It had been a month since the robbery and Aziraphale was glad to be back in the shop. He and Crowley had been quite shaken and they took a few weeks off, despite Crowley placing a ward over the shop.
The bookshop was in need of a good dusting. Aziraphale was dusting off his computer, he glanced behind him to make sure that Eden was still playing in her play pen and he quickly turned back to his task. Crowley had stepped out for a bit, promising that he would help with the dusting once he returned, Aziraphale had seen him eyeing something in the toy shop again. It was safe to assume that Crowley would be bringing Eden yet another toy.
“At this rate he’ll clean out that entire shop!” Aziraphale chuckled as he finished with the dusting.
“Now let’s check your nappie Little One…” the angel said as he turned around.
He dropped the feather duster at the sight of the empty play pen. The latch had been undone, and the baby was gone.
He heard the something fall and he ran towards where the sound came from, fearing the worse.
He found his coat rack had been knocked over and the black hat that was once hanging from it was gone.
“Eden! Where are you sweetheart?” He called frantically, but stopped when he found the hat on the wooden floor…crawling towards the door.
Aziraphale dashed to the hat and peeked under it. “Oh thank Someone!” He was met with Eden’s grinning face. “You scared me Little One!” He said as he scooped up baby, cuddling her close.
“How on Earth did you get out of your play pen sweetpea?”
He heard the shop’s doors open. He then realized that he was so engrossed with the dusting that he forgot to close the shop. He quickly put Eden back in the playpen hat and all, made sure that the latch was secure and went to the front of the shop.
Aziraphale was shocked at the person before him, it was his old friend, Terry Pratchett!
“Terry!?”
“Aziraphale, it’s been too long old friend!” Terry greeted him happily with a big hug and Aziraphale saw that he was wearing the spare hat that had belonged to his grandfather from all those years ago. Terry, like his grandfather before him, would occasionally come to visit, talk literature and study the many prophetic books in the bookshop.
“Sorry I haven’t been able to come around as much as I used to, been busy.”
“Oh there’s no need to apologize, you’re a busy man!” Terry was a renowned author now and Aziraphale would often let him stay at the shop and write for hours on end.
“Well I’m planning on taking a break from all that stuff and spend time with old friends.”
“That would be lovely-“
Aziraphale just realized that Eden had suddenly become very quiet. He quickly returned to the play pen and he gasped. It was empty again.
“Ga bah!” It was Eden, her voice was coming from the front of the shop. “How on Earth did she…?”
Aziraphale darted back out to the front of the shop but stopped when he saw Terry and in his lap, was baby Eden, still wearing the hat.
“You have beautiful eyes sweetie, and it seems you brought me what I was searching for.”
A string of drool was hanging from her mouth. Terry chuckled as Aziraphale stepped in, “I’m so sorry!” Aziraphale said, “I don’t know how she keeps escaping from her pen…” Aziraphale was still quite wary of anyone who came into the shop, even though Crowley had placed a ward over the cash box. Seeing Eden in the hand of a complete stranger was quite off putting.
“That’s quite alright, she’s good company.” Terry replied as he gently handed the baby back to Aziraphale who immediately relaxed once Eden was safe in his arms.
“She’s a beautiful little girl Mr. Fell.” Terry said as the hat fell over her face.
“Thank you very much.” Aziraphale replied, relieved that Terry didn’t seem to notice her eyes.
Eden held out her hands, signaling that she wanted the stranger to hold her again. Eden didn’t normally take to strangers so quickly. Aziraphale handed Eden over to Terry and he was relieved to see that Terry was being gentle.
“Still have my grandad’s hat I see. Are you guarding it well my little champion?”
Eden stared up at the man with wonder and to both men’s surprise, her wings popped out.
“Shit.” Aziraphale cursed.
Terry laughed, “My such beautiful wings my darling. Don’t worry Aziraphale, I won’t tell a soul. The Pratchett’s have kept your secret for years and we’ll continue to do so until the end of time.”
“Such beautiful eyes.” Terry stroked her dark red curls as Aziraphale sighed with relief. “I take that she’s the result of you and that ginger fellow?”
Aziraphale blushed as Terry chuckled. “You are correct.”
“That’s wonderful! Are you too married or just partners?”
“We’ve been married for nearly seven years now, during our sixth year we welcomed this Little One to the family.” Aziraphale ran a hand through Eden’s dark red curls.
“What’s the little princess’s name?”
“Eden Alexandria Queen Fell.”
Terry beamed, “Ah, yes a good beautiful strong name for a beautiful strong lady!” Eden giggled when he tickled her.
“Angel! Queenie! I’m back, I stopped by our favorite Italian place and I got-“ Crowley froze when he reached the back of the shop and found his daughter sitting on a stranger's lap with her wings out.
“Crowley, this is the friend I was telling you about!”
“Goodbye Eden Alexandria Queen Fell, take good care of that hat for me.” Terry said as Eden waved goodbye. Despite her young age, she was quite clever.
“We hope to see you again very soon.” Aziraphale said as Terry exited the shop.
“You most certainly will.”
“Why hasn’t he come back yet Papa?” Eden asked as she peeked out from under the hat.
“He’s a very famous author sweetie, he gets quite busy.” Aziraphale replied.
“Oh.” Eden sighed, disappointed.
“But I believe you are old enough to finally commit to taking good care of this hat, would you like that darling?”
“Yes Papa!” Eden nodded.
Aziraphale smiled, “That’s good to hear.” He placed the hat on her head.
“I hereby dub thee The Hatkeeper.”
“Can I go show Daddy?”
“Yes. He’s been napping long enough, go wake him up and tell him about your new job. Then we can eat our goodies from the bakery.”
The chubby six year old dashed away and Aziraphale laughed at the sound of a surprised, “OOF!” from the back room. Crowley was awake.
“Hello?” A voice called from the front of the shop. “Mr. Fell? It’s me, Terry, I found a couple of first additions for you to look at if you have the time.”
Aziraphale smiled from ear to ear as he darted to the front of the shop to greet his old friend. Eden was going to be so happy!
The End
YOU ARE READING
Good Omens: The Ineffable Family Chronicles
Historia CortaA 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...
