Good Omens: The Ineffable Family Chronicles

Bookshop Antics 2

The Fells had been enjoying a normal day at the bookshop. Aziraphale and Eden had been hard at work, restoring old first editions and cleaning. But occasionally Crowley, Aziraphale's husband and Eden's father would pull Eden aside to help him scare off pesky customers. The bookshop was more of a means of Aziraphale to show off his collection and if people lingered too long, an awful smell or a frightening flash of serpent fangs would send you on your way.
 
 
The shop was now empty. No humans had shown up today, which would happen from time to time because sadly humans were losing interest in books as the years went by….but on the upside it gave the Fell family their privacy. 
 
Eden was peering over her Papa's shoulder as he worked on the old computer. "Papa, wouldn't you like a new computer? You know,  something nicer and shinier like the ones Daddy and I have at home?" 
 
"I'm fine with this old machine, Little One. I can always hop on the ones at home if needed but this computer has and continues to serve me well." 
 
"I'm not little!" Eden huffed. She would be twenty five in about two months. 
 
"You'll always be my Little One." Aziraphale replied wistfully as Crowley joined them. "Oi, you two have been working too hard. I'd say it's break time." Crowley snapped his fingers and a wad of money had appeared in Eden's hand. 
 
"Queenie,  why don't you go and get us something to eat, I'm craving something from that bistro down the street. What about you angel?" 
 
Aziraphale glanced at the old clock on the wall and took off his spectacles. "They do have a delectable key lime pie…."
 
 
Before Aziraphale had even finished his train of thought,  Eden had grabbed a pen and a piece of parchment, already writing down some of the food items she herself wanted including the key lime pie.
 
After Eden wrote down the food that they wanted off she went, eager to enjoy some fresh air.
 
Crowley set the timer on his watch, if Eden didn't return in precisely forty minutes he would go search for her….
 
"Say angel, while we're waiting for Queenie, why don't we have a quick game of chess?" Chess was one of the husbands' favorite pastimes, especially at the shop. Crowley stepped forward and massaged Aziraphale's shoulders. "It'll help you relax before lunch."
 
"How tempting." Aziraphale said as he rose from his chair.
 
 
Eden had finally returned from the bistro with their takeout, with seven minutes to spare, to Crowley's relief. 
 
 
Seeing her fathers' play chess was a common sight.  Eden set the bags of food down and peered over Aziraphale's shoulder. 
 
"Who's winning?" 
 
"It seems that a very fiendishly handsome demon is just about to thwart me once again." Aziraphale replied dramatically.  
 
"Heh." Crowley snickered, "The loser is sentenced to solo dishwashing for a month."
 
 
"I don't mind honestly," said Aziraphale, "Because of my little helper." Aziraphale glanced lovingly at Eden, admiring the young woman who she now was. Eden always helped him in the kitchen. Always. 
 
 
Eden reached around her Papa and grabbed the Queen and after two quick moves Crowley gasped. "Wot! Oi, you can't do that!"
 
"Yes I can Daddy. I can't bear the thought of my sweet Papa slaving away over dishes."
 
Crowley sighed exasperated.  Eden would always help Aziraphale if he was about to lose.
 
"Why hath my daughter forsaken me?" Crowley asked dramatically as Aziraphale laughed.  
 
 
"Because Papa is my supplier of cocoa and the sooner you two stop playing chess, the sooner I get my horses back!" 
 
Eden quickly grabbed the four knight pieces off of the chessboard. "Now, if you'll excuse us, Gallahop, Pendragon, Fluttershy and Bob and I shall set the table in the back room for our lunch."
 
Aziraphale laughed as Eden, accompanied by her horses, retrieved the bags of takeout and retreated into the backroom of the shop. 
 
"I'll set the pieces back in place." Crowley said with a grin as he began to reorganize the chessboard. 
 
"Remember dear, Gallahop, Pendragon, Fluttershy and Bob will not be joining the rest as per usual." The two fathers laughed. The four knights would be returning to their normal residence, Eden's very own reading desk which was tucked away in its own place within the shop, hidden away from nosy human eyes, guarded by four brave horses. Horses that Eden had treasured and adored ever since she first laid eyes on the chessboard as a baby.
 
And there they would remain until they were needed for another game of chess.
 
But for now,  the two husbands' walked hand in hand towards the backroom, eager to eat lunch and enjoy the company of their daughter and her four horsey friends.