CHAPTER 13

Andrew's intended scolding died on his lips at her reply and the tiny smile that appeared on her face at knowing he was not upset with her. Instead, he found himself chuckling as he set her on her feet, "And chair climbing was the answer to bored and lonely?"

Monica shrugged and grinned, "Not specifically. I was trying to find out who Em is."

"Em?"

"Yes. The books; many of them are made out her and are signed 'momma', but Allie never mentioned a daughter. So really, I was trying to find a little assignment-."

A tender hand on her stomach stopped her words, "You have a little assignment right here, Angel."

"Yes," she replied, resting her hand atop of his, "But you see, she doesn't answer back yet when I talk to her."

Her beautiful, brown eyes were so serious that Andrew was once again convinced that a more adorable angel had never been created, "Nonetheless Monica, you still need to keep her safe and chair climbing may not be the best way to do that."

She sighed and leaned into him a little, "Point taken. No more chairs."

"Now that we got that settled, how are you feeling?" He wrapped his arm around her shoulders and led her toward the kitchen.

"Better. I slept for awhile."

"And did you eat?"

Monica wrinkled her nose in confusion for a moment before her eyes traveled over to the bookcase, "Um, almost."

Following her gaze Andrew saw the toast sitting on the bookshelf, "I'm not sure almost counts, sweetie." But he had already suspected as much. Cooking had never been her strong suit; actually he would go so far to say she was a culinary challenged little angel, "I brought you lunch…and not from the diner. From that little café you like so much."

Delight was evident on her face as now that her stomach had settled she was quite hungry and if she knew Andrew at all, he had gotten her a grilled chicken salad with raspberry vinaigrette dressing. Sitting down across from him at the table she opened the box and hungrily took a bite, "Thank you. It's wonderful."

Andrew's own hungry eyes drank in the sight of her as she took a few bites of her lunch. Her cheeks were slightly flushed and a few wisps of her ponytail had come loose to hang around her sweet face. She always took his breath away. He didn't know what this new arrangement of theirs would hold, but he would fight for their relationship.

Oblivious to his appreciative gaze, she looked up at him, "Did you hear anything about Leroy? Will he back soon?"

"Actually, no," Andrew replied after a moment, her voice pulling him from his reverie, "Leroy actually fell and broke his hip, Angel, so he won't be back anytime soon. I'll be filling in for him for awhile, but the pay is a bit better."

Her face took on a worried pucker, "You'll be cooking all the time? All day like today?"

A grin tugged at the corner of his lips. Reaching across the small table, he smoothed the worry lines from her face, "No baby. Allie has already started interviewing for a second cook. She knows she doesn't have the time to do it anymore when I am off and she knows she will never be able to keep me away from you any day but today from opening till closing."

Turning her head, Monica kissed his palm, "I'm so pleased, Andrew. You won't have to handle those hot dishes anymore," Taking his hand she looked at it intently, "Though you never seemed to burn yourself quite as much as I did."

Andrew managed to keep from chuckling, knowing it was just one more of Monica's kitchen quirks that had her so accident prone when she was in them, "Well, you are much better suited working the business end of things, Angel. You were far too overqualified to wash dishes."

Her eyes narrowed suspiciously, "And you weren't?"

"Well, we both did what we had to do at the time, but I would much rather it be me in the kitchen then you in your condition."

"I suppose I cannot argue with that, but I still wonder if maybe you are teasing me a wee bit."

"Never."

His expression was so sincere that it warmed her heart, "If you say so."

"I have to get going soon," Andrew's voice held regret as he sighed, "What will you do to combat your boredom and loneliness the rest of the day?"

Taking another bite of her salad, the little angel chewed thoughtfully and then swallowed, "I had contemplated going to the hospital to visit with Leroy…though in reality, I'm not sure where it is, but I'm certain I could take the bus."

Though the town was small, Andrew also knew that Monica could get lost going around the block, but he never wanted to squelch her confidence in anything, "You know, I'm not working until late tomorrow as Allie has a friend filling in until she can hire another cook and I would like to see Leroy too. Maybe we could go together in the morning?"

This idea obviously pleased her as she smiled happily and Andrew returned her smile, knowing he had dodged another bullet. Keeping the little angel safe while not letting her know he doubted a few of her abilities was at times a full time job but one he enjoyed immensely. Getting up from his chair, he put his jacket back on and walked over to her. Laying his hands on her shoulders, Andrew kissed the top of her head lovingly, "I won't be home till after ten. Call if you need anything, okay?"

