simply_ineffable | My Father gave:

Oh, you had to ask that one. You just had to, didn't you? *mutters inaudibly* Like that's a sane question to go asking a demon and/or an angel!

Now, my dear, it's hardly an offensive question. It's hardly their fault we are what we are. And ... well, He has given us ...

The Finger? An express one-way ticket to the Pit? Six thousand years worth of paperwork trying to fix His mess? Not to mention the starring roles in the Ineffable bloody Plan, which I personally could have done without? Yeah, angel, the Big Guy's given us a whole hell of a lot, alright ...

Crowley! Dearest, you know ... Well, it's Ineffable, after all, and I'm sure it's all turned out for the best, hasn't it?

After a bloody apocalypse or two, yeah. You know. End of the world? You remember that? Gave us that as well, didn't He. All for the best, of course. Because the first thing you do with your kids is hand them the keys to the end of the world, and see what they do with them. Naturally. That can't possibly go wrong ...

... Not if you have faith in them. In ... in humans, and angels, and even, maybe ... the odd demon or two? Not if ... not if you really believe those children can pass the test. Not if maybe you know ... that humanity is more ... complicated and trustworthy and innocent than it might sometimes seem, or that a certain anti-christ is maybe more human than people thought, or a certain angel is maybe more of a ... is maybe more sneaky than he sometimes let on? Or a certain demon ... more decent than anyone would ever really expect? Maybe, if you knew that, you could give them your trust, a little? If you were a Father, if you knew? If you ... believed?

... There's Ineffable, angel, and then there's just stupidly optimistic. I might buy that, Ineffable Plan and all, He probably had an idea how it was going to end up. I'm not gonna buy He actually trusted Heaven and Hell to stand down, or humanity to change Adam so much, or us ... Well, maybe you, because you're sneaky but you're also one-hundred percent guaranteed to stand up for the little guy, so maybe that's not too much of a stretch ...

*smiles* I'm sure He trusts you to do the right thing too, dear. After all ... well. I do. I always have.

*flushes, glowers* Don't start that, angel. We've been through this. I just happen to like having someone around who knows how things work, is all. And I needed the Earth to be still there because ... well, the Ritz. And my Bentley. And all the ridiculous things humans do that make Hell look like they've been napping for the past few millennia ...

*beams gently* Of course, dear. I forgot. You're not the least bit trustworthy. *nods* You won't stand beside an angel at the end of days, or pick up a tire iron to challenge the Devil for the world, or trust in the humanity of a very inhuman little boy ... You can't be trusted at all, right, dear?

*grimaces* Oh, shut up, angel. And besides. We're getting off topic. Not got much to do with what the Big Guy might or might not have given us, has it?

*smiles a little* Well ... maybe a little. If we're talking about what He might have given me ...

*raises eyebrow* Oh? And what's He given you, angel?

*quiet smile* A world that contained a certain demon. And six thousand years, and a test of the end of days, in which to learn to trust him. In which to realise ... that even at the last, there is one person who will stand beside me no matter what. One absolutely untrustworthy, wholly indecent, completely evil person ... who just happens to have never let me down. My Father gave me that. And ... well. I'm grateful, dearest. So very thankful.

... Shut up, angel. *flushes* You shut up, Aziraphale. You shut up.

*nods gently, still smiling* Yes dear. Of course.