CHAPTER 2

At your side

The two angels were now in human form, and facing perhaps the most difficult moment of their entire existence: they would have to learn how to live like humans as Earth would be their temporary home. And their love had been put on judgement by the one angel they trusted the most. Monica and Andrew expected that Tess would be understanding and offer some guidance so that they could understand and deal with the feelings they were feeling for each other. But instead, she had been judgmental and selfish, unable to see that they needed a word of comfort instead of irrational threats.

"Andrew..."

Monica's frightened voice and the way she was looking at him nearly undid Andrew. She had made a choice based only on her love for him, and Andrew could never let her down. The angel of death gently cupped her cheek with his palm and stroked her skin with his thumb. "Angel, I want you to know one thing... I'll always, always be with you, okay? We'll always be together no matter what!" the power of his gaze did transmit the certainty that she was hoping to find, and it somewhat made the little angel relax a little.

She let out a tired sigh and covered his hand. "I know..."

Silent words were exchanged just by the look in their eyes and Andrew moved his hand to wipe a silent tear that rolled on her face. "I love you."

Monica dropped her suitcase on the ground and wrapped her arms around his waist. "I love you too, Andrew... I love you so much..."

He was quick to return her embrace and held her for dear life for some moments. It was then that Andrew noticed there was a café across the street. He kissed the top of her head and spoke again. "Let's get you something to eat, angel."

They grabbed their suitcases and headed to the café, and despite the fact that neither of them felt hungry, the warm chocolate and mocha both had asked for, along with two delicious sandwiches, were welcome. The restaurant waiter, a young boy who worked there part time, gave them some information on how to get at a good inn, and after he took the address, Andrew give him a tip and they left the place.

"I wonder if they'll have vacancies, Andrew..." she spoke, once the taxi was parked in front of the pretty little building.

He paid the fare and took Monica's hand. "I know they do, baby. And if they don't, we'll just look for another inn!" And his soothing smile came as a relief, as well as the fact that they had vacancies.

X

Monica's cosy bedroom had a view to an internal garden filled with roses and other flowers. The furniture was pretty and in good condition, and consisted of a single bed, a wardrobe, a bedside table and a desk placed near the window. There was a small bathroom too and it was from it that the Irish angel emerged, now dressed up in a warm pair of pyjamas drying her wet hair with a towel.

She walked up to bed and sat at its edge, her eyes lost in an invisible spot ahead of her. The warm shower somewhat made her human form feel better but deep inside, she was feeling empty and lost and terribly frightened. A single tear rolled down her cheek and she suddenly rose to her feet. There were many things Monica didn't know, but she certainly knew where to go.

Andrew had spent the last hour sitting on his bed, his green eyes now lost in the darkness of his bedroom as a turmoil of thoughts took over his soul. There was a lot going on his mind and what worried him the most was his beloved angel, as he could feel what was in her heart. But a light knock on the door took him out of his reverie and he rose to his feet to open it.

Monica's crying face nearly undid him. "Andrew..."

He didn't waste any moment before pulling her to his arms in a warm embrace.

"I'm sorry..." she said, in between light sobs.

"Shh... It's okay, angel... it's okay..."

He gently motioned her to come inside and closed the door behind them. They sat down in his bed and Andrew wrapped his arm around her small shoulders once again, kissing her temple lovingly. Monica snuggled close to him like a little girl who searched for a shelter from the storm going on inside her heart.

"Please, let me stay..." she begged, and he tightened the hold around her a bit more.

"Of course you can stay, sweetie..." He kissed her forehead.

"Thank you... I... I guess I won't be able to sleep, you know... wondering if the Father is disappointed at us... at what we did..."

With patience and infinite tenderness, he cupped her chin up and searched for her sad brown eyes. "Monica... My sweet angel, look around us... The mere fact that we were granted with a shelter from the cold outside and money to provide our food and clothes is a proof that despite what Tess and the others think, He is with us."

"I know... I know He would never abandon His children but... Do you really believe that He can understand what's in our hearts? I want to believe it so but... when I think about everything Tess told us I-"

"What Tess thinks stopped mattering at the moment she judged us instead of listening to our reasons. Search in your heart, angel! Only there you'll find the truth."

"And what if my heart is so confused that it tells me the truth I want to hear but not the truth I need to hear?"

"It's a fair question. I believe that you must hold on to the only certainties you have in your existence, so that time brings you the answers you're looking for."

Monica looked deep inside his green eyes, her sparkling ones shining with tears but also with affection. "My certainty is the love I feel for you, Andrew."

Her voice was a crying one but he couldn't help smiling at those words. Amazing how the little angel could bring so much joy to his world even in a complicated moment like that.

"And I promise you I'll honour it every moment of my existence."

Her eyes were pooling and she looked so amazingly beautiful in the shadow of the dim light coming from the nightstand. There was nothing he wouldn't do for her, nothing he wouldn't face to win her heart, and the mere fact that the precious angel was lying in his arms right now was the proof that their Father approved of the feelings that now inhabited their hearts.

Otherwise He wouldn't have blessed him with Monica.

Andrew lay a gentle hand against her cheek and brought his face closer to hers. The moment his lips touched hers was sweet and came as a breath of fresh air in between so much confusion. Andrew's kiss soothed her spirit and filled her heart with so much love she let go of all her worries and fears for the moment and accepted and welcomed his caress.

Andrew still kissed her forehead and moved to make them both lie down in bed. Monica never wanted a pillow and after he covered them with a blanket, he held her tightly against him once again. "Try to sleep, angel... you're so tired, I can feel it."

"I don't think I'll be able to sleep, you know..." she whispered back, leaning against his chest, listening to his steady heartbeats.

The angel of death stroked her soothing auburn strands and kissed the top of her head. "When human beings sleep it's a way they can battle their own ghosts. To them, sleeping is a break from themselves, it's a way they can fight their problems. That's why on the following day these same problems are not as frightening as they were before. And we are in human form, so let us try some of this, angel."

Sighing deeply, she nodded her head. "You're always right. And sleep may be a way to have some peace of mind, but I want you to know that I'm well when I'm in your arms..."

Smiling, he took her hand to his lips and kissed its back. "The only way I'm well is when I have you in my arms, so that I can protect you and tell you how much I love you again and again..."

And finally, those words brought a slight smile to her lips. "I love you too, Andrew. For always."

As the hours went by, the blond angel watched when, little by little, Monica started to relax as her body fell limp in his arms and her eyelashes grew heavy. Eventually, she gave in to exhaustion and drifted off to sleep. Having that sweet creature in his arms was indeed a present and he had the responsibility to take care of her for the years to come.

During the rest of the night, Andrew remained awake and a few times he chased away a nightmare that threatened Monica's sleep.

Only when he realised that his dearest friend's sleep had become a more peaceful one did he allow himself to rest for some hours. Yet, on the following morning, when the first sunrays started to shine through the window, Andrew carried his precious cargo in his arms to her bedroom and gently deposited her in her bed. He knew she would be well for a while and most importantly, there was something he needed to do. For both of them.