Stars In Our Hearts

Chapter One

"If you suggest naming our daughter Ineffable, I will leave you," Crowley threatened. Aziraphale simply laughed. "You think I'm joking?"

The angel carefully sat up, cradling the baby in his arms. "Of course we won't name her Ineffable." He looked up at Crowley and smiled. "Sit down," he said.

"What?" Crowley's eyes widened.

Aziraphale nodded his head towards the empty bed next to him. "Sit." Crowley slowly did as he was told. Aziraphale carefully began to transfer the baby into his arms. "It's alright," Aziraphale reassured him after he sputtered a few protests. "You've done this before," he reminded his husband.

"We-yeah, but not with my own baby! This is different!"

"She'll be alright." Aziraphale smiled, "You're doing wonderfully, my dear."

Crowley hardly heard him as he stared at the child in his arms. She stared back at him with an intensity he'd never seen before. "Are– Is it my eyes?" he looked up. "Is she scared? She looks scared."

"Crowley, she's hardly ten minutes old. I doubt that she can fear anything at this point. Besides, she has no reason to feel scared. The only emotion that is radiating off of you is love." Aziraphale pouted for a moment. "More love than when we were married."

"We were drunk. It was on a beach in Fiji. Angel, I could hardly remember my own name, least of all remember love."

"You'd better get me something very nice for our anniversary."

"When's that, again?" Crowley laughed when the angel smacked his arm. "Such a diva," Crowley muttered to the baby in his arms. Aziraphale smiled then, his face softening more when he watched Crowley repeatedly run his thumb over the snake mark on her wrist.

"She is yours," Aziraphale said.

"I know that, 's just... I never thought that something so ugly and flawed as a demon could make something so... beautiful and perfect."

"You are nothing like those other demons," Aziraphale gently grabbed his chin to turn it towards him. "You are loving and good and the most wonderful man, well, demon–"

"Hey, I do have a reputation to protect," Crowley blushed, scowling.

Aziraphale smiled. "Of course you do, my dear." He stood up and kissed Crowley's forehead as he passed. "I'll pop around and get her some things."

"Angel, it's the middle of the night. Just miracle something up, we can go in the morning."

"Oh, I suppose," Aziraphale sighed.

Crowley turned over his shoulder and smiled at the appearance of the crib in their bedroom. "She's going to need her own room, y'know. Eventually," he clarified when Aziraphale raised his eyebrow. "Not now, of course. Or never," he shrugged, focusing on the baby in his arms. "Never sounds good..."

"My dear," Aziraphale smiled and sat back down next to him. "She could use a diaper." Crowley snapped his fingers and she was dressed immediately. "Really, my dear?" Aziraphale's mouth was set in an unamused line.

"What?" Crowley looked down. "What's the matter?"

"Black jammies, really?" He waved a hand and they turned a sickening shade of pink.

"Absolutely not!" Crowley retaliated by turning them an even darker shade of black. Aziraphale just glared at him before he miracled the pajamas into another vibrant shock of pink. "Look, angel, we are not doing the whole fairy thing from Sleeping Beauty, alright?" He snapped his fingers and looked sideways at his angel.

"Sleeping Beauty?"

"You don't know–? Oh, angel. You're going to learn about all the Disney princesses when she gets a bit older."

Aziraphale looked down at the newly created pajamas. "Black and pink tartan..." the angel pursed his lips. "I'll allow it."

Crowley smirked, running a hand through the baby's downy-soft hair. "I always know how to get my way."

"Do you?"

"I got my way one night–well, lots of nights–and I have a baby to show for it, don't I?"

Aziraphale turned bright red, earning a laugh from his husband. "Yes, well..."

"Here," Crowley reluctantly passed the child back to Aziraphale. "I'll make you some cocoa. You deserve some, I think. After all, you did just have a baby."

The angel chuckled, happily taking the baby back. "Yes, I suppose I did." He watched as Crowley disappeared downstairs. "You truly are a miracle," he said softly. "And the best one I've ever had the pleasure of being a part of." His heart squeezed a little when she snuggled a bit closer to his chest. He sat there, just watching her, until the demon returned with a tray.

"Already moves like you," Crowley commented.

"Whatever do you mean?"

Crowley mimicked the wiggles Aziraphale did whenever he got excited. "Nah, they're cute, angel," he reassured him when he flushed a little. "Just another little thing I love about you."

"You're a sap."

"Yeah, any louder and I'm drinking this myself," Crowley said. "They can probably hear you, y'know."

"Let them," Aziraphale smiled. "You deserve to be accepted for who you are."

"You've been to Hell, right? You know that will never happen?" he asked. "I'm perfectly happy just being accepted by you."

"Sap," Aziraphale repeated.

"D'you think she needs to eat?" Crowley changed the subject, chewing on his bottom lip.

"I... I don't know."

Crowley scratched his neck. "Are you gonna try to, you know, feed her?" When the angel miracled up a bottle, he rolled his eyes. "Not what I meant."

"Oh, I know what you meant," Aziraphale sent a hard glare his way. "Filthy demon."

Crowley grinned. "Maybe. But you love me."

"I suppose I do."