'Til We Meet Again - Crowley x Reader

Chapter 4

2500 B.C, Land of Uz

In the ancient land of Uz, amidst rolling dunes and under the scorching sun, a tale as old as time unfolded - the story of Job, a man of unwavering faith, and the divine test that would challenge his devotion. Aziraphale and Crawley, their celestial essence concealed beneath earthly guises, had been directed to this place, as they often were throughout the ages, to intervene in humanity's trials and tribulations.

Job, a man of virtue and piety, had caught their attention, for his unwavering faith was a testament to the potential for goodness in the mortal realm. Aziraphale watched over him with a sense of pride, while Crawley, ever the skeptic, observed with a certain begrudging respect.

Y/n had lived many lifetimes since the Ark, she had seen and experienced many things during her time on Earth. Each time one life ended and she started anew, her memories would fade and she would begin afresh. Y/n's life in Uz had been one of hardship and perseverance. She had suffered in silence, but she had remained a steadfast pillar of strength in her community, her unwavering faith mirroring that of her close friend Job.

Job's trials intensified, testing the limits of his faith, and Y/n's unwavering support for him was a source of inspiration. Aziraphale and Crawley, despite their celestial differences, found themselves drawn to her unwavering spirit, her resilience in the face of adversity.

.......

Y/n, her celestial memories shrouded in the veils of human existence, wandered through the bustling marketplaces of a distant city. She wore the attire of a humble merchant, her once ethereal radiance now concealed beneath the ordinary guise of a mortal. Yet, her heart held the remnants of a cosmic connection that transcended the boundaries of heaven and earth.

In the midst of the marketplace, she found herself drawn to a peculiar pair - Aziraphale, the celestial guardian with his timeless elegance, and Crawley, the demon who reveled in the chaos of human existence. They had taken on new forms for this era, blending seamlessly into the tapestry of human history.

Y/n's gaze lingered on Aziraphale, a flicker of recognition in her eyes that she couldn't quite grasp. Hazy memories flickered behind her eyes like mirages over hot arid sand as she watched the two walk hurriedly away. Y/n felt a gut instinct to follow the two, who were headed towards Job's residence. She followed the two men but lost sight of them as finally reached Job's house.

"Y/n!" a familiar voice called out to her. Y/n turned towards the voice, she saw it belonged to her good friend Job, who stood by his wife, Sitis. Y/n extended her arms and walked over to the pair, briefly forgetting the reason that brought her there. She embraced the two and began discussing the trials that Job had endured so far. As they conversed, the sky grew dark as night fell over the land.

Their conversation was abruptly halted as the sky was painted with hues of crimson and gold and the winds carried the dangerous smell of smoke. Fire and smoke rolled over the roof of the building nearest the trio. The flames roared with a fury that seemed supernatural, a manifestation of suffering beyond mortal comprehension. Sitis cried out in desperation for her children, but to no avail. Her husband Job comforted her as tears fell silently down his cheeks. They could do nothing but watch as the fire enveloped their earthly possessions, leaving them with nothing but each other.

As the sun broke over the horizon, the fire, which had raged throughout the night with the intensity of celestial wrath, began to relent. Smoke and embers danced into the morning sky, and the flames dwindled to mere flickers, then nothing more than glowing embers.

......

Sitis and Y/n had spent the day looking through the ruins, trying to find anything that might have survived the merciless fire. Job meanwhile had gone out into the fields to speak to God. When he returned, Y/n had invited Sitis and Job to take shelter in her home after their ordeal.

As they sat in silence at her house, Angels descended Heaven and entered the room. Sitis and Job, their faces etched with lines of suffering and resilience, watched in awe as the celestial beings approached.

"Who are you?" Job asked, his voice tinged with a mixture of reverence and uncertainty.

"I am the Archangel Gabriel. We come bearing good news. For you, Virtuous Job, you have passed God's test. Prepare for your reward!" the angel, Gabriel, announced, "Behold where you have lost 300 sheep, the Lord grants you 600!"

The angels applauded the proclamation. Y/n watched on in silence.

Sitis, her voice trembling with emotion, spoke softly. "What about our children?"

"For Lo, though your three children are completely dead, God now grants that you conceive seven more children!" beamed the angel, which received more applause from the others. Sitis, Job and Y/n stared at them with expressions of horror.

Aziraphale entered quickly, mumbling quiet apologies for being late as he joined the angels. Not a moment after him, Crawley entered, he galavanted into the room, drawing everyone's attention to him. Y/n's gaze danced between the two latecomers. She recognised them from the previous day in the market. Something inside her told her she knew them prior to that. It was as though her soul recognized them, even if her mortal mind could not.

"Bildad the Shuhite?" Sitis asked, looking at the man with confusion evident on her face.

"Yes, it is me! Bildad the Shuhite! Does anyone need any shoes?" he proclaimed dancing across the room.

"Shuhite of course means from the land of Shua." quipped Michael from behind Gabriel.

"Indeed it does. Where, as it happens, I am a leading shoemaker." he replied quickly.

"Yes, well, it would be really useful if you were an expert on human births?" mentioned Aziraphale.

"Ah yes." remarked Bildad, clapping his hands together, "This is your lucky day. Shoemaking and Obstetrics. Those have always been the twin passions of Bildad the Shuhite. What seems to be the trouble?"

Y/n watched the strange man with an air of suspicion. "Sitis here has just learned that she is to have lots more children." the angel, Aziraphale remarked, gesturing towards Sitis.

"Right well, let's get started! No need to be shy, Sitis." Bildad replied eagerly, rubbing his hands together. He made his way over to the couple and stood behind them. 

As Y/n, and the group of angels watched on, Crawley instructed Sitis and Job. As the couple embraced, their children appeared between them. The couple stepped back in shock and stared down at their three children between them. The family embraced and their tears of sadness mingled together with tears of joy.

The angels, with the exception of Aziraphale, returned to Heaven, happy with the result. Sitis and Job remained holding their children between them. Y/n looked on, tears of happiness in her eyes as watched the reunion of the family. As Crawley left and Aziraphale ascended back to the celestial realms, Sitis and Job clung to their children, their faith in the divine rekindled. In Y/n, she sensed a connection that transcended the mortal and celestial realms - a fallen angel, reincarnated as a mortal, finding her way through the trials of life. It was a reminder that love, faith, and the search for purpose could persist even in the most challenging of circumstances.