#one flame

When Professor of Botany Anthony Crowley met bookshop owner Ezra Fell one November afternoon both knew their lives had irrevocably changed. From that moment forward, Anthony and Ezra’s existence was intertwined. Their story was written in the moments and memories they created as they moved through life’s chapters of coming together, building a family and facing the challenges of being human. This is a story of unconditional love and the joy and humour, obstacles and grief that inevitably come with choosing the same person, day after day, over and over and over again.

Length: 71,624 words

AO3 Rating: Explicit/ Spice Level 🔥

Best for: Safe in Public, At Home, Romance, Angst

Triggers: Main Character Deaths, Memory Loss, Grief

Read it here, fic by GaiasEyes

*Minor Spoilers* There are so many fics that I have loved throughout my time in fan spaces, but there's a select few that have stayed with me for years. I expect this one to be added to that selection. I will always remember what this fic helped me process and feel about my own bottled up grief, and I will always remember how," grief is just the other side of love."

We start with Ezra and Anthony's first date, they have such a charm and charisma in this story. Their chemistry is electric, as it always is, but in a quiet real life way. We grow with them as they build their home and family together. Tracy and Anathema becoming the mother and sister they never had, and their little bundle of joy Adam. Moments and vignettes of their life rush past, slipping through our fingers, each with a longing to stay in that moment. But the clock is ticking down. We are also introduced to one of my favorite characters in this story, Evelyn. She will become Adam's wife, and she was such a beautiful and strong addition to this story. It can be tricky with OC's but consistently her interactions with Anthony and the family were my favorite moments. Then finally, we will bear witness as Anthony's memory and life start to fade. It's the unbearable inevitability of death that we march towards. I wanted to plead with the story to give them more time, it's not fair, don't you see how much they love each other and their family? But life is not fair, and we only have so much time here. It's horrible, it's beautiful.

This story won't be for everyone, please read the tags on it, this is an emotionally charged work. But the one thing I want to make absolutely clear is: this is not angst for angst sake. This is not trying to hurt you, and it's not trying to make you cry. This is above all a human story, and we will all experience grief and loss in our lives. So if you can manage it, even if it might be difficult for you, I really would love you to try this story. If you don't read because you're scared of the grief, you will miss out on the most wonderful romance! The fullest and happiest life. A story of devotion and care, how love is choosing to be there day after day, through the good and hard times. There are so many moments of joy and passion that I want to bottle up and live inside. I will never tire of their love story. While I would classify this as "safe in public" this really should be a distraction free read for you. Somewhere safe and quiet so that you can process this wonderful story.

Read it here, fic by GaiasEyes

A couple more thoughts/spoilers, and personal musings on grief below

Partners in crime with extragavent costumes and heeled flurry of feet in delighted flight,

Two wallflowers alone to their own devices yet feel the pull of their mind's stare from across the ballroom,

Doth protest though the heat spread across their cheeks and the flower of first love in their hearts bloom,

Her silent graceful steps reflect the lithe and deliberately slow movements of his gravity pulling her beautiful form near,

Him and her mesmerised and enchanté by a first and true love felt by all as sweet, innocent, chaste and dear,

Their hands meet to mime and the couple's peels of joyful laughter and shared smiles break through the dark clouds,

He naturally rests his hand on her slim waist and draws her closer as they part as one from the crowd,

In a garden bed they fall gently upon leaves of green and gold,

Shared stories of how they had waited patiently for each other as their hearts had always foretold.

Her wavering gaze hesitating to meet his steadfast blue eyes,

His hands holding hers and drinking her sweetness in like wine,

Every crinkle in her eyes when she smiles is a heavenly sign,

Her bluebird notes of lows and highs makes him breathe out loving sighs.

Television meteorologist Aziraphale Fell and Youtube storm chaser A. J. Crowley have nothing in common aside from a purely professional interest in the weather and a mutually beneficial arrangement to lend a hand when needed. So what if they bicker and flirt more than your typical professional acquaintances, or if their arrangement inevitably veers into more personal territory? It's not as if they're in love or anything. Absolutely not.

Length: 81,582 words

AO3 Rating: Mature / Spice Level 🔥

Best for: Mostly Safe in Public, Human AU, Romance, Pick-me-up

Triggers: None

Read it here, fic by nightbloomingcereus

*Minor Spoilers* This rec has taken me an embarrassingly long time to write, considering I made a meme about this fic and then never gave it its due credit. But I got busy at the time, and when I was finally able to try to write, I was too rusty on the details. However, with a thunderstorm to read to today, I knew I had to take advantage and read this story again.

