Disclaimer: I own very little.

A/N: Okay, so this is going to be like a Christmas calendar. I'll try my best to post a chapter a day, and if everything goes well, the last chapter should be out on the Christmas Day. I make no promises about the length of the chapters, but I aim to have them all at least 500 words long. The point is, there'll be something new to read every day!

Oh, and this will be Crowley/Aziraphale SLASH. Meaning, they are in an established romantical relationship. If such a thing offends you, do not even bother to read, leave alone flame.

(No, I'm not going to address the issue of them getting together in this fic. There are many good fics about that out there. Or, if you want to see my view on it, you cna read my fics Flee or Fall and Falling in Love, which tell basically the same story from different points of view. But in this fic, they're already together. Deal with it.)

Chapter 1:

Archangels Argue

In an unidentifiable place, somewhere in existence, four mostly human-shaped creatures were gathered around a table. Each was nursing a cup of tea between his hands, azure blue eyes watching the other creatures. Every one of them had curly hair, the style ranging from short black curls to a long blond ponytail, shoulder-length red and honey brown locks marking the halfway. Their clothes varied just as much, the elegant business suit of one creature a clear contrast to the combination of a T-shirt and jeans of another. There was one thing they all had in common, though -- they all had large, pearly white wings.

Ah, yes. The four archangels were off-duty.

"The situation is quite interesting," remarked Raphael. "Certainly nothing alike has ever happened."

"And that's all good and well," muttered Uriel darkly. "The last thing we need is all our angels going around trying to find a demon to sleep with. One couple is more than enough!"

"Oh, I think they are quite sweet," chuckled Gabriel, a twinkle in his eyes as he sipped his tea. "It is good to see that at least some of us are able to overcome the prejudices and let love conquer."

"Demons know no love!" spat Uriel, his eyes flashing. "And those prejudices are not meant to be overcome! Angels and demons don't mix, aren't supposed to mix, and shouldn't be allowed to mix!"

"Alas, it's not for us to decide," Michael said calmly, unfazed by the other archangel's outburst. "Like you know very well, He has allowed this to happen. He has decided not to let Aziraphale Fall because of this affair, and we have to respect His decision. I'm not saying that I was happy with the situation, but my opinion does not matter, as does not any of yours. And, to be honest, I would not want him to Fall, either -- even though I don't approve of him sleeping with a demon, I certainly don't want to lose such a warrior."

"Warrior? Aziraphale?" echoed Raphael, very amused. "Oh, please. Despite his undeniably quite impressive actions during the Would-Have-Been-Apocalypse, he hardly is a warrior of any kind. And it's not like you would lose much power along with him, either; after all, he's a mere principality."

Michael, however, shook his head. "If it only was that easy," he muttered. "You can strip an angel of their rank, but not of their power. Our powers are tied to what we are, our very essence. All records may claim that Aziraphale's a principality, he may think so himself, even his powers may appear as those of a lower angel. However, he once belonged to the cherubim guarding the Gates of the Garden, and that is what he still is in essence. Aziraphale is not a 'mere principality', like you suggest, Raphael -- he is a cherub just lacking a sword. And, even more importantly, he has the fighting skills of one."

"And, given that sword, he would make a rather remarkable addition to the Host," concluded Gabriel. "I see your point, Michael." With a grin, he added, "They still are sweet together, though."

"You're a hopeless romantic," sighed Raphael. Turning towards Michael, he added, "Are you sure, though? I mean, he hardly has shown any kind of signs of his true cherub powers, now has he?"

"Yes, he has," the highest one of them replied. "While preparing to fight as everything else seemed to fail, he picked up a sword. And then, he set it on fire. True, any principality could make a sword burn -- but only a cherub can set it in divine fire. It was divine fire, too; I do know it when I see it."

"What about the demon, then?" asked Uriel sharply. "Even if Aziraphale has not Fallen for sleeping with him, what if the demon tempts him into Falling for some other reason?"

"That's doubtful!" Gabriel announced cheerfully. "I've kind of observed the situation, and I'd say that there's a bigger chance of the demon Rising than of our boy Falling."

"It's possible for a demon to Rise?" Raphael asked, interested. "I've never heard of such a thing."

"That's because it has never happened before," Gabriel said, his eyes twinkling again. "However, were it to ever happen, I think that this Crowley fellow has the best chances of it."

"Ah, yes. Crowley, Carowiel by his old name," Michael said, a thoughtful expression on his face. "He, too, has been placed in a rank far below his true powers. Before Falling, he was one of the cherubim as well -- do you really think they'd let a lower demon attempt the first temptation of the Man? And still, he's ranked as the demonic equivalent of a principality. If he Rose by Aziraphale's influence, I would definitely get two very worthy additions to the Hosts. Two experienced cherubs -- now there's a force to be reckoned with."

"Yes, indeed," snorted Uriel. "And that's exactly why we should keep an eye on them. They already managed to stop the Apocalypse once. Do you think they'll do anything else the other time around? If you recall, they were brave -- or stupid -- enough to even go against the Adversary rather than let the world to come to its rightful end. You'd better make sure you do have them in your pocket, Michael, or they might cause true problems. Knowing them, you might lose seraphim in the fight!"

"Now, don't have such dark thoughts, my friend," Gabriel said with a bright smile. "I'm sure everything will be all right. And besides, there's not going to be a new Apocalypse in quite a while, now is there? So, we have no reason to worry. Let the dear boys have some fun once in a while!"

"Indeed," chuckled Raphael, and Michael just snorted in mild amusement. And thus, Uriel was quiet, even though his expression was still definitely the darkest of the four.

Next chapter:

Aziraphale and Crowley make an appearance. And yes, that's all I'm telling right now... Where's the point if you know it without waiting for it?