#fledging

After all the bombs, pseudo-spoilers, notes, videos ans posters coming from last week, I'm basically here with my main thesis.

Maybe future stickers for Etsy

This was a moment of pure magic. I watched the last of the hummingbird chicks perch on the side of its nest and glance around, while mom made quiet trills from a nearby tree. Then the baby lifted off, and a second later it lit on a branch near its mother. I'm amazed by how quickly they have gone from helpless hatchlings to independence and seemingly effortless flight. Observing this little bird family has been such joy.

Cool Dad was at the school gate again. Clambering out of his ridiculous sports car like a great big spider, all black denim and designer sunglasses. What a prat. He made his way towards the entrance, followed by his equally lanky son. All the mums' eyes were on him. Which was fine. At least they weren't staring at Aziraphale for a change. Cool Dad high-fived his son goodbye, because of course he did, then sauntered back to his car. Making it look so bloody easy. Aziraphale Fell is much too young to be looking after eleven-year old Pepper. He barely has his life together as it is, with his minimum-wage job and a half-baked dream of trading rare books for a living. And as if adopting a recently bereaved pre-teen isn’t enough, there are some rather more adult problems to navigate: playground politics, the shadows of his own childhood, and the growing question of how Crowley, the only other dad at the school gate, feels about him.

Length: 53,381 Words

AO3 Rating: Mature/ Spice Level 🔥🔥

Best for: Safe in Public, Human AU, Parent, Slow Burn

Triggers: Grief

Read it here, fic by FeralTuxedo

*Minor Spoilers* I've read this one twice now, and I was thrilled to find that not only did all the details from the first read stick with me, but that familiarity helped me connect even more the second time around. It's an excellent story of family, and both the burden and joy of responsibility.

Aziraphale has worked hard to build a struggling, but free, life for himself at 24 after leaving his family, but everything gets turned upside down when his estranged sister suddenly dies, and he takes in his niece, Pepper. Enter "Cool Dad" Crowley, father to Adam, who notices Aziraphale's struggle and offers a helping hand. This setup is unique and intriguing, and I'm such a sucker for the parent/adoption trope. Aziraphale didn't want Pepper, and she didn't want him. But the journey of them learning to trust each other, finding their places, and loving each other like a true family? Yeah, I'm a sucker for that narrative.

I'm also a sucker for the slow burn between these two young parents, finding support and friendship in each other. There's instant chemistry, but it's the quiet kind that promises a lifetime of domestic bliss. It's a bumpy road to get there, though. Past mistakes and bad parenting choices block their path, and they'll have to learn to fix their mistakes to make a life together. It's not an easy journey, Crowley needs to right his wrongs but Aziraphale also needs to step up to his responsibility to Pepper.

There are two sexual scenes but they are quick and non explicit so you're totally fine to read this in public! There's lots of love and joy to be found here, but also some slight angst and contemplative moments. Makes for a wonderful lazy day read.

He lets himself lean into Tobio’s side, as much to reassure Tobio as to take some of the weight off himself, as he says, “What do you need?” Tobio nods as though he had been waiting for that reaction. “Jump at every ball. I don’t care if you think it’s obvious that I’ll put it up for someone else, or if that first year is marking you again.” Shouyou exhales slowly. It will be exhausting, but this is the final set; there’s no need to conserve energy anymore. He can’t think about whether or not he’ll have to play a game tomorrow, he can’t think of how poorly he slept last night and how that fatigue still clings to him like toffee might cling to his fingertips, he can’t even think about the way his muscles ache. All that he can think about is this final set, here and now, and Tobio.