I'll allow myself one pun: this weather AU is electric. Crowley is a YouTube storm chaser, and Aziraphale a television meteorologist. The chemistry is off the charts, even for an Aziracrow fic, which is already top tier. Their first meeting, caught at the duck pond in a serendipitous rainstorm, will take your breath away. If I were Aziraphale, I think I would have discorporated on the spot. It's still one of my favorite meet-cutes in the whole fandom.

Crowley here is so full of life! I understand the tendency to make him cynical or burdened by life's traumas in fic (and I enjoy that depiction too), but it's also wonderful to have a Crowley who loves what he does and is full of passion and joy. The thrill of the chase, the release of the storm, his outlook is infectious—to Aziraphale and us, the readers. His online persona is fun and flirty, and with all the open shirts, of course Aziraphale couldn't resist.

Aziraphale's characterization is spot on as well. He's sassy and so intelligent, but of course, cannot spare any brain cells to understand his heart. I love his journey here so much, and his "oh, fuck" moment made me laugh but also made my heart swell. Also I need to steal his bedroom. It sounds amazing.

This is an excellent, engaging, and thrilling AU. I love it so much, and while I'm still sorry I didn't recommend it sooner, the rain today was literally perfect to read this one to. I highly recommend listening to rain sounds for this one if you don't have real rain. Here's a playlist of my favorites to read to! This is mostly safe in public; there are 2 intimate scenes, but they are not very explicit. However, if you're craving more, here's a wonderful PWP bonus scene for you called Cloudburst. wink wink

Aziraphale buys a quiet cottage in the middle of the English countryside. It is perfect in every way: old-style, quaint, surrounded by wilderness, with a small water feature in the back and a price to rival that of any other property he's seen. He is in love from the moment he sees it. But when a mysterious set of books, all written by unknown author A.J. Crowley, appears on his book shelf, Aziraphale begins to wonder if there is perhaps more to this house than he'd originally believed. The truth can be buried, but it cannot stay hidden forever.

Length: 48,334 words

AO3 Rating: Mature / Spice Level 🔥

Best for: Mostly Safe in Public, At Home, Angst, Human AU

Triggers: Major Character Death

Read it here, fic by commodorecliche

*Minor Spoilers* This story of Aziraphale falling in love with a ghost is one of the most gripping and beautiful stories I've ever read. It is such a powerful piece of fiction. Seamlessly blending romance with mystery and horror. Get your tissues, settle in, this one will haunt you.

Aziraphale has just moved to a cozy cottage in the countryside. If he's hearing things, feeling weird drafts, and noticing things out of place, well, that's just him settling in. Soon, there will be no denying the strange events, and it starts with a set of unpublished books written by an AJ Crowley. The previous, deceased, owner of the house.

This is heartbreaking. It's grief pools over everything. As Aziraphale learns more about the entity who haunts his cottage you will start to grieve as well. The way they begin to communicate was so thrilling and the softest romance. On one hand, we know they're soulmates and belong together despite any obstacle. On the other, it's a tragedy and horrifying. It's gorgeous and grotesque.

It's mostly safe in public, but an at home read for me. If you were destroyed by All of Us Strangers, I think you'll want to check this out. But mind the tags and warnings, there is graphic descriptions of death and major character death. Technically a happy ending? But that's a grey area in itself. I'd love to know how you guys feel about this ending actually

Read it here, fic by commodorecliche

P.S Spoilers under the cut because I want to scream about this story so come back once you've read this

Crowley folded his newspaper and accepted, with grim resignation, that he would have to try and save the world. It wasn’t that he particularly wanted to do it again; the first time had been bad enough and he’d needed an eleven-year-old to do the hard bit. He didn’t feel any kind of great love towards all living things at the moment, or have any heroic feelings. He simply knew that nobody else would do it. And Aziraphale, who had stumbled his way into the centre of it all, would be trying desperately not to let it happen and failing, because Heaven wouldn’t let him succeed. One more time, and he resolved that it would be the very last time, Crowley would have to fix things for him. Crowley goes on a road trip across America to delay the Second Coming. Aziraphale tries to teach angels about humanity. In between, they talk.

Length: 36,062 words

AO3 Rating: Explicit / Spice Level 🔥

Best for: Safe in Public, Post Season 2

Triggers: None

Read it here, fic by lagaudiere

*Minor Spoilers* I feel like every story I post I say is my new favorite, but I do believe this is one of the best post season two imaginings I've read so far. This is honestly riveting and so fulfilling! I was fully immersed and engaged in this plot, and it's excellently paced. Gets into the plot quickly, but lets us linger when we need to. The characterization is flawless, dialogue natural, and it's funny as often as it's insightful. The Adam/Yeshua plot I could 100% see happening in Season 3. The way this author handles Christ is so unique and surprising! He's surprisingly much more like Gabriel and the other angels than the kind and forgiving figure we're used to seeing. I do think a big part of my Good Omens obsession comes from being angry with The Church and God. This story delves into that quite a bit, and is part of why I enjoyed it so much. It really understands the themes of Good Omens outside of Crowley/Aziraphale. How humans deserve more than to be judged by black and white standards of morality. It also really knows Crowley and Aziraphale, what their issues truly are and why they have been misunderstanding each other. The hotel scene was just everything to me.

