"Let's just say I spent a great deal of time watching humans. Not all of them have it figured out, and the ones that have it figured out don't think they do," he said, grinning sideways at Crowley. "Surely you've seen it. We're no more emotionally mature than human teenagers; you and Aziraphale are the voices of human and emotional experience and you still don't know how to be in love."

Belial tilted his head back against the bookcase and closed his eyes. "We're all still growing up. I've lived in desperation. Gabriel has lived in ignorance. We're all just wayward children of a God who didn't get it right the first time 'round. But at least humans do well, right? Maybe he'll perfect it on the third try, if there is one."