Aziraphales mind was spinning around. He walked through his shop in circles, every time the doorbell rang, he almost jumped in panic. But there was no need to fear, neither to expect someone he didn't like. Like Gabriel. Or some of the other archangels. When it had come to them the last time, he hadn't been very nice. 

Nice. What a word. 

Aziraphale could still remember how Crowley had pinned him against the wall in the nuns' hospital. His angry, disgusted look. The tight grip around his collar. The ssss in his voice. He hadn't wanted being called nice  by an angel. He was a demon. They never did nice things. 

With a few exceptions, Aziraphale stopped his mind taking control over his judgement. 

What about he had saved his life multiple times in the past decades? What about the books he had given back to him? What about he had miracled away the colour from the paintball on his suit? What about...everything he had done just for him? 

After all that, there wasn't a way of NOT to think Crowley couldn't be nice. Maybe...maybe demons still had a bit of their old selfs at heart. And Crowley, whether serpent or not, was definitely an angel at heart. 

The doorbell rang, nearly for the sixth time this morning. Awakened from his thoughts, Aziraphale went out of his private corner of the shop to see who it was. Every step further to the mysterious customer he prayed to God it wasn't him. Even just thinking of him made his heart skip a beat, made him blush. Made him forget about everything important. 

Just like now. 

As he reached the serving desk where the customer was waiting, the angel sighed in relief. 

It wasn't Crowley. It was a girl, maybe 12 years old. She had jet black hair, tied in a bun and wore a red rain coat even if it was utterly sunny outside. Her eyes were chocolate brown, so did her skin. 

Aziraphale recognized her as one of Adams friends, Pepper. She was a brave child, good at heart, but sometimes a bit rude to others. She and her gang, the Them, often showed up in the bookshop, to chat with him or drink cocoa. First, the angel wasn't so proud of that because he feared Adam would tell his friends about his true identity. But soon it turned out to be fun - miracles included. 

Well, Adam Young had accepted his faith and finally returned back to normal. And what a cute dog he had...which was with Pepper now, for an unknown reason. The lead was wrapped around her right arm, at its end the tiny animal with the black - white fur barked loudly. 

"Excuse me, Sir?", Pepper started talking and shushed the dog to her feet. 

"I'd like to buy a book for my mum's birthday next week...but I can't remember the title. Something about love, I guess - if you ask me, it's very boring! Anyway...can you help me out?" 

Aziraphale couldn't hear the last words. 

Love...he loved him...he loved Crowley...more than anything...

He had to focus. 

The angel cleared his throat, quickly adjusting his bowtie. He would handle this - just another human interaction like every day. No more thinking about a stupid demon. 

"Well then, Pepper. Let's see what I can do for you! I'll be right back!" 

Aziraphale put on his glasses and shut the door to his private area - pretending to search for the asked book in one of the three shelfs hanging at the wall. His collection of modern books wasn't as big as the usual - but somewhere he had to start. There was Jane Austen, Joyo Moyes, E.L. James - whose writing skills were VERY intense - and for the kids J.K. Rowling, Cassandra Clare - a true GOD of writing - and Rick Riordan. 

It didn't take long to find a I dont remember the title but the cover was... - copy. He had much of these. 

So, the angel snapped his fingers and the book for Pepper appeared out from nowhere in his hand. Save Haven by Nicholas Sparks. 

Performing miracles had its advantages.