“Sorry Daddy!” Eden said as the five year old nearly crashed into her father her arms full of zip loc bags that we’re filled with snacks. She slowly walked around her Daddy and made her way to the back door.
“Uh…angel why is our five year old carrying snacks to the woods?” Crowley asked as he met Aziraphale in the living room, dusting the furniture.
“She is giving her animal friends some goodbye treats before we head off dear boy. It seems they can sense that Eden will be leaving and are quite put out.” Crowley gaped.
“How in the Heaven did she get all of those treats?”
“Language Crowley! I’ve been helping Eden making homemade treats for her friends ever since we first met them. My bird seed and walnut cookies are quite a hit!” Aziraphale beamed as Crowley blanched.
“Err, were those the cookies on that pink plate on the counter?”
“Yes, why? Eden and I made at least fifty.”
“Well now there are at least….forty six…”
“Oh Crowley you didn’t!” Aziraphale gasped in shock.
“I didn’t know, and they actually weren’t that bad!” Crowley admitted. He had saw Aziraphale and Eden baking, but he assumed it was regular cookies….he thought he tasted sunflowers…
Aziraphale burst out laughing. “Oh my dear boy…”
“Ha ha very funny.” Crowley said with a huff as he went to the back door to check on Eden, his angel’s laughter ringing in hisears.
He found the five year old sitting on the back porch with a flockof ducks. The pink plate of cookies was empty and the Ziploc bags of snacks were empty.
He didn’t dare enter the porch for fear of scaring away the ducks.
“We’ll be gone for a week, but I’m glad you we’re able to come today!” Eden said softly as she fed the ducks graham cracker crumbs from a zip loc bag.
“I saved these just for you, and your ducklings!” Eden giggled as a couple of the ducklings hopped up on her lap.
Crowley whipped out his cellphone and took several pictures before he put the phone on the countertop and went upstairs to finish packing.
"Are we there yet?" Eden asked as her parents led her deep into Epping Forest.
"Almost sweetie." Crowley answered patiently. Eden was finally old enough to go much deeper into the forest and she was quite excited.
“You think any of my friends will stop by for a visit?” Eden asked hopefully. It would be only a matter of time before the animals realized that Eden hadn’t left the boundary of the forest.
“I’m sure they will Little One.” Aziraphale answered.
It was starting to get dark. Eden clung to Crowley. “Daddy, what if we get lost?”
“We won’t darling, I can see just fine in the dark, and you can too.” Crowley reminded his little daughter gently. He and Aziraphale held hands tightly so they wouldn’t get separated.
Crowley knelt down so he could meet Eden’s shimmering serpentine blue eyes. “Now, I want you to look straight ahead.”
Eden did as she was told, calmed by the reassuring amber glow of her father’s eyes.
“What do you see Queenie?”
“A clearing.” The five year old replied.
“Then that means we’ve arrived.” Crowley beamed as Eden forgot all about her fear and ran to the clearing, which was now illuminated with fireflies, it was as if they we’re welcoming the family to the soon to be campsite.
The fathers’ watched Eden run around the firefly lit clearing. “Look Papa! Look Daddy! I’m among the stars!” Eden cried out with joy as her wings unfurled.
As Crowley took several pictures with his cellphone, Aziraphalepitched the tent with a snap of his fingers. The tent was huge, with enough room for a family of three.
It was perfect.
Eden made a U turn and barreled straight into Crowley, the cellphone landing in the soft grass.
“OOF!” Crowley gasped as the wind was knocked out of him.
When he got his breath back, Crowley wrapped his arms around Eden, “You little bugger.” He ruffled her untamed flaming curls.
“Come along you two, let’s get supper ready.” Aziraphale said with a chuckle.
“Woah, that’s too much firefly!” Crowley exclaimed as he took a few pieces a wood from Eden, whose arms were full of firewood. She was about to drop her burden but Crowley stepped in and lighten the five year olds load.
“Thank you Daddy.” Eden said with a smile.
“Eden be careful!” Aziraphale cried out when Eden reached out to grab the still flaming marshmallow at the end of the stick she was holding. The top of the marshmallow was alight with a thin trail of orange flame and black smoke.
Aziraphale snatched the stick away and blew on the marshmallow, putting out the blaze.
“Thank you Papa!” Eden said, beaming up at the angel.
At long last, Eden was fast asleep with Ducky under the warm covers, snug in her sleeping bag, clasping her sonic screwdriver in a chubby hand.
“Thank Someone that the weather has been nice.” Aziraphalesaid. The weather was the biggest obstacle since Eden was still afraid of storms.
“And that she’s asleep.” Crowley added as he planted a kiss on his daughter’s freckled cheek.
“We best get some sleep too dear boy.”
“Yeah. Good night Angel.”
“Goodnight Crowley.”
Their lips met in a passionate kiss and they went to sleep.
YOU ARE READING
Good Omens: The Ineffable Family Chronicles
Short StoryA collection of short stories written in the early days of Bad Omens Book 1. These were written to help me understand the boys and their relationship with their daughter as she grew up. Please note some of these stories have been included in other b...
