Chapter Text
It didn’t take long for the adventurers to find themself back at the garden walls.
“Hey, Angel,” Crowley called from the back of the group.
Aziraphale paused and turned to look at the demon.
“Fancy a side trip,” the demon nodded to a set of steps leading up the inside of the wall.
The angel looked at the steps and bit his lip. He cast his eyes to the sky. The sun was still above the horizon, but it was starting to paint the horizon in golden tones. “We shouldn’t dawdle,” he said. There was longing in his voice, but he knew that they should not stay longer than needed.
“One last look over Eden,” Crowley tempted as he headed towards the stairs that would take them to the ramparts. “For old times sake.”
Aziraphale bit his lip and rubbed his hands together. “I don’t know.”
Crowley heard the contraction and knew the angel was torn. He wanted to go up, but couldn’t bring himself to act upon that desire. “Come on,” the demon tempted as he mounted the steps. “I’m sure Sam and Dean would love to see the whole of the garden before they're cast out again.” He turned his gaze to the hunters. “Right?”
The brothers both drew in a deep breath and agreed.
“I would like to see the garden,” Sam said.
“It is lovely this time of day,” Crowley tempted again. “He gave his focus back to Aziraphale. “We’re already at the gate.” He waved his hand towards the iron gate just feet away from the stairs. “We could be up and back before the sun fully sets.”
Aziraphale blew out a defeated breath. “Yes, all right,” he agreed. “Just a quick look.” He wave the hunters on. “The climb up will be easier if you drop your packs,” the angel suggested.
Sam and Dean struggled out of their bag and dropped the on the ground next to the wall. They hurried up the narrow steps after Crowley.
Shaking his head, Aziraphale followed them up.
The view from the top of the wall was breathtaking. The setting sun spewed reds and golds across the clouds floating in the western sky.
“Wow,” Dean gasped as he stared out of the lush foliage of Eden.
A fond smile turned up the corners of Aziraphale’s mouth. “It is lovely,” he said softly.
Crowley slipped up and leaned against his angel’s side. “Aren’t you glad I tempted you?”
The angel sighed and wrapped his arm around his husband. An act he would never have dared do the last time they were here. His wing raised and stretched by itself in memory. “Yes,” he whispered. “Thank you, my love.”
Crowley leaned over and laid a soft kiss on the corner of Aziraphale’s mouth. “I love you.”
Aziraphale leaned into the kiss and chased the demon as he pulled back. “And I, you.” He settled a soft kiss to Crowley’s lips before pulling back and leaning into the demon’s shoulder. Their eyes turned to the slowly sinking sun.
After a few minutes, Sam’s voice broke the comfortable silence that had settled over them. “You’ve been here since the beginning.” It was more of a statement than a question.
Both Aziraphale and Crowley shifted so they could see the hunter.
“Yes,” Aziraphale answered. “I was stationed here before the garden was fully finished.”
“So you were here before Adam was created?” Sam asked.
“He was,” Crowley nodded to the angel. “I came after.”
“But you were here when Adam and Eve were kicked out,” Sam pointed out.
“Yeah,” Crowley said sarcastically. “It was kinda my fault.”
“But you were here,” Sam said, turning back to the garden. “And when everything was kicked out you were kicked out too,”
Aziraphale drew in a shock breath, he’d never thought about it that way. He looked out over Eden. “I suppose I was.”
“I was never supposed to be here,” Crowley groused.
“That doesn’t matter,” Sam said as he turned back to the angel and demon. “You were kicked out and instead of going home, you stayed on Earth to watch over man.”
“Hell isn’t much of a home,” Crowley admitted.
“And I had my orders,” Aziraphale explained.
“I’m sure there were ways you could have gotten back into Heaven,” Dean remarked.
Aziraphale bit his lip. The hunter was right. He could have put in for a transfer back to Heaven. So many other agents had come and gone in the time he’d been on Earth. He’d considered it a time or two, but he didn’t want to have to explain what happened to his flaming swords. Even now, the Archangels couldn’t prove that he’d given it away. “ I suppose,” he said weakly.
“But you didn’t,” Sam pointed out. “You gave up Heaven for this.” He waved his hand at the world around them. “To watch over the rise and fall of man right up to the end of the world.”
“Which didn’t happen,” Crowley pointed out.
“Thankfully,” Aziraphale added.
“That thanks to you too,” Sam added. “Had you not been there, the world would have ended.”
Aziraphale tutted. “I doubt it,” he admitted. “Adam would not have let it happen.”
“But you were there to give him the support and courage that he needed to stand up to the Devil,” Sam pointed out. “Has anyone ever thanked you for that?”
The angel and demon exchanged looks. In all the time since the apocalypse that hadn’t happened, they had never received more than a passing hint of gratitude or appreciation. “No,” Aziraphale admitted.
“Then let me say it for all of mankind,” Sam said. “Thank you. Thank you for watching over us. Thank you for taking care of us. And thank you for not letting the world end.”
A radiant smile lit Aziraphale’s face. “You are most welcome, my dear boy.” He pulled Crowley into his side and turned to watch the sunset over the garden. “It has been an absolute pleasure.”