I could go on and on and on about this one, but I want to go back to reading fics. This is a must read for me. Safe in public, but I read this one largely at work and it was painful. All I wanted to do is pay full attention and I kept having to stop. So if you can read uninterrupted at home, that's the best way to experience this. Also shout out to the Marv Bagman scene, just bravo

After stopping the apocalypse, Crowley and Aziraphale finally take the next step in their six-thousand-year friendship. But when a spate of miracles sweeps across Soho and Mayfair, they realize their amorous escapades may have an unintended side effect. As they scramble to restore balance and an archangel arrives to investigate, Heaven and Hell’s messengers learn that you can never have too much of a good thing.

Length: 38,256 words

AO3 Rating: Mature/ Spice Level 🔥

Best for: Safe in Public, Comedy

Triggers: None

Read it here, fic by akfedeau

*Minor Spoilers* This fic is so fun! One of the authors tags is "Crack Treated Seriously" and that is such a good description for this. The plot here revolves around the fact that every time Aziraphale orgasms, a miracle happens. For a story whose entire plot revolves around sex, this is a very clean story. None of their...fornications are described. This isn't a smut story. What it is though, is funny. I loved the dialogue in this. Both Aziraphale and Crowley read so much like their canon, it's incredibly easy to read this in their voices. The added characters were a risk that paid off big time. I was very interested in Sabrael and Sitri. I was intrigued by them and they are very well written additions. Overall a very enjoyable time! Safe in public, a very casual read too if you need something to read in stolen moments. What I haven't mentioned yet is the incredible art that is throughout this story! They set the scene SO WELL and they were amazing!! Such talent here.

Crowley met Aziraphale in the spring of 1989 while he was on his lunchbreak from the factory, his attention immediately drawn to the posh boy sitting by the canal writing poetry. It was immediately obvious that they came from entirely different worlds, but the time they spent together was the happiest Crowley had ever known. With Aziraphale, Crowley experienced many firsts - his first kiss, his first love... his first heartbreak. Twenty years later, they are reunited when Crowley, now a successful writer and vlogger, comes to work as an Associate Lecturer in the university department where Aziraphale is an academic. Seeing Crowley brings back Aziraphale's intense regret for allowing himself to be persuaded to leave him behind all those years ago. Aziraphale desperately wishes to renew their acquaintance, but Crowley seems determined to keep his distance. Aziraphale can't blame him for not forgiving him, since he has never been able to forgive himself, but when Crowley begins to spend more time with him, Aziraphale is left with the hope that maybe they could at least be friends again - no matter how much it might hurt.

Length: 27,824 words

AO3 Rating: Mature / Spice Level 🔥

Best for: Safe in Public, Human AU, Romance

Triggers: None

Read it here, fic by AppleSeeds

*Minor Spoilers* This story is a Good Omens telling of Persuasion by Jane Austen. There is a reason Neil said Persuasion is Aziraphale's favorite Austen novel, it fits their relationship perfectly. If you don't know the source material no worries, this is telling it's own story. The timeline is split between Crowley and Aziraphale's teenage years in 1989 and 20 years later when they reunite. The pacing as it unfolds is very satisfying. They fall into each other's orbits very naturally, a young love that never faded for either of them. But their tragedy is also believable. Even adult Crowley can understand how they ended up apart. It's very realistic in that way. This was very sweet! Safe in public, the only reason I put one spicy flame is because there's not a half one lol. Excellent for an Austen mood!

Crowley doesn’t know it yet, but this is going to be the first, last, and only night he spends in the bookshop.- In which Crowley and Aziraphale get drunk, play poker, and then everything changes. Or: Why TF is Aziraphale giving Gabriel his spare room while he let Crowley live in his car for years? Oh, this is why.

Length: 7,440 words

AO3 Rating: Mature / Spice Level 🔥

Best for: Safe in Public, Comedy, Pick-me-up

Triggers: None

Read it here, fic by maidenimage

*Minor Spoilers* Ooooh how I wish this was canon. This short story answers why Crowley stayed living in his car rather than stay at the bookshop. The first half of the story we get to play a truly fun game of drunken poker. It had me giggling, especially at our miracled player Elmo. The dialogue could be taken from the series itself, it was effortless to read it in their voices. The last half? Well you'll just have to find out about that yourself. It had my heart racing. I desperately want the AU version of this where Crowley makes a different choice. Short and fun, it's safe in public but a bit steamy.