CHAPTER 12

Monica managed to eat dinner that night as well, which had Andrew looking quite pleased. That along with her onset of happiness after their conversation at lunch made the rest of their day one of the happiest since they had been brought back together.

At ten 'o clock that night, the little angel was lying on the couch with her head on Andrew's knee while he read aloud to her from "Anne of Green Gables". Monica had found it in their little apartment and had been curious about the much loved children's story. Despite how much she was enjoying the story of the wee orphaned girl who was taken in by her aunt, the soothing sound of Andrew's voice had her sleepy eyes struggling to stay open.

Finally, Andrew lowered the book and gazed down at his sleepy beloved angel, "That was the third yawn. I think it's time a certain angel went to bed."

A little smile flitted across her face as she opened her eyes, "Perhaps but I love listening to your voice, no matter what you are saying."

His heart swelled for what seemed like the hundredth time today and he again pondered the range of emotions she could inspire in him, "Well, you will have plenty of other nights to listen to me read to you, but for right now, you should be getting to bed."

She sighed, "Very well." Sitting up, she started to stand when Andrew rose and took her hand to gently help her to her feet, "You know I won't break, Andrew," Monica teased as he guided her over to the bed.

"Probably not, but one can't be too careful. You are precious to me, Monica and you are carrying precious cargo."

Turning around in his arms, she stood up on tiptoe to touch her lips to his, "I do love you so, Andrew."

"Angel, you have no idea. Now, into bed with you."

As she got into bed and he helped her adjust the covers, she watched as he walked over to his side, but instead of climbing in, he grabbed his pillow and the extra blanket that was folded across the foot of the bed. Immediately, she was sitting up once more, "Andrew?"

His green eyes met with hers, knowing exactly what it was she was asking. Sighing, he laid the pillow and blanket on the couch and walked back over to sit down next to her, "Monica, given what we talked about today, don't you think that being in the same bed might be…tempting?"

Worrying her lower lip for a moment, she looked at him with wide eyes, "Andrew, I…I don't want to be that far away from you at night. I sleep so well with your arms around me. I promise, I won't do anything-."

"Angel, Angel, no. It isn't you. It's me, baby. I just love you so much and just being near you…it makes me just want to show you any way I can how much I love you." Tenderly, he brushed a stray piece of her hair from her dark eyes.

"But, I know how much you love me. I do. And I understand what you are saying because I feel all those things too; things I never thought I was allowed to feel. But I need to feel you close to me…for so long we couldn't be near each other and I missed you so much…"

"Monica, you know I felt the same way, but I will just be on the couch…"

Tearfully, she shook her head, "I don't want you all the way over there. Maybe I am being ridiculous but I don't know if I can sleep without your arms around me…and I don't want to try!"

Sensing that her tears were close to the surface, he grabbed her up in his arms and held her close, "Okay…okay. Angel, it's all right. I'm so sorry. Please don't cry."

"I didn't think I would ever see you again." The words came out in a frightened whisper against his chest, "And I kept trying to tell myself that if that happened, I would be okay, but I didn't really believe it. Over the years, you have become so much a part of me, even before we realized how we felt about each other in its entirety and then to suddenly have that part of my heart; the part that belonged to you missing…it was like I couldn't breathe, Andrew. I couldn't' breathe!"

Andrew had known when he had found her that he was going to have some work cut out for him where she had been mentally. Their months of imposed separation alone had devastated her and him as well, but the little angel had always had a tender and gentle heart, so he had known that where their isolation had angered and frustrated him, it had shattered part of her soul. Add to that an angry and somewhat hostile work relationship with Tess and an unexpected, to say the least, pregnancy, and he could only imagine her torment.

But he was still seeing small glimpses of it now.

"But I'm here now and I didn't mean to upset you. I just…Angel, I just love you so much and I just…I don't want to do anything to jeopardize what we are; at least anymore than I have already." He held her to him, his hand working into her long, auburn tresses.

Pulling away enough to look up at him with great love and hope in her eyes, Monica replied steadily as she willed her emotions to calm, "I trust you. I have always trusted you more than anyone other than the Father. I need to be close to you. I need to feel your arms around me. I always need that but for so many months I missed that so and you have never done anything to hurt us."

Letting out a deep breath, Andrew squeezed her tightly, "You're right. I just know that what we have shared is so special and though I feel close to you every moment I am with you…"

"I know," She replied softly, her dark, expressive eyes translating to him a wealth of emotions, "but Andrew, we are so much more than that."

