CHAPTER 6

They were both breathing hard when their lips finally parted and a shudder ran through the little angel that made her grateful for the warm blaze Andrew had started in the fireplace of the little cabin. They were lying on the floor in front of the fire, arms wrapped around one another, fingers touching faces and eyes seeing into each other's souls.

She couldn't get enough of him and knowing it had to be enough to possibly last her to the end of eternity made it all the more urgent. Her fingers curled through his short, blonde hair as their lips met again, briefly before she gasped out her desperate question.

"What time is it?"

He didn't want to look. He hated that these precious moments would have an ending and he wanted to pretend they didn't. He almost couldn't bear the thought of not having her in his arms, of not feeling her warm, soft skin beneath his hands, of not being able to feel her heartbeat up against his own.

"Three 'o clock."

They should be tired as their human forms could be so confining, but the knowledge that they only had a few more hours before the dawn fueled them, yet Monica's hands were shaking as they framed his face and her next words were not at all what he had been expecting.

"Make love to me, Andrew."

He was sure he had misheard her but as he gazed into her eyes he could see the truth of the world written there, "Don't you think we've crossed enough boundaries?" He was teasing, needing to think about this and needing her to think about this, but she shook her head.

"I don't care and we may never have another chance to be together," Her mouth was so close to his that her sweet breath tickled his lips, "I need to be one with you. You are a part of me in so many ways and I know you want this too but would never ask it of me. I have to walk away from you in a few hours and I need to know that I have given you all that I am and that I am taking all that you are with me."

His heart was nearly pounding out of his chest, "I don't want it to be like this, Angel. Yes, I want nothing more than to make love to you, but right now, you're scared about what will happen when morning comes and I don't want this decision to be based around fear."

Her finger against his lips caused a shudder to run up his spine, "This decision is based on my love for you only, Andrew," She blinked rapidly and he could then see the tears in her doe-like eyes, "It's been five months since I last kissed you and if I have to go that long or longer to be held by you again, I need to take greater memories with me. We've already been condemned for loving each other; I see no reason to hold back on any expression of that love, do you?"

Andrew's tender fingers danced along her cheeks, drinking in her earnest beauty, "Angel, there is nothing I want more, but can you tell me one thing?" Seeing her slight nod, he continued as he cupped her face in firm hands, "How can I love you like that tonight and walk away from you in the morning?"

"I don't want to think about the morning. I only want to think about you and me…now."

Her lips against his ignited the fire and passion in both of them. They took their time, exploring new sensations and a deepening intimacy, feeling things they had never thought to feel. The hours until the dawn were filled with touches and whispered words, soft cries and new passion and when the darkness of night began to give way to light, they both had no regrets.

It was like it was always meant to be.

Monica closed her eyes and allowed the tears to slip from them as she remembered the beauty of their one night together. That night it had felt as if anything was possible and she longed to be reverted back to those precious moments; she longed to be anywhere else but right here, right now.

The little café was dingy but thankfully not crowded and that had allowed her to slip into a corner booth basically unnoticed. She had ordered a coffee she knew she could not drink so her chilly fingers simply remained wrapped around the mug for warmth. She had been awake all night, knowing she could not yet sleep with the minor concussion, lest her human body not wake up again, but she was weary right down to her very bones.

She had gotten as far away from Tess as she could, reappearing on the other side of the country, in a small town where her supervisor would not find her unless God Himself directed her and beings Tess had not yet shown up, it seemed that she was safe for now.

But when had her existence become about hiding? It went against everything she had been created to believe but yet she had been hiding for what seemed like forever. Maybe not physically, but emotionally; always having to keep her love for Andrew inside of her heart, unable to discuss it with anyone but him and on occasion Rafael or Adam. She was an angel of truth, yet her own basic truths had been forced into seclusion by those who didn't want to hear them, who didn't want to help her to understand them.

One hand reached down to lay across her flat tummy, still barely able to comprehend this one basic truth. She didn't know what to think or how to feel. The doctor had warned her that for just over three months along, she was underweight, but she had been too upset to eat much for weeks. Monica didn't know how to do this. She didn't know how to take care of a human body that was harboring new life, especially when she didn't know if she was supposed to feel shame or joy at the consequences of one night in a deserted cabin. She only knew she regretted nothing about that night, even with the truth resting beneath her fingers, that night had been about nothing less than love in its truest form.

Andrew would know what to do if only she could go to him. But Tess would expect her to be with him so that is where she would look and Sam surely knew by now that she was missing, so he would be watching Andrew all the more closely. Why were they being treated like children when it didn't feel as if they had done anything wrong?

"Not enjoying your coffee, honey?"

The waitress was an older woman with cocoa colored hair that was grey at the roots, piled high on her head and sporting a pencil stuck through the center. But her face was kind and maybe even concerned.

