@heavensmostterrifyingweapon
Aziraphale's given name was Haziel. Though his parents called him their little Aziraphale. It meant "a humble rising star". A description that Aziraphale met perfectly. He was never one for attention but was made aware of the privilege he had as he grew up.
His parents served under the Viceroy Shekinah directly faithfully and Aziraphale loved it. He and one of Shekinah's younger children, Gabriel had been the classes, and while they weren't close, they were friendly.
Whenever Aziraphale thought back on those times he remembered Gabriel with an infectious smile.
But Heaven was not free from pain and loss. The war with demons of Hell was getting more and more deadly. They were both fighting for earth and as this was well before humanity....no one could know the outcome.
It wasn't the only war in the universe happening. Another one was taking place far from the reaches of Heaven and Hell. It was between two gods for all of creation itself.
He came to Shekinah and asked for to give Him soldiers in His war against Her. Shekinah refused. She would not allow her people to die for something that did not effect them.
He warned her that she would come to regret her actions. She still didn't budge.
A few weeks later she was getting ready for a border scrimmage with the demons. It should have a swift victory for Heaven. Even so Shekinah called for the angels she must trusted, cheif among them, Aziraphale's parents.
They kneeled before Aziraphale and his younger brother a few minutes before they were due to leave.
Aziraphale had been nervous all day. His parents reminded him to always see the good in everyone, to treat everyone with kindness, to love instead of hate.
Aziraphale only asked if they were coming home because this felt like a goodbye, and he didn't want to say goodbye. They simply smiled and said they would try.
They left with Shekinah and never came back. They gave their lives for Shekinah. But even that wasn't enough. She along with her mates died, their bodies beginning to burn - thanks to some demonic alchemy. A reaction Heaven didn't know how to stop.
Shekinah's eldest children Taharial and Eyal took as much of their parents things as they could carry home. There were no bodies to take, it was all ash.
Taharial called his younger siblings and told them the news. Shekinah had wished for Michael and his twin Megadriel to take over her duties. The twins were only 1400 (human - 14yrs) but they had no choice. Heaven needed a leader.
Aziraphale found out about Shekinah the next day with the rest of Heaven. They.all mourned their great leader. It was then that Aziraphale found out his worst fear - his parents weren't coming back.
He tried not to let the depression get to him, he had to see the good in this. Hadn't that be what he promised his parents? He wouldn't hate even though he wanted to.
It was also around this time that he noticed the change in Gabriel. He wasn't smiling as much anymore, he didn't play pranks and make the kids in class laugh anymore. He began to actually take their work seriously and trained late into the night.
Aziraphale scarcely began to recognize the Gabriel he had known.
It was only a few short weeks after Shekinah's death that Heaven was preparing for a new war. One that called for Michael, Lumiel (lucifer) Rapgael, and Gabriel. A war that would task then with locking away the Evil Her away.
They helped Him to do so and Heaven rejoiced. A few short eons later humanity was introduced.
It was then that Aziraphale met his paradox - Crowley. If he saw the good in the other wouldn't that be sympathetizing with the enemy? Crowley was a Fallen. No better than a demon.
But if he chose to see only the bad in the other, wouldn't that betraying his parents last wishes?
He chose to be as neutral as he could. He would not disgrace them by falling.
Funny how fate has a way of twisting things. They had stopped the apocalypse and were sitting in St James park toasting to their victory. It was then that Crowley did something that they both come to regret.
He leaned over and kissed him. Aziraphale froze and before he could stop himself, he kissed him back. Aziraphale even pulled him closer.
When they finally pulled apart Crowley gave him a roguish grin.
"Am I still going too fast for you angel?"
Aziraphale just kissed him again. This was love, he knew that instinctively. Surely his parents would not fault him for this? For the love he felt? Surely Heaven would understand?
They have a house in the country where they raise their daughter. They nickname her Eona because she kept crying for all the little ants that Crowley would kill with when they found their way into their kitchen.
They promised themselves that they would teach her compassion and that Heaven and Hell weren't good or bad. They existed within zones of grey.
Heaven did not understand. They sought them out and when Aziraphale refused to tell Gabriel where Crowley and their daughter was he killed him.
Crowely was devastated, he knew though that he could play this off if he played his cards right. He summoned Aziraphale's younger brother who was less than thrilled by all of this. Still he agreed to raise his neice. Though he had one stipulation, Crowley was to never contact her. She will stay loyal to Heaven, her uncle didn't want anymore of his family to die.
Crowley readily agreed, he then told Belial how he had played Heaven's agent. How he spent eons getting close to the other and slowly leading him astray. He was celebrated. The apocalypse deboical long forgotten. Crowley changed his looks and burned his car and glasses. He had no reason to stay in England now. Maybe he would go to the colonies. See what those scamps were getting up to. And who knows? If there was ever another apocalypse he promised himself he would stop that too, Azira would have wanted that.
Last he had heard though was Gabriel had left, apparently he couldn't stand all the blood on his hands.
