that's all I ever get from your family ties

[temptationaccomplished]

Who: Aziraphale, Alec, and Anthony's mother. And probably Anthony eventually to rescue them from this.
What: Meeting Anthony's mother...without Anthony present.
When: After Anthony's post, while Anthony is out handling the mess of his own making (aka the fake fire at the NYBG/everything he's set up with everyone else).
Where: Anthony's apartment, The Bronx.
Rating/Warnings: Uhh.



Aziraphale had dressed himself in his nicest, most flattering sweater, button up, and bow-tie, and taken a taxi to Anthony's apartment. It was all a bit unnerving. They were about a week into this relationship, a few months into their friendship, and here he was meeting the family.

Should he have brought flowers? Was that proper? Or wine or should he pretend that Anthony had made plans and invited him over before his mother had come to visit and that was just a coincidence?

He spent the taxi ride over rehearsing his greeting, mind swimming with details. Hello, Mrs. Crowley! What a pleasure to meet you! Did he know the mother's first name? Had Anthony or Alec mentioned it? Was she even "Mrs. Crowley" or did she go by another last name-- No, Anthony was Catholic. Surely his mother had taken her husband's name and Anthony hadn't mentioned a divorce. No, he mentioned a divorce, but that was Alec's side of the family, including the uncle who thought Aziraphale was Lisa. ...Right? Goodness, he couldn't keep it all straight.

By the time Aziraphale had arrived, he was convinced that the best way to handle this was to go upstairs, greet her like he had no idea they'd be meeting today, and sweep Anthony off to dessert before anything could implode with questions or accusations. It was terribly cowardly, but he was fairly certain Anthony was in no position to rescue him from this terrible idea he had agreed to.

So, holding only his coat, no flowers, Aziraphale knocked on Anthony's apartment door, stepped back, wrung his hands, put on a smile, and waited.

Comments

[scotch_egg]

"It looked good to me." He caught that blush and for his cousin's sake, pretended he didn't.

"Just a consultation. Thanks for the book." He patted Anthony's shoulder and headed for the lift. The further he got from this whole situation the happier he would be.

[temptationaccomplished]

"Thank you."

Aziraphale laughed a little and offered up a smile in return. Despite the warmth in his chest, his emotions felt a bit raw and wrung out, and so full of what could only be described as love that it was nearly overflowing; it needed to be shared. It made him very happy to know they had brought Alec here to the small but comfortable living-space that was Anthony's apartment. Alec needed someone to keep him company while he was recovering, if only to keep him from taking it all on himself.

"He has been so kind to me--" And a good cousin to Anthony, but that went without saying. And Aziraphale wasn't even sure, sometimes, if Alec considered him a friend or if they were just two people with loneliness and Anthony in common. "But I worry about him. We haven't known each other long, but Alec cares so deeply, tries so hard for us; he just seems so determined to be lonely himself."

How could he tell her that he worried he was somehow contributing to Alec's unhappiness, even if this was what Alec also seemed to want?

[serpentinthegarden]

A consultation made it sound like he was off for a Doctor's appointment so he was rather sadly watched as he ventured down the hall and into the nearest lift. Anthony hoped it would go well. They could use some good health related news. And he did want to chase after Alec, to go with him, sit through the consultation... but it wouldn't be welcomed.

So instead he looked towards the door of his apartment and wondered if he should knock. A silly notion as it was his place and why should he?

***

Evelyn listened to Fell's concerns and found she shared many of them. It wouldn't really be her place to go around telling family stories to people only recently invited into the family... at least not without filling up her teacup again.

"You are a very kind man Mr. Fell. I'm sure that some where deep inside him Alec does appreciate that. It's just... I'm afraid he has become very good at keeping people at arm's length. I know he had a very rough time of it growing up and I think due to that he has difficulty relating to others."

She sipped her tea.

"I worry about him too, especially after Anthony called about Alec's heart attack. I wish there was more I could do for him. I hate to see either of my boys suffering."

[scotch_egg]

Alec sighed with relief as the lift started down. Everything was all taken care of, again. Slowly this was building into something that would last for Anthony and it made him feel somewhat accomplished.

Once out in the fresh air he made his way toward the bus stop. He had enough loose change in his pocket to afford fare to the library where he could sit and read for a few hours. Eventually he knew Anthony would clue in to his lie as he didn't even have his wallet or mobile with him, but also knew it would be too late to do anything about it.

[temptationaccomplished]

He really wasn't all that kind, Aziraphale thought. He could stand to be kinder. And perhaps more considerate of others and thoughtful towards their feelings. But he was glad she thought that of him, at the very least. He wanted to be kind, especially to those who had been that to him--like Alec.

