Bad Omens Book 4: Ineffable Part 1

Chapter 19

The following day, Aziraphale rushed to the door when he heard a knock. He wasn't surprised when he met the nervous purple gaze of Archangel Gabriel.  Today was the day.

The Archangel was dressed in a casual plaid shirt and jeans, "Is Eden busy?" Gabriel asked.  "It's a lovely night and I wanted to see if she would like to join me for a starlit picnic."

Aziraphale smiled warmly in greeting but then his smile faltered. "She isn't busy Gabriel but I'm afraid she is in the TARDIS....she has been in there for most of the evening...."

 Gabriel felt his heart twist with concern. This wasn't like Eden at all.

Eden was fiddling with the buttons and controls of the console and even typing on the TARDIS'S computer when suddenly there was a knock on the door.

Eden darted to the twin doors and opened one slowly, peeking around the door, only to fling it open when she met the piercing purple gaze of the Archangel Gabriel. "Gabriel? What are you doing here this late in the evening?"

"I wanted to see if you would like to join me for a evening picnic." He followed Eden inside the TARDIS. Eden flopped down on the rickety couch and sighed. "Did Papa put you up to this?" Eden pulled her sonic screwdriver from her pocket and fiddled with it.

"No, I actually would like to take you out for a picnic." Gabriel replied. "But Aziraphale did express his concern about you spending a lot of time in here....a lot more than normal."

Eden didn't reply as Gabriel sat down beside her. "He also said that he hasn't been able to get a answer from you when you have your talks at the shop."

Eden shrugged. Gabriel reached out a held her hand. "He says you change the subject. Edie, can you at least talk to me? This isn't like you at all."

After a long pause, Eden's serpentine gaze finally met his and Gabriel was instantly captivated by them once again. "Do you still want to see the world?"

Gabriel blinked slightly taken aback, "Well...yes...of course. But after everything that has happened within the last two years....I've been focusing on other things."

Eden's gaze didn't waver. "What if I could show you the world right now?" Eden rose to her feet and helped Gabriel to stand and led him to the console.

Gabriel stared at the computer screen, not at all sure what he was seeing. "This is just a list of locations, along with maps, landmarks..."

"It's an itinerary of sorts." Eden clarified. "I've been working on this for ages. I want you to see and explore this world with me....and I want to explore it with you."

"Edie-"

"I've already seen the world with my parents, but there's so much you still need to see and experience and I want to do it with you."

Before Gabriel could reply Eden finished with a soft, "Before something else happens."