Her lips met his then in a kiss that spoke only of the purest and most unconditional love possible between two souls and when she fell asleep that night, Andrew's arms were wrapped around her and it was his heartbeat that lulled her into a deep and peaceful sleep.

Xxxxxxxxx

The peace lasted until morning.

Andrew was awakened abruptly by the little angel bolting from bed, hand pressed to her mouth and he was only two steps behind her. Though the nausea happened less often now, at times it still reared its ugly head, sending Monica racing for the bathroom.

He hated these moments. They were times when she was suffering and there was nothing he could do to help her other than to hold back her hair and rub her back in a soothing motion as she emptied the contents of last night's dinner into the toilet. The horrible retching eventually would give way to dry heaves as her stomach emptied but the nausea remained. This morning seemed especially violent and he was further distressed when there was a knock on the door in the midst of Monica's sickness. He didn't want to leave her long enough to see who it could possibly be at this early hour.

"Go…" Monica gasped, trying to catch her breath, "You know I'll be fine."

The fact that she was still doubled over contradicted her words, but he swore under his breath and hurried out of the bathroom to the door of the little apartment.

"Andrew." Allie walked in the door but then paused, seeing the concern in his green eyes and his disheveled blonde head, "Is everything okay?"

"Allie, yeah. Monica's just not feeling well this morning," His eyes darted to the closed bathroom door worriedly, "Are you all right?"

"Andrew, I know today is your day off, but honey, can you cook?"

A confused expression clouded his face, "Cook?"

"Leroy is in the hospital. His wife just called and we open in an hour and I'm just not sure of what to do. I hate to impose on you, but any chance you could fill in? Do you know how to cook?"

He felt torn. Monica's pregnancy disorder was something he was still coming to terms with. Fact was, it still scared him, "I can cook, Allie, but-"

The bathroom door opened and Monica stepped out, her fingers holding onto the door frame. She had washed her face and brushed her teeth, but she was still pale and her eyes were still reddened from the efforts. Her other hand resting over her stomach spoke that she still wasn't feeling well.

"Andrew, it's fine." Monica met her dark eyes with his, seeing his distress, "This is my normal right now. You know that. Allie needs your help."

He had expected as much. Monica had always put others ahead of herself. Moving to her side, he helped her over to the couch and helped ease her down, "How are you feeling?"

." What happened, Allie? What's wrong with Leroy?" She overlooked Andrew's question for the moment as her concern for her friend got the better of her.

"I'm not sure. His wife didn't give me details. Just that he would be out for a time."

"Angel?"

"I've been better, but I'll be fine," She returned back to his question, though her eyes still flashed worry for Leroy, "As soon as my stomach settles I'll take the medication. I forgot to take it last night which is probably why it is hitting me so hard this morning."

"Honey, you gotta remember it," Allie scolded gently. She had a terrible soft spot for these two kids. They were hard workers and so obviously in love with one another that it warmed her heart.

"Yes, you do," Andrew murmured, smoothing her hair back from her face, "I hate seeing you like this."

"I know." She smiled weakly at both of them before resting her eyes on Andrew's piercing green ones, "Help Allie. You are a wonderful cook and I will be fine. I'll take my pills soon and sleep a few more hours and will feel as good as new. Promise."

He sighed and turned his head back to Allie, "I'll be there by opening, Allie. Let me fix her some hot tea and then I'll be on my way."

"Andrew, thank you so much. After the lunch rush, take a long break and come check on Monica. I can handle things until you come back. I'll see you in a bit. Honey, you feel better now, ya hear?"

"Yes, ma'am," Monica managed a weak smile as she leaned her head back on the couch and closed her eyes.

As Allie left, Andrew put on the kettle and then sat down next to her and stroked her forehead, "Any better yet?"

"Not yet," Opening her eyes, she smirked at him, "You worry too much, you know."

"Only about you, baby. Do you think you can drink some tea if I fix it for you?"

"I can try. Then you need to get ready."

One cup of tea and one shower for Andrew later and he was still agonizing about leaving her, "Can I fix you some toast before I go? Do you feel like you can eat?"

"Not yet," Monica replied patiently. Though she still felt wretched, she was more accustomed to feeling this way now and she knew what to do about it. Once Andrew went to work, she would curl up on the sofa and sleep for an hour or two and then wake up, feeling almost as good as new. The illness barely phased her now, but poor Andrew still took her feeling badly to heart.

Sitting down beside her on the sofa for a moment, he brushed her hair back from her face, "You'll sleep?"

She gave him a tiny smile, finding his concern so sweet, "Yes. Thank you for agreeing to help Allie."

