#and they move to a cottage in South Downs.

[acheemient]

I mean. We basically got Checkov's Resurrection when they introduced the Lazuli system in season 2.

Also, Aziraphale not being able to ressurrect Wee Morag puts doubt into our heads. 'Oh no! Aziraphale can't raise anyone from the dead!' It raises the stakes.

It's basically the perfect foreshadowing for Aziraphale to revive Crowley. Most likely while cradling dead Crowley in his lap. Either saying something like "I love you" or "Don't go where I can't follow." Or with a kiss. That would be nice.

I'm calling it right now, using my one and only super power:

An Useless English Degree!

I think S3 could get away with the cliche "One of the protagonists is dead but resurrects with the power of love" because God and miracles exist, is biblically canon to the point that they have a measurement system based on that. I know people usually don't like that because it might invalidates previous events and sometimes is played like a cheap trick to scare the audience like "Sike! I'm alright again!" But if they decided to do that I hope they would execute it.

I’ve seen it done in fics and it could definitely work! With a little aziraphale cradling crowley pieta moment 100%

[ami-v-dragnire]

Unpacking 📚🪴✨ __ My piece for the month of August as part of the @desiderata2023 calendar! A quick break from unpacking all the boxes in their South Downs cottage.

[leoreadss]

a wip. Can't wait to finish it today :)

[alizaphale]

Moving to the south downs

„Are you ready?“, Crowley asked, probably because he was worried about pushing Aziraphale too quickly.

„Yes, dear,“ Aziraphale pressed out against his nerves. The last thing he saw before he pressed his eyes closed was Crowley’s soft smile. He felt like he couldn’t watch. He didn’t want to see his books disappear, so he kept his eyes shut, until he heard the faint sound of a miracle and felt Crowley’s touch on his lower arm. He opened one eye and sought Crowley’s gaze, raising one eyebrow in a silent question.

„They’re all inside the van. You can relax, angel,“ Crowley said, stroking his arm in a reassuring gesture.

„Oh! Oh, thank you, love! I hadn’t expected any different but it’s still a relief!“, Aziraphale replied, opening his hands that he hadn’t even noticed were clutched into fists and feeling the tension drain from his shoulders.

Crowley snorted, then looked softly at him. „You just entrusted your books to a demon, you know?!“, he said in a quiet voice.

„Not a demon, Crowley. It was you. My demon. That’s not the same thing at all,“ Aziraphale whispered as a reply. Crowley hugged him tightly, and Aziraphale pretended not to hear the muffled sniffling against his neck. He just smiled to himself and pressed a kiss to Crowley’s hair as he returned the hug.

[clownhonkbonk]

i lowkey hope god is in a cottage in the south downs and thats why everything is going to shit in heaven.

[spessolus]

IM TRYING TO CATCH UP just let me finish crying first ill just be a minute i promise

im already at the south downs cottage guys, catch up

[ruby-gold]

As usual, I was in the mood for something soft and domestic.

I imagine their bedroom in the South Downs cottage being a blend of greenhouse and library. You get to decide who put up the fairy lights.

(I usually love including Aziraphale’s pinky ring in intimate drawings, but the idea of him taking it off before “moving the bedroom furniture” has something to it… 😅)

[artyphex]

You know, I was thinking about the South Downs and nightingales

The nightingale, or specifically, the nightingale’s song is symbolic of Aziraphale and Crowley’s love. When, at the end of season one, the nightingale truly sang for the first time in Berkeley Square it represented the moment Aziraphale and Crowley’s relationship changed to something more intimate. Something new and until that point, only imagined

But

It’s important to note that god specified no one could hear the nightingale, it was there, it mattered, but no one could hear it. There were still things unsaid in their relationship, still hidden parts of it. They knew the nightingale was there, they knew it sang, but they still couldn’t hear it. Their true feelings were still unspoken

I think that’s why the cottage is so important. It’s where they get to be together, freely, without fear. When they finally get to the cottage nothing will be unsaid anymore, they will have finally have each other and have nothing to hide.

So they move to the South Downs, away from the noise of the city, where they can hear the nightingales sing

[fakemichaelsheen]

-the south downs cottage-

crowley, sipping wine: hey, guess what?

aziraphale, reading: hmm?

crowley, smirking: maude is getting a divorce

aziraphale, puts the book down: really? oh, good. roger treated her awfully

crowley, nodding: I heard he was having an affair. with hilary!

aziraphale, gasps: no! *shakes his head* I knew there was a reason she wasn't attending the knitting circle

crowley, pouring more wine: so I told maude she can do so much better

aziraphale, smitten: of course you did

crowley, thoughtful: you know, that's the third marriage that's ended since we moved here *chuckles* maybe it's us

aziraphale, shrugs: perhaps they're looking at you and realising they'll never have perfection

crowley, impressed: smooth

aziraphale, reaches for his hand: you're not the only one capable of romance

crowley, kisses his hand: apparently not *pauses* it's hot

aziraphale, rolls his eyes playfully: I have one chapter left

crowley: *smug*

[fandombros]

Just sipping on drugs, very demure, very mindful

Angelic Antiques (4/18/22)

•

Indulgences or something…

[robinwithay]

i was thinking about south downs scenes for the end of s3 again earlier and like. when it's either crowley (removing his gardening gloves) going up to aziraphale (reading a book in a lawn chair) or aziraphale's shadow moving over crowley (knelt on the floor tending to some plants) like a wing for a moment and either of them extending a hand to the other and saying "time to leave the garden, angel/dear"...and the other taking their hand and standing to walk back to the cottage with them...and they both look up because it starts spitting rain as they're walking back then it starts pouring suddenly and they run back to the house laughing and still holding hands??? then what.

