#14.02.20

Finally, the fourteenth of February comes around. 

The sun is slowly rising. 

Crowley didn't sleep at all the night before- not because they had that much to prepare, but because the other option would have been to get up extra early. And Crowley hates getting up early.

Well, they hate getting u, period, and they especially hate a) alarm clocks and b) getting up without having had a healthy amount of time to wake up naturally. Jumping out of bed the way the angel does even if he did sleep instead of reading all night would leave Crowley all shivery and in a very bad mood.

Thus, no sleep that night. 

They hope Aziraphale didn't notice that something is up- they still sometimes spend the night apart, but it's gotten seldom, in fact the last time Crowley spent a night at Aziraphale's place was weeks ago now. Little time for an immortal, of course, but still- they notice the passing of time, seconds, minutes, days, the same way humans do.

 Meanwhile, Aziraphale is getting antsy.

The reservation at the Ritz is for dinner, so there's plenty of time for Crowley to arrive before he has to go and drag them over, but still- he doesn't want to end up having to do this, and Crowley isn't a stranger to sleeping for days, so...

And Crowley didn't go home with him last night, but to their flat instead. 

They haven't done this in weeks, and not in months without an explanation. 

What if Crowley knows that it is valentine's day, suspects what Aziraphale is planning and is avoiding him on purpose? 

Or worse, much worse, what if Aziraphale got it all wrong and the demon really likes the holiday and is now sulking because they think Aziraphale doesn't want to celebrate it with them?

He hopes not...

Aziraphale is almost ready to storm out the door and go to Crowley's flat. Still, he forces himself to stay calm. It's six am. Crowley isn't awake for hours yet anyway, so they definitely wouldn't have had time to come over. He should just sit back, make a cup of hot chocolate... And stop nervously twisting his hands.

Sitting down, Aziraphale takes a book from the coffee table and opens it at the marked page. 

After a while he realises that he hasn't read a single word.

Right then the doorbell chimes- huh? Who's at the bookstore so early in the morning?

Crowley, apparently! And in his hands-

"Are those- red roses, dearest? For me?"

"Well, I'm not just carrying them around for the postman?! Ngk. Just take them, Angel..."

Aziraphale takes the beautiful flowers with a delighted smile and blushes sweetly when Crowley presses an awkward peck to his cheek before sauntering inside.

"What's this about, my dear? I didn't think you celebrated valentine's day."

"Oh, so you do know what today is? Good, saves me the explanation. Well. Course I only celebrated it with temptations before, making people spend too much money or demand too much from their partners or whatever, but. That was before, right? And now I'm with you, properly, and I've never been with anyone before but I know you gotta do something nice for them on valentine's, so, ugh- angel, say something, I'm done monologuing here!"

Aziraphale laughs and pulls Crowley into a fierce hug before leaning back and pressing a kiss to their lips.

"I love you, Crowley, my dearest, thank you!" he smiles down at the flowers. "I'll get a vase for my present..."

"They're just flowers, not your present." Crowley grumbles.

"Oh, because a demon doesn't give presents?" Aziraphale laughs and turns away to find a vase before halting mid-motion. "Wait. You didn't say not a present, you said not your present- what is my present, then?"

"Well, you like mornings and you like food, so I figured a picnic in the park while there aren't many people yet, which reminds me, we should get going if we-"

Aziraphale interrupts them with a gasp when he realises what time it is.

"Oh, Crowley, you shouldn't have! You got up so early just for me? I'm surprised you even woke at your alarm!" 

"I absolutely should have" Crowley grumbles, shifting awkwardly on the spot. "And I didn't get up early, I just didn't go to sleep."

Aziraphale laughs heartily at that before turning around and searching for a vase.

"Oh, my dear fellow, that is so very you! I must say, a picnic sounds delightful right now- we'll have a very food driven day then, as I got us reservations for the Ritz tonight!"

Crowley blinks owlishly at him.

"What? Why" 

Aziraphale puts the flowers into the water.

"Because it's valentine's day, of course! Did you think I hadn't planned anything?"

Crowley just shakes their head and takes Aziraphale's hand. 

"Whatever. Now come on, angel- I've got a good basket in the car."

"A food basket! Delightful!" 

"You're so easy to please" Crowley snorts, walking outside with the angel in tow.

"Oh, as if you are any better- I bet I could just get you the wine they serve at the Ritz without any restaurant at all and you would be entranced!"

Crowley tilts their head. They can't deny that without lying, and they aren't ever lying to their angel.

"th'Ritz is nice, though" they say before opening the passenger door of the Bentley for Aziraphale.

"Oh thank you! And it is, isn't it? Oh, don't drive so fast, dearest, just because there aren't many people out so early doesn't mean- Crowley! You almost hit that traffic light, and I mean hit it physically not run a red light, you do that all the time anyways!"

"Oh, come on, you know the Bentley would never" Crowley grumbles, but obediently reduces the speed to 70mph. Because it's valentine's day.

♥ ♥ ♥

Written for @ineffablehusbandsweek 's Ineffable Husbands Week Challenge, previously posted on ao3!