777 Abby Road, Monday Evening (12/17)

[ditheringangel]

There was no Christmas music playing on the stereo, because it didn't feel quite right without the decorations being up just yet, so Aziraphale had put on one of his favorite jazz CDs instead. He wasn't sure whether Jack would be dropping by before or after dinner, so there was a simple casserole in the fridge just in case. And a fresh pot of

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[time_watcher]

Jack was actually nicely dressed tonight as he came bounding lightly up the sidewalk towards the back entrance of the house.

He was even carrying a bottle of wine and a flower.

It never hurt to be a gracious date now and again!

[ditheringangel]

Aziraphale knew the moment Jack put his foot on the property, and he set aside the ornaments he'd been sorting to meet the man at the door. He blinked in surprise, and then his face broke into a warm smile, at the sight of the gifts.

"How kind of you, my dear! Come inside and I'll find you a corkscrew. Are you hungry?"

[time_watcher]

"I'm always hungry," Jack said and for once there wasn't a lewd inuendo in his words.

[ditheringangel]

"I rather believe you are," the angel chuckled, taking the flower and pausing to press a warm kiss to the Captain's lips before leading him inside. "It's just a casserole, because you know I'm not much of a cook, but it'll be edible."

He made good on his words and handed Jack a corkscrew from a drawer, then found a vase in one of the cupboards for the flower.

[time_watcher]

Returning the warm kiss with a low murmur of appreciation, Jack took the corkscrew and set about getting into the bottle.

"I'm sure it will be fine," said Jack. "Remember, you're talking to a man who lived on MREs and baked beans for months at a time."

[ditheringangel]

Aziraphale gave a little shudder at the very thought. He liked his good food, thank you very much!

"Dreadful time, that was," he murmured, taking the manner of Jack's habitual dress and what bits of information he'd gleaned about the man, and taking a stab at a bit of an assumption. "Although I'll say it made me awfully proud to be thought of as a Londoner."

The vase was set up in the window that looked out over the garden, and then the angel fetched the casserole from the fridge and popped it into the oven. "Glasses are there just to your left, my dear."

[time_watcher]

Jack's head came up in a tense manner when he realized the connection the angel was making and he gave a small chuff of a noise as he popped the cork from the bottle.

"So my father always said," he tried, albit it might have sounded a bit weak.

[ditheringangel]

The angel raised an eyebrow at Jack in a 'really my dear' sort of way, but he didn't call the man out on his subterfuge. Secrets were hard things to let go of, he knew, and pushing the issue was only going to make it worse.

"I used to have this little bookshop in Soho, rundown sort of place really," he remarked casually. "I've learned a bit about operating a business since then."

Cocking his head speculatively at Jack, the angel asked, "Shall we be formal and eat at the table, or take our supper into the other room?"

[time_watcher]

"I am but your humble guest my good man," Jack said by way of an answer, turning with two glasses of wine and ready to either set them on the table or take them into the next room.

[ditheringangel]

Waving his hand toward the doorway, Aziraphale set the plates on the counter to wait for the casserole to be finished. "I've a fire going in the other room. And someone did a lovely job of putting up pine garland around the fireplace."

He moved past Jack, taking one of the glasses and stealing another kiss as he did so, and led the way into the living room. The Captain's visits had never held any formality before, so the angel figured it would be silly to start changing that now.

Besides, the couch was a lot more comfortable than the kitchen chairs.

[time_watcher]

Jack shrugged out of his beloved great coat and dutifully carried the wine bottle along with him into the room. It was nice to see the fire, even if the area really didn't call for such needs for warmth and he smiled as he sat down on the couch and relaxed back into the arm.

"To your rousing festival success!" He toasted the angel, raising his glass.

[ditheringangel]

Aziraphale's expression glowed with pleasure at the toast, and he raised his own glass with a little self-conscious grin. "To a successful festival, and everyone's enjoyment of it," he answered, taking a sip of the wine. "Oh, this is a very nice choice!"

After another sip, taking a moment to enjoy the flavor of the wine, the angel sat down as well, rather close to Jack but not right on top of him, and sighed contentedly. "I think...that I'm finally finding my equilibrium again."

[time_watcher]

Jack smiled slowly as he derived a genuine pleasure out of being able to help people whom he cared about and he took a sip of his wine.

"That's good to hear," he said softly, stretching out his long legs and playing a bit of footsie with the angel.

[ditheringangel]

Oh that was rather nice, although it would be nicer without shoes in the way. Quirking an eyebrow at the other man, Aziraphale toed his shoes off his feet, then laid his head against the back of the couch.

"I suppose I just needed to get a few things straight in my head," he mused. "Foremost being the fact that not only can't I fix everyone's problems, I shouldn't fix them. I told James once that you can't grow and change without trials to overcome. Life can be unfair, and sometimes downright horrible, but it has to be that way. Or else...who would notice the light if there were no darkness?"

[time_watcher]

"Sometimes we're our own worst subjects when it comes to listening to our own advice," Jack agreed and he reached down to undo his boots, thereby freeing sock covered feet to play with the angel's.

Looking over at the man shaped being, he smiled and titled the glass in his direction.

"But I mean it, you look and sound better than you did when we first met. I'm glad to see you've taken some of the pressure off yourself."

[ditheringangel]

"Oh goodness, I do have to admit to that," the angel agreed, with a wry laugh. "I'm absolute shite at taking my own advice. Perhaps what I needed was someone to come along who was willing to give me a good shake."

He smiled, pleased to hear the genuine interest in Jack's voice, and just as glad to know that the man felt his demeanour had improved. Scooting a bit closer, so that their shoulders were just lightly touching, Aziraphale rubbed his foot along the side of the Captain's ankle. "I am sorry for hitting you. Although I'm really thankful that you came along when you did."