"I think having you here is comfort." A disruption to their normal lives, certainly, but a comfort nonetheless. "It's a comfort to me to know Alec has more people looking after him, anyway. There's only so much one can do for him if he won't let himself be helped, and Anthony shouldered a lot of that himself the night Alec went to the hospital. So thank you."

He awkwardly helped himself to another cookie, unsure what else to say.

[serpentinthegarden]

Saying such wonderful things did little to dampen Evelyn's impression that Mr. Fell was indeed a kind person.

"I wish I was a comfort, I feel more like an invading Hun. The boys can be so difficult when some thing is bothering them, but they do look after each other between squabbles and I intend to do what I can for them while I'm here. I never expected things to be so dire..."

Mental health scares were bad enough, but there was Alec's heart condition and those memories some one finally had told her about. It left a mother as uncertain where to go as poor Fell with his cookie. But, about that time the door glided open and Anthony entered. He looked of pure guilt as he wandered over to give his mum a kiss on the cheek and an apology coffee / muffin combination.

"Sorry."

These gifts were accepted with the patience only a mother had, "And the fire?"

Anthony's nose scrunched, "He was supposed to say a thermostat had shorted out not that there was a fire. It was an excuse to get away for a while..."

"You could have just said..." Evelyn trailed off as even she knew she wouldn't have been able to let go of him at that time. "I know, I wouldn't have been able to hear you. I was too worried. I'm still worried! But at least I know you do have people looking out for you."

Fell, she meant and his being mentioned brought Anthony's eyes over to him. He must be furious, being left all alone with him mum! What must the guy think of him? The worst case scenario was played out in his mind. The grand fight, the inevitable break up... he doubted even the flowers he held could save him but the roses were presented to Fell all the same.

"I owe you an apology too. I should have been here when you arrived. I intended to be I just ran into... stuff."

A kid with the power to kill some one with a magical heart attack. It had certainly been a distraction!

"Oh! There's no harm done, surely?" Evelyn spoke up again, just to give the kids a helpful push. "Besides it gave us the chance to talk. I can't say I agree with the way you've gone about things but, Anthony, if this makes you happy then that's what you have to do. Now... you don't want to spend all your time with me. Were you two going some where? Don't let me keep you."
She looked to Anthony and pointedly added, "You and I can talk when you get back."

Which just left him and Fell who might have been too angry with him to keep their date. Anthony's voice was cool when he spoke but if one listened carefully there was a barely hidden quaver of nerves, "Aziraphale? You... still up for dessert?"

[temptationaccomplished]

Aziraphale's expression lit up with the utmost joy at seeing Anthony: eyes sparkling, cheeks rosy, mouth turned up into a smile of love...that quickly pursed down into a stubborn attempt at looking very cross. I'm not supposed to be so happy to see you, he thought. You've made me a little mad, leaving me here to fend for myself with your mother. I'm very upset at you.

Oh, but he was so happy to see Anthony just the same. That stupid, silly feeling that always came over him, that one that made him feel and act like a fool, meant Anthony had his sole focus, even if said focus was currently funneled into trying to look appropriately put-out, like Anthony was in the doghouse. He accepted the flowers, eyeing Anthony over them as he took a breath of their soft rosy perfume. His expression softened and warmed as Anthony's cool facade cracked just a little.

"You did promise. Maybe a sinfully decadent chocolate mousse?" If Evelyn hadn't been there, Aziraphale might have made him work a little harder. As it was, not in front of the mother.

"Thank you, Mrs. Crowley, for the delicious cookies. I'm glad we had a chance to talk."

[serpentinthegarden]

Relief flooded into every portion of his being as long before Fell had even spoken there had been no mistaking that glow. He was upset... marginally, but their budding relationship hadn't been destroyed. It was a strange concern, like he was always walking on a razor's edge, that anything he said or did wrong might lead them towards some sort of break up. Anthony attributed this to the newness of their union and the fact that none of his previous relationships, outside of the one he had enjoyed with Grace, had lasted.

He forgot himself as he watched Fell's cheeks tinting nearly the same rosy color as the flowers he was partially hidden behind. The impish smile drew Anthony in, leaning closer to smell the scent of Azirpahale's cologne had mingled with the roses as well... and what did you know. His lips matched them too. All sense of place nearly forgotten he thought to visit those lips with an apology kiss..-- only Fell did go mentioning his mum and when Anthony looked up to realize how close he had drawn to Aziraphale, only mere inches from his cheek, he noticed also his mum leaning over the table and grinning like she was deep into one of her soap operas.

"Please, don't mind me. This is precious."

Anthony cleared his throat and pulled away. The kiss could wait until they didn't have an audience.

"La Maison Du Chocolat," he spoke as his Aziraphale in close proximity swagger carried him back towards the apartment door, "I'll even buy you a few Eclairs."