"No, it's fine, I…" She felt as if she had to forcefully pry her cold fingers away from the mug, "Could I maybe just have a cup of tea instead? Decaffeinated?"

Sweeping away the lukewarm cup of coffee, the waitress smiled, "Of course. Be back in a jiffy."

The little angel managed a tiny smile; it felt good to speak to someone, even about the most mundane of things like coffee or tea, and to be smiled at instead of frowned upon. Such simple gestures warmed a tiny almost forgotten place in her heart.

She rubbed her eyes with the palms of her small hands, willing herself to remain awake, though resting her head on the tabletop and closing her dark eyes was a much more appealing option.

"Hope ya don't mind, but it looked like you could use a bite to eat as well," The waitress was back with a chicken salad sandwich on toast as well as her hot mug of tea, "You look a little peaked, not to mention that accident you were apparently in," She nodded as she surveyed Monica's forehead; white bandage still stark even against the customer's pale complexion.

The food made her stomach nearly recoil though she tried to force it to calm. How could she eat when she had no idea what to do at all about anything? She didn't know where to go or what to do or what to think. But her hand against her stomach reminded her of one truth she was sure of.

This baby was neither a blessing or a punishment. This baby was Andrew's and a physical sign of their love for each other. No, she had never in a million years ever thought that as an angel she would be able to conceive but for some reason, she had and no matter what message was being conveyed to her, it was not the baby's fault.

"Thank you. I am a wee bit hungry." She looked at the name tag on the waitresses uniform, "You're very kind, Allie."

"I don't know about that, but I have been around long enough to know when someone is struggling out there in the world and you seem to be doing just that, honey." Allie glanced around the café and not seeing anyone who needed her immediate attention, she surprised Monica by sitting down at the table across from her, "So, you just passing through or do you live around here?"

Monica gave a tiny shrug in response, "I don't live here but I'm not so sure I'm just passing through either. I need to um…find a place to be for awhile, until I figure a few things out."

"I didn't see you drive up."

"No, I don't have a car…or anything really." Her momentary spiritual uplift at the thought of the baby belonging to Andrew faded and the sadness once again settled over her as she was reminded of how bleak her existence was right now. The bite of chicken salad she had taken suddenly tasted like sandpaper in her mouth.

"So, no car. No job." She paused as Monica gave a small shake of her head. There was a story behind this one, of that Allie was certain, "No place to stay, I take it?" Her heart ached as she watched the young woman fight tears as she again shook her head, "What's your name, sugar?"

"Monica," She had finally managed to swallow the bite of sandwich and was wondering how she would ever be able to take another one. How had everything become so hopeless?

Allie appeared lost in thought for a moment as she surveyed Monica. The girl was exhausted; dark circles stood out against her paleness and seemed to make them all the more prominent and there was a deep sadness in those doe-like brown eyes. This one had been hurt, beaten down by the world or by someone.

"Okay, listen, Monica, I have an offer for you and this ain't something I generally do, but something about you resonates in me. I need a dish washer here at the café. The hours stink and the work is dirty and not much fun and I can't pay you much, but it would still be something for in your pocket. I also have an apartment over my garage that my girl was using before she left that is still vacant. I would consider the board part of your pay. Now it ain't much but it's all I got and it seems to me that you don't have a lot of options right now."

The little angel's eyes had widened as Allie has spoken, hardly able to believe the offer that was being presented to her, "But…you don't even know me…" Those who had known her, known her heart had condemned her. How was it possible a complete stranger was offering her a wee bit of security for the time being?

"I know enough to know I feel like I can trust you and I know enough to know that you're in some kind of trouble and you don't have to tell me what that is. I'm not gonna force anything out of you, Monica. All I ask is that you do a good job. Now do we have deal or not?"

"Yes." She nodded her head, forgetting to flinch at the pain the action caused, "I don't know how to begin to thank you."

"Honey, I have had people help me out in the past, so I'm just paying it forward. Not too long ago, I had that same lost look in my eyes you got in yours now and a couple of angels helped lift me up so I could keep on keeping on. Sometimes that is all it takes," Allie rose to her feet and nodded her own head, signifying that the negotiations were over, "I get off work in half an hour and I'll take you to my place and let you into the apartment. You can start work in two days, but right now you need some rest. I'll get you a box for your lunch and you can take it with you." It was obvious Monica was too tired and overwhelmed to eat, and despite how much she looked as if she needed a good meal, Allie was not going to push her, "Sit tights and drink your tea and I'll collect you soon."

Monica closed her eyes as Allie left her alone and out of habit and a need within herself she whispered, "Thank you, Father. I don't know what you have planned for me or why, but thank you for the gift of a place to stay." She paused for a fraction of a second and added in a tearful whisper, "And bless Andrew, Father. I love him so much and I don't know if we are right or wrong but I'm starting to realize that when it comes to how I feel about him…it simply doesn't matter."