Bad Omens Book 7: A New Beginning

Chapter 53

"You're doing so well, Edie." Gabriel rasped as he dabbed Eden's sweaty temples with the cold compress. "You're amazing. So amazing. I love you….just keep breathing…" He had no idea how much time had passed, but it was agonizing watching his poor Edie work so hard to bring their children into the world. His only consolation was that he was able to relieve some of his wife's pain with a miracle as the labor continued.

"That's it Queenie....thats it." Crowley encouraged gently. "Breathe exactly how I am, just like we practiced. " Two short breaths followed by two long ones. That was the rhythm that Crowley kept both Eden and Gabriel in-between and during the contractions. Even though the couple had practiced, it wasn’t easy, especially for Gabriel who felt absolutely helpless.....

"Oh my!" Aziraphale suddenly gasped. "We have ourselves another ginger!" Crowley gently let go of Eden’s hand. "Really? Let me see!" Crowley crawled towards Aziraphale and within seconds, he was holding back tears. "It's the same color as Eden's hair and mine.…."

Aziraphale cut in, "Stand by Crowley, one more push and our first grandchild will finally arrive!"

"Gabriel…." Eden rasped, she was utterly exhausted. Gabriel hugged her closer and said, "You can do it Eden. I know you can." 

The sound of a baby crying filled the quiet bookshop. And it was the most beautiful sound that the Archangel Gabriel had ever heard.

"It's a boy!" Aziraphale declared as he held up the wailing baby, his tiny white wings with black tips flapping madly. "Hush, it's alright little one. I'm just letting your parents get a good look at you. They've been waiting for you, you know." The angel smiled through his tears as he handed the baby to Crowley who was ready and waiting to clean his new grandson off. 

The baby was still crying once he was passed to Crowley. "Hey, hey. Shhhh. It's okay little man, it's just me, your Grandpa Crowley. Let's get ya cleaned up." Tears streamed from Crowley's eyes as he gave his grandson his first bath. The warm water did the trick and the baby finally stopped crying, even stopped squirming when Crowley finally wrapped him in a blanket all nice and snug.

"He's got a nice set of lungs on him." Crowley smiled. "Just like his mother." Crowley sniffled as he passed the precious bundle to his daughter's waiting arms.

"Oh Gabriel. Isn't he beautiful?" Eden rasped. "My hair and your eyes, just like you wanted."

"H-He's absolutely perfect." Gabriel rasped as a couple of his tears dripped onto the baby's thick dark red curls. Gabriel ran his fingers through his first born son's hair. It was even softer than Eden's own curls. Gabriel's dark purple gaze met the tiny dark purple gaze that was identical to his own, that stared up at him with curiosity and wonder, studying the faces of his parents. 

"My beautiful boy."