you called me."  Pepper said.  

"Yes, well.  Decided to change things up a bit.  Can't let you do all the calling, can I?"  Crowley replied.  

"I suppose not."  Pepper smiled.  "So, what's going on with you, Crowley?"  

"Do you have somewhere that we can talk uninterrupted?"  Crowley asked quietly.  He was usually very good at hiding his emotion but that didn't seem to be the case today.  

"Yes, of course.  Give me just a moment."  Pepper put the phone down again.  There was the sound of footsteps and doors opening and closing, a handset being picked up and another being hung up and then after a moment, Pepper was on the phone again.  "What's wrong?"  

"What makes you think something is wrong?"  Crowley tried to feign amusement.  

"You've never asked that our conversation be uninterruptible before."  Pepper answered.  

"Fair point."  Crowley nodded even though she couldn't see him.  He was quiet for a moment.  "I need to present you with a hypothetical."  

"Alright."  Pepper shifted a little so she was leaning back in her office chair.  She worked from home so the kids knew that when she was in her office, she wasn't to be disturbed unless it was an emergency.  

"Let's say for a moment that the unimaginable happens and you lose Peter."  Crowley cleared his throat.  He didn't like presenting her with the thought of losing her husband.  

"This is a serious hypothetical."  Pepper shifted in her chair a bit.  

"Yes."  Crowley sighed.  "Now, let's say that enough time has passed that you've finally allowed yourself the possibility of moving on.  And you've met someone knew with whom you have a chance of moving on but things have just gotten started so it's not serious at all."  At least that's what he told himself.  

"Have you met someone knew, Crowley?"  Pepper asked, a little excited.  

"That's not the point."  Crowley sighed again.  "There's more to this hypothetical."  

"Alright..."  Pepper started.  

"So....time has passed.  You still love Peter very much but you've allowed yourself the chance to feel something for someone else."  Crowley cleared his throat once more.  "And then you are presented with the very real possibility of getting your husband back."  Crowley was quiet for a moment.  "What would you do?"  

"So, my husband has been gone a long time, I've found someone knew but it's just started and someone has told me that I can get my husband back?"  Pepper repeated.  

"Yes.  What would you do?"  

"Hypothetically speaking, it would truly depend on what I felt for this new person." Pepper started to pick at a spot on her desk as she spoke.  "Is this something that could be something real or is it something that just happens to be enjoyable at the moment?"  

"In this particular hypothetical, let's say that the new person will definitely die in say....ten years but getting your husband back could be forever."  Crowley ran his fingers through his hair.  

"You've started something new with a mortal but there's a very good chance that your immortal former angel could be considerably less dead."  Pepper said.  

"Yes."  Crowley rolled onto his side, the phone between his head and the pillow.  

"How do you feel about this new person?"  

"I like him a lot.  He's fun to spend time with."  Crowley started to say. 

"But can you see yourself loving him?"  Pepper interrupted.  Crowley was quiet for long enough that Pepper was about to suspect he'd hung up.  

"I don't know.  Maybe is the best answer I can come up with."  Crowley sighed.  

"And you know without a shadow of a doubt that you are most definitely in love with Aziraphale and that Aziraphale feels the same way about you."  This time it wasn't a question.  

"Yes."  Crowley said without hesitation.  

"Then I think you have your answer, Crowley."  She hoped that the soft smiled she had came through in her tone.  

"Thank you."  Crowley said with a smile of his own.  

"Now, go do what you need to do.  I'm here if you need me."  Pepper replied.  

"I know.  And I really do appreciate it."  Crowley chuckled.  "And tell Tommy he's not allowed to grow anymore."  

"I will."  Pepper laughed.  "I'll call you in a week to check on you."  

"If I don't call you first."  Crowley answered.  They shared a chuckle before hanging up the phone.  Crowley had a phone call to make as well as an angel to summon.