[vidavalor]

I feel like there's gonna be a big love confession scene at the end of the Finale,with passionate kiss and a swelling music score and all that grand and spectacular stuff, probably fireworks or something, don't you think?

Because this is how season 1 ended👆🏻

And this is how season 2 ended👆🏻

I like the sound of that, Most Rouge of Sides. 💕

I'm pretty sure that, near the end, Aziraphale's going to finally tell his one, particular person about wanting to move with him to the South Downs Cottage. I'd bet pretty heavily that the cottage has significance to them and we'll probably see that in a flashback.

Crowley will obviously say yes to that and I think that he probably then asks Aziraphale to marry him. The good news is that Crowley already knows how many nipples Aziraphale has so he can skip that inquiry and just actually be romantic about it. (Poor Madame Tracy 😂...) Obviously, Aziraphale is going to agree to make an honest demon out of him. We already glimpsed a preview of that sweetness...

The very, very, very end, though? It starts, as it will end, with a garden... and with an apple... and I could be way off but I think that a picnic is the very last scene.

Hopefully, with Tori Amos' "A Nightingale Sang in Berkeley Square" over it a la the end of S1. Something like that could also be the big, sweeping, grand romantic movie end scene you're envisioning. 😊 There are so many opportunities for vavooming that it's hard to keep track, honestly...

The writer in me says that they can't throw this picnic stuff down and not make good on a literal one (as well as the ones that are a little more metaphorical) by the end of the story. Going from The Garden of Eden in the beginning to, say, their own garden in the end? That'd be a perfect happy ending, imho. 😇

[aziraphales-library]

Hi, i hope you don't get asked this too much, but could you recommend some established relationship fics? canon or au is fine, but not kid fic, if that's possible. Thank you.

Hey. We have an #established relationship tag you can check out. Here are some more to add to the collection...

Where the Cliffs Meet the Sky by springofviolets (M)

Crowley plans a meaningful, romantic anniversary trip to celebrate 1 year of being openly in a relationship with Aziraphale, but things keep going wrong! How will our hero cope? A South Downs Cottage origins story.

One Hundred Days by Lady of Prompts (G)

They should have discussed it more. Wasn’t that what humans did? Spend weeks and months talking about what sort of home they want, what sort of life, dreaming of what moving in together will be like. Making sure their dreams matched up, their expectations. They didn’t buy cottages – in the middle of a forest, no less, half a mile from the nearest village – without considering questions of…of hobbies, and use of space and…and living arrangements. They certainly didn’t take such a step without…defining their relationships. -- Aziraphale only begins to consider the implications of *moving in together* after they've already done it.

Hozier Missed A Trick When He Called It 'Real People' Instead Of 'Joe Bloggs Snogs' by indieninja92 (E)

Months after Armageddoff, Crowley and Aziraphale enjoy a cosy night in. A brief moment of anxiety about a completely invented turn of events sends them off on a rambly, giggling conversation that asks, if they were human, what kinds of humans would they be? Very silly ones, it's safe to say.

Five Times They Weren't Very Sexy and One Time They Aced It by ZehWulf (E)

“Have you ever wondered what it feels like?” Crowley asks while contemplating the dregs at the bottom of his wine glass. He’s aiming for philosophical but fears the faint wheeze at the end of the question might have given him away. “Have I ever wondered what ‘what’ feels like,” Aziraphale asks finally. “Sex,” he says, much louder than intended or reasonable. They both wince.  “Oh, have you never…?” Aziraphale asks with polite disbelief. “You have?” Crowley demands. Look, when you're largely inexperienced sex-favorable asexual ineffables, it takes a bit of practice, a lot of communication, and some bull-headed persistence to get your sex life in commendable working order. Or, five times things got (hilariously) awkward during sex, and one time after they've got it mostly figured out. A companion fic to "Scratching That Itch." (Sex acts, such as they are, tagged per chapter in chapter notes!)

a moment's silence by viperinz (T)