"I will, Andrew. I actually brought some of the book keeping home on Saturday so I have something to work on for awhile to pass the time," Reaching up she placed a hand over his that still rested on her shoulder, "I'll miss you."

His heart swelled with great love, "I miss you already, Angel."

After a sweet kiss goodbye, Andrew was again on the five block walk back to the diner. Half a block into his walk, he looked over to see Adam meeting his strides.

"Adam!"

The other Angel of Death gave a half grin, "Good to see you. Just thought I'd check in as I hadn't heard from you. I take it you found Monica?"

Andrew nodded his head, "I did and it was a good thing I did or I'm not sure what would have happened to her," He could all too clearly remember the night she had nearly fainted in his arms, sick, dehydrated and exhausted. He glanced at his companion, "What's the word at Home, Adam?"

"It's been quiet. Word has it you took a chunk out of Tess' halo when you last saw her." He was unable to hold back a chuckle, but seeing as Andrew' didn't so much as crack a smile, he added what his friend really wanted to know, "I don't think they are looking for either of you."

A relieved sigh escaped the blonde angel, "Good to know. Not that it would have mattered."

"So how is Monica?"

"She's better," He gave another side glance at his friend. He wanted to tell Adam about the baby, but he didn't want to put his friend in any position to have to lie for him in the future, "She had, uh, been pretty sick before I found her."

"Sick with a human condition?" Adam's brow knitted together in confusion.

"You could say that."

"And she's better now?"

"Most of the time."

"Andrew, why don't you level with me? You know I'm your friend. I mean, I helped you find her. I'm in this pretty deep in case you haven't noticed."

Stuffing his hands into the pocket of his jeans, he took a leap of faith, "Monica's pregnant."

Those words were enough to stop Adam in his tracks, "No really. What's really wrong with her?"

Stopping as well, Andrew couldn't help but grin, "I told you. She's pregnant; we're pregnant."

The other Angel of Death stared at his friend in total disbelief, "Pregnant? An angel? Andrew, how…" Seeing his friend raise his eyebrows, Adam shook his head, "Scratch the 'how'. Andrew, this is unprecedented!"

"Tell me about it. Monica wasn't sure if the baby was a blessing or a punishment but it has to be a blessing, right? Otherwise there wouldn't be a baby, would there?" His own anxiety now came out as he could voice it to someone. With the little angel, he remained positive all the time, but a small part of his heart was unsure. He had no point of reference; he and Monica were breaking new ground.

"I…I don't know, buddy. New life is always a gift though, right?" Adam himself was also struggling for words that would reassure but he could barely wrap his angelic mind around this one.

"I think so." Adam's face was still registering shock, "We never planned this. The day you and Rafael brought us together…we didn't think we'd ever see each other again…and we almost didn't. If I hadn't made up my mind I wasn't going to listen to Tess and Sam anymore and instead elected to find her, we'd still be apart and only God knows what would have happened to her by now. She was so sick when I found her, Adam. She nearly passed out in my arms and she was dehydrated and had lost weight as she had been so sick.-"

"Andrew, you don't have to explain anything to me. I know how much you two love each other. The question is, what are you going to do now?"

His blonde head bowed again as he resumed walking, "I don't know. I just know I'm not leaving her. I love her with my all heart and she needs me and I need her. We're in this together, come what may."

The older angel regarded him in silence for a few moments before speaking again. Adam didn't have answers, but there was one thing he did know, "Just so we're clear…I'm in your corner and I'm sure Rafael is too. We'll do anything we can to help. You two have a place to stay?"

"We do. We're both working and the person who employed us is renting an apartment to us. We're doing all right, Adam."

"Okay. Listen, I'll be in touch and if I hear anything you will be the first to know."

"Adam? If you hear anything, please find me alone. I don't want Monica under any more stress than she is already. Her pregnancy has been a delicate one and I don't want her upset if I can avoid it."

"Understood. Give her my love, ok? We're keeping you both in our prayers."

XXXX

Sighing, Monica closed the accounting books and rested her back against the couch. She had managed to work for several hours but it was still only 6:00 and Andrew wouldn't be home for at least another four hours. She so preferred the days that they were both at the diner as even though Andrew rarely allowed her to be there all day, it beat being alone all day. She was so accustomed to being surrounded by assignments and other angels and now being trapped inside of an apartment all day was starting to wear on her.

Cocoa brown eyes gazed out the window and it seemed the sunshine and fresh air was calling her name. Getting up, she grabbed a sweater and the key to the apartment and slipped out the door.