"Angel, you don't have to thank me for that. I always want to help…it's just hard for me to leave you if you aren't feeling well. You'll call the diner if you don't feel better when you wake up?"

"You know I will."

"I know you'll feel better or that you'll call the diner if you don't?" His green eyes held just a hint of teasing.

Her tired eyes flashed a smile at him, "Both. Any more questions?"

"Just one," His hand moved to stroke her cheek tenderly, "Do you know how much I love you?"

Monica's expression softened and she blinked back a tear, "I think as much as I love you, which is with my entire heart and soul; with all that I am."

"You are such a smart little angel," Andrew murmured as he brushed his lips to hers, "I'll check on you this afternoon, all right? Take your pills and lie down for a bit." He had already placed the prescription bottle on the table next to her tea. Kissing her once more on the lips and then the forehead, he stood up and grabbed his jacket. One more concerned look over his shoulder at her and he was gone.

Obediently, Monica took the medication before she dragged the quilt from the back of the sofa and lay down. In minutes, she was fast asleep.

Xxxxxx

Two hours later the little angel awoke but her eyes remained closed as she attempted to gauge how she was feeling. Her stomach still felt a tiny bit queasy but nothing like this morning and she was fairly sure given another hour she might be able to eat, as she knew that would be Andrew's first question when he came to check on her.

Opening her eyes slowly, Monica wondered if maybe later she would feel up to walking to the hospital to check on Leroy. The older cook had become a bit of a mother hen to her at the diner and was constantly offering Andrew advice on being a boyfriend. It sometimes made her giggle as she wondered what Leroy would say if he knew his blonde friend was an extremely protective angel.

Giving a little sigh, she threw back the quilt, no longer content to just lie on the couch. The little apartment felt far too huge when Andrew was not in it with her and loneliness suddenly filled her heart. Though still a little weary, Monica grabbed a shower and dressed and then threw her hair up into a ponytail. Putting some bread into the toaster, she then surveyed their little apartment. Andrew had made the bed before he had left for the diner, so she busied herself with folding the quilt and laying it back on the couch, but with that finished, she was left again wondering what on earth to do with herself.

Nibbling gingerly at a piece of toast, she wandered back over to the bookcase and ran her finger along the children's titles, pondering why Allie had them all. Her finger stopped on another children's classic, "Little Women" and she carefully removed the book from the shelf. Laying her partially eaten breakfast on the bookcase, Monica opened the hard bound cover and was both pleased and surprised to find an inscription inside the book.

"Em, this was one of my favorites as a girl. I know you will enjoy it as well. Thank you for always making me so proud. I love you, Momma"

The little angel's mind went back to the first night Allie had brought her here but the conversation was not clear in her memory. She had been so sick and had been awake for over twenty-four hours due to her head injury. Monica had been lost, confused and hurting deeply that night and had scarcely had the presence of mind to listen to Allie's words, but she did remember the woman saying something about "her girl." At the time, Monica had assumed it had been a former tenant as if it had been Allie's child, wouldn't she have said "My daughter."?

Intrigued and restless enough to feel curious, Monica glanced inside a few more of the books, her breakfast now forgotten, and found some similar inscriptions. Though she and Andrew had been here together for a few weeks now, she had never really explored the apartment, but her innate curiosity now had the better of her, and she found herself opening the closet door and glancing up on the shelf.

She had noticed boxes there before and now she stood up on tiptoe to try to reach them. Sighing with frustration, her dark eyes glanced back across the room and then with great purpose, Monica dragged a kitchen chair over to the closet and stepped up onto it, steadying herself by holding on to the closet door frame.

A few of the shoe boxes held various papers but nothing of much interest. The shelf was deep and one box was shoved way back into a corner. Standing on tiptoe again, and stretching as far as she could, her fingers finally reached the box just as the chair tipped forward and she felt herself slipping…

"Monica!"

She was caught before she could fall as Andrew scooped her into his strong arms and she looked up into stern, green eyes.

His heart had leapt to his throat as he had opened the door to see her slipping and he had been at her side in an instant. A proper scolding was on the tip of his tongue, but for the moment he pressed his lips to her forehead in relief that neither she nor the baby had been hurt by a fall.

"Sorry." Monica's sheepish dark eyes met his as she nibbled her lower lip, though she could not deny the safety she felt in his arms. But his stern expression was back in place and she knew she deserved the lecture, though Andrew's rare scoldings were nothing like Tess'.

"And just what exactly did you think you were doing?" He raised his eyebrows as he placed her gently back on the floor.

She gave a tiny shrug, "I was bored and a wee bit lonely."