Crowley rubs a hand down his face, sighing. “Then you know that you shouldn’t have done that.” “It was the only choice I had. If you got smitten—” Aziraphale swallows, feeling his back throb in pain. “You would have died right where you stood. I could not allow that.” Crowley’s mouth turns into a thin line, his fury radiating through the room. “So, what? It was better if it was you rather than me that took the hit?” “Yes!” Aziraphale exclaims, sitting up in bed. He winces as his back protests the movement, but he needs Crowley to understand. “You deserve better than what I was able to ever give you, and you need to help Muriel and the Messiah. If I ceased to exist, nothing would change the outcome of stopping all of this.” “No, you don’t get to say that.” Crowley walks up to the bed. “If you think I’ll ever stand to lose you again, then you’re bloody wrong. The outcome would be different because I wouldn’t have you, you daft thing.” After everything is said and done, Aziraphale has to learn to adjust to life on Earth after seven years of being in Heaven. Luckily, Crowley is there to help him heal, and to give him the love that he feels he's lost.

we shall have the world forever for our own by quitequaintrelle (M)

Your new beginning starts here! Lying wholly within the South Downs National Park, the village of Wood’s Bottom is your destination for an idyllic retirement. This quaint hamlet is a short five miles away from the seaside resort of Brighton, with its vibrant array of shopping, culture, and leisure attractions. Boasting stunning landscape views, entirely average weather conditions, welcoming neighbours, and intimate rural charm, Wood’s Bottom is your opportunity to live the exceptionally normal and relaxing lifestyle you’ve always dreamed of. Aziraphale and Crowley have finally found their forever home after successfully ensuring there is still a “forever” to share. Surely they will integrate perfectly well amongst their new neighbours. Surely.

- Mod D

[bellisima-writes]

OMG STOP IT I LOVE THIS SO MUCH.

Today, while taking in a play in the West End, Aziraphale had to stifle a giggle when Crowley made the move on him: yawning, stretching, and casually wrapping his arm around Aziraphale’s shoulder.  

[dailyaziraphale]

Aziraphale Of The Day: let's just all pretend this is them moving into the South Downs cottage, shall we?

[mimisempai]

Just a little longer

Summary

For once, it's Aziraphale who wants to stay in bed longer. The problem is that they're expecting visitors, and Crowley has to use a lot of persuasion to get the angel to get up.

Notes

I love a needy angel (and Crowley too)

On Ao3

Rating G -  524 words

"Angel... we really need to get up..."

Crowley tried unsuccessfully to free himself from the grip of Aziraphale's arms around his waist and chuckled before saying, "I can't believe I'm the one telling you this."

Aziraphale grunted and buried his face further into Crowley's neck.

The demon chuckled again.

"If I wasn't sure I was in my own body, I'd think we'd swapped bodies again."

He felt the angel's lips quiver against his skin as the angel smiled.

Crowley almost felt bad for being the voice of reason when Aziraphale, for once, indulged in a lie-in and enjoyed the moment.

Still, he tried to pull away from the angel's embrace, but Aziraphale held on even tighter.

"Angel, you're going to break my ribs!"

The angel grumbled against him, "I don't want you to get up."

"But we both have to get up, since half of Whickber Street is coming to visit."

"Maggie, Nina and Muriel aren't half the street."

"Considering the number of words they speak per minute, they might as well be."

Aziraphale finally loosened his embrace and, pulling back a little, replied sulkily, "I'll only agree to get up if you give me a kiss to cheer me on."

A needy angel was, of course, something Crowley could not resist, so he replied softly, "How could I refuse such a prayer?"

He took the angel's face between his hands and pressed his lips to his own, letting the kiss linger a bit before withdrawing gently. That didn't stop Aziraphale from whimpering as Crowley moved away.

Crowley coaxed him gently, "Come on, Angel, knowing you, you'll want everything to be perfect for their arrival, so it's best to have time to get everything ready.

He gently released Aziraphale's hands from around his waist, but then the angel wrapped them around his neck before pulling him closer and stealing a kiss faster than the demon could react.

Aziraphale took his time, and only when they were both out of breath did he agree to let Crowley pull away. Between gasps, he said, licking his lips, "Now we can get up."

Crowley shook his head in amusement, leaned forward and planted a light kiss on Aziraphale's forehead, then, letting his hand linger on the angel's cheek, said softly, "Stay a little while as I prepare breakfast."

He planted one last light kiss on Aziraphale's lips and rose before the angel could protest.

The last vision Crowley had before closing the door was of Aziraphale gently touching the lips he had just kissed, cheeks slightly flushed and eyes shining.

As for Aziraphale, he watched Crowley leave and sighed as the bedroom door closed behind him.

The sun was already high in the sky.

He knew Crowley was right and he needed to get up, but he let himself fall back onto his pillow before coming around and pulling the demon's pillow towards him, burying his face in it with pleasure. 

After all, Crowley had told him he still had some time.

Inhaling the familiar, comforting scent of the demon in the pillow, the angel giggled slightly.

At worst, there was nothing a little miracle couldn't fix.

_________

Still not beta'd

Still not my native language

Still hoping you'll enjoy this story  🥰

Still thanking you for bearing with me 😝

South Downs cottage series : here

Ineffable fan fictions Masterpost : here