EPILOGUE

Epilogue

Monica was staying at a green field, protected from the sunrays under the shadow of a huge tree. Her long auburn hair was flying up with the wind, as it gently disarrayed some of its strands. She was wearing a sleeveless lilac dress and her sandals had been left somewhere around. She certainly would have trouble remembering where exactly. Little Joy, the cocker spaniel puppy that she and her dearest friends had adopted a few years earlier, was with her, and the angel giggled as the cute animal rushed clumsily to fetch a yellow ball she had thrown up not far from where they were. She and the little dog were alone in that secluded part of the country, where the green hills could be seen at the distance, touching the bluest of the skies in the horizon, and the smell of flowers filled in the air.

"Very good, wee one!" she said, clapping her hands as Joy brought the small yellow ball in her mouth and deposited it on her hands. The Irish angel ruffled he puppy's soft fur and gave her a dog biscuit as a reward.

The little animal barked at her as if thanking for the prize. But a second later, she barked again, and now Monica noticed the animal wasn't looking at her. The angel followed her gaze and looked over her shoulder, and the familiar silhouette that was coming towards her made her heart skip a beat.

With a broad smile, she rose to her feet and started an accelerated walk towards him, extremely happy with the fact that he was now fully recovered and the beard that was  covering his face was gone. He was smiling back at her, green eyes filled with love and the usual tenderness she would always make him feel.

A moment later, Monica threw herself in his strong arms, which were immediately wrapped around her small form and lifting her off the ground.

"Andrew... I didn't know you'd be... that you... I..." she stammered, searching for the right words to explain how surprised she was.

Chuckling at her childlike excitement, just one of the million things he loved about her, Andrew dared to tighten the hold around her a bit more, treasuring to have her in his arms and treasuring more her reaction at his presence. His secret dream, which he didn't have the courage to voice not even to God, had finally come true: she accepted his love, and returned it with the same intensity.

"Angel! It feels so hold to be able to hold you again!" he spoke against her shoulder, intoxicated with her sweet perfume.

"When did you leave hospital? Are you really feeling alright now? The doctor said it would take some more time for you to heal totally, and I was about to go and see you there..." came the avalanche of questions, and he carefully placed her on the ground, pulling away just a few inches so he could delight in the beauty of her meek face.

"I'm perfectly fine, baby." He assured her, gently cupping her cheek. "Let's say that I healed a bit "faster" because a beautiful angel who I happen to love very much has just revealed to Madeleine Peterson," he winked at her, "And then this same angel took the lady to meet her husband, and now they're together again. In other words, our assignment is over!"

"Yes... I never thought it would end up this way, you know, Andrew? When we were there at the island there were moments I doubted... I doubted even of myself..." she made a short pause, "...and of what I felt..."

He shook his head with a permanent smile on his face, "I guess the island made us both doubt... and then it made us be sure of our feelings... It made us realise what was already here..." he said, taking her hand and placing it against his heart.

Her smile softened a little and she gazed at him with eyes sparkling with love. "You were perfectly right... all the time. But what made me realise what I really felt was the thought of losing you forever, Andrew... I... I don't think I'd bear it, I guess-"

"Shh..." The blond angel gently pressed his index finger against her lips. "None of this, okay? I just want to be able to love you and take care of you like I always did, and nothing will stop me from doing so."

Frowning a little, Monica looked up at him with questioning eyes. "But... what will happen now... now that we..."

He knew what was worrying her: were angels allowed to have that kind of love? The "romantic love" as their co-workers used to say?

"Monica, there's one thing I can tell you for sure: I won't give up on you or on our love. This is my promise to you."

A slight smile appeared on her face, even though her worry still remained. She reached out and touched his handsome face, admiring his strong features now that the beard had gone. "I won't give up on you either, Andrew. My heart is already yours..." blushing a little, her smile grew a bit, "... I guess it's always been yours." Then, watching as those loving words went straight to his own heart, she kept on talking. "But can I ask you something?"

"You can ask me anything, angel." He said, tracing an invisible line along her jaw with his fingertip.

"Could we wait a little before telling the others about us? I... I'm afraid of their reaction... I'm afraid of God's reaction... Although He already knows, so far I didn't have the courage to... to open my heart to Him... Not yet."

Shaking his head, he looked deep inside her brown eyes, his own eyes filled with trust. "Baby, I love you. I love you with my heart and soul. And if this is love, true love as I know it is, it could never be wrong. And even if it's not allowed to angels, I would give up my whole eternity for you."

That confession brought tears to her eyes, and she bit her lips again, unsuccessfully trying to stifle a sob. "I love you so much, Andrew... I don't think I could ever live a whole eternity if I didn't have you by my side..."

His smile was wider once he heard that. He brushed a gentle kiss on her forehead and tenderly stroked her cheek. "Then soothe your heart, angel, because I'll always be by your side. Always." Happy to see her smiling at him once again, he kept on talking. "We'll keep our love between us for a while. God already knows about it but Tess, Sam and the others don't, and they'll be told at the right time."

"Thank you." She said, with eyes beaming with tears, gratitude and much love.

The blond angel studied her face carefully, admiring those meek Gaelic features, and then cupped her chin up. "May I ask you something too?"

"Yes..." her tearful voice contrasted with the smile that was playing on her lips.

"May I kiss you?"

The sensation of butterflies in her stomach whenever she was with Andrew was becoming frequent to her, and she wondered how that mix of anxiety and nervousness could be so amazingly pleasant to feel. Slightly blushed, she nodded her head, never taking her eyes away from his. "Yes..."

Andrew delighted in her sparkling eyes, her blushing cheeks and lovely face, framed with auburn locks that were gently flying with the soft breeze. She was a vision of true Heaven and for a moment he even felt undeserving of such a beautiful creature. Then, he  turned his attention to her rosy lips and bent his head. Slowly, his face inched closer and Monica felt her heart racing with anticipation. Their eyes closed slowly. When his lips finally met, the world around them had stopped just to allow them that precious moment. Andrew was holding her gently, as for him, she was a precious treasure, so delicate, so sweet that he was afraid to let her go once that loving caress was over.

With one arm permanently wrapped around her waist, he reached out and entangled his fingers through her perfumed hair. Settling his hand in the back of her head, he waited until her hands travelled from his chest to his shoulders, as if she was putting herself in his arms, trusting him with every bit of her being. Andrew, then, pressed his lips more firmly onto hers, deepening that loving kiss, which she welcomed with the same intensity, the same love. He was certain that there couldn't be anything sweeter in the whole universe.

There were no other angels or humans on that open green field, and just the sound of the gentle wind moving the tree canopies was heard. Even little Joy was quietly resting under the shadow of a tree, as if the little animal could understand they deserved the moment just for themselves.

"I love you, Monica..." the Irish angel heard him whisper into her ear, once their loving kiss had ended.

"I love you too, Andrew... forever..." she spoke back, and they exchanged an affectionate gaze before he captured her lips once again, and moments later, that sweet caress turned into smaller but never less loving sweet kisses. The two angels spent the rest of the day lying in each other's arms, either chatting happily, with Andrew permanently chuckling at Monica's remarks about the world, or silently enjoying that tranquil atmosphere. It resembled Heaven, not only because of its surroundings, but also due to the amazing sensation of peace that invaded their hearts whenever they were together.

Yes, they were angels, and had witnessed what paradise was like. But right now, Heaven was what they were feeling inside.

To be continued