PROLOGUE

The break came as a welcome change from all the past paced assignments of the past year and a half and it seemed like centuries ago that Monica had last been at the little house in the woods. It was just as she remembered it to be, nestled within the woods and overlooking the lake to its rear. The hot summer day had turned into a cool, calm and peaceful night and the musical sound of the crickets down by the lake reminded her of a sweet violin concerto.

She had slipped silently from her bed, unable to sleep as her mind went over all the things she had been unable to think about in many months. The thoughts were more like wonderings really. Wondering about how long they would be able to stay here. Wondering about how things were working out for Kristin, David and their new baby. Wondering about Paul.

Monica missed him desperately and missed knowing if he was still on the right path with God. She had grown closer to him then she had ever grown to any human and other than Tess, Andrew and God, she still felt closest to him. She wondered if he ever thought about her and if he missed her. She wondered how many years it would take before she stopped wondering.

"Angel? Are you all right?"

The familiar sound of her best friend’s voice caused her to smile from where she sat on the edge of the dock. He had been sound asleep when she had gone for her late night walk, but somehow he had known that she had no longer been in her bed with Lucy, "Yes, Andrew, I’m all right. Just enjoying the quiet."

"I hope I’m not intruding," He stated softly as he approached her, wondering if she wanted to be alone.

"You’re never an intrusion," She smiled up at him, a welcome invitation for him to have a seat beside of her, which he immediately accepted, "It’s just so nice to be able to sit still and not have to be anywhere."

"But you know you wouldn’t be able to stand it for very long, angel," Andrew grinned as he wrapped an arm around her small shoulders and pulled her closer.

"Maybe not," Monica replied as she snuggled closer to him. It was very true that she loved the work that God’s angels did, but she also loved the quiet moments such as this, "Do you know why we’re here, Andrew?"

He shook his head, "Not yet, Angel Girl. I’m not even certain that Tess knows the reason yet. I believe we have just been told to wait."

Monica nodded her head and sighed as her eyes gazed out over the lake and at the reflection the moon made upon the water.

"Thinking about Paul?"

His question caught her off guard and she looked up at him in surprise as he smiled down at her, "I know that you think about him often, Monica. So do I."

"I just can’t help but to wonder if he is okay…and I really miss him," She confessed softly, "I thought it would get easier, but it really hasn’t. I got used to having him around."

"To be honest, so did I," Andrew admitted with a small smile, "It was nice to have backup in looking out for you."

"Hey," the little angel protested as she elbowed him the ribs playfully, "I’ll have you know that I haven’t needed any looking after in quite some time."

Andrew chuckled softly as he kissed the top of her head, "I know, but that doesn’t mean I stop doing it."

"No, I suppose it doesn’t."

He was quiet for a moment before he spoke up once more, "How have you been doing? I know that we see each other nearly every day but it has been awhile since we’ve really been able to talk, as we’ve all been so busy. So have you…are you…"

Monica laughed lightly, amused by his attempts to ask the question in a way that wouldn’t upset her, "I’m fine, Andrew, really. The last year has done wonders," She knew that much was true. Yes, there were still moments when a knock at the door startled her or if she was walking someplace alone that all her senses were on high alert and she would long to have Andrew or Paul by her side. But all in all, things were indeed better and she could only hope that the things she still struggled with would also get better with time.

"But it hasn’t cured everything," He stated knowingly, hearing the things she wasn’t speaking aloud.

"Not completely, but I’m getting there and I knew it would take time. But the good news is that I have that and I’m sure the other little things will get better eventually," She assured him, stifling a yawn. Though tired, the night was so beautiful and so peaceful that she hated to leave it to go back to bed.

"Yes, they will," Andrew replied as he gave her a little hug, "and who knows… maybe we will run into Paul again someday. You once told me that you had a feeling that we would."

"Mm-hmm. I still get that feeling sometimes."

"Well if there’s one thing I’ve learned during our many years together, it’s to trust those feelings of yours."

She smiled and let out a long contented sigh. "Well right now I’m getting the feeling that you want me to go back to bed but you aren’t sure how to make me."

Andrew chuckled and blushed slightly. "I guess I must be losing my touch. It’s a little chilly out here and I can tell you’re tired. You’d be more comfortable in your bed."

"You’re right… as usual. But if were still here tomorrow night, let’s set up sleeping bags and sleep out here under the stars."

He looked up to see what Monica was seeing and had to take a breath as he saw the wonders of the heavens spread over them all. "Yes," he said after a moment. "That sounds like a wonderful idea."

*****

Monica woke the next morning to the smell of coffee in the air, which signaled one of two things: either Andrew had woken up first, or Tess was in a particularly good mood. She quickly slipped into a robe and hurried downstairs into the kitchen. If Tess was the one who had made the coffee she wanted to make sure she got a nice couple of cups before the good mood faded.

"Well good morning, baby," Tess called out. "Did you sleep well?"

"Very well," Monica answered with a grin, as Tess handed her a mug already full, and with extra cream just the way she liked it.

"You seemed a little restless yesterday."

The older angel had woken up in the middle of the night to the sound of soft footsteps and had watched Monica walk out onto the dock. Now she just wanted to make sure that nothing was bothering the little angel. Over the past year their working relationship had stayed almost the same, but Tess had found herself becoming more sensitive and openly affectionate with her charge. Not that she had ever lacked in love for Monica, but the tough times that angel had been put through had made Tess reevaluate her own actions. She had recognized that sometimes she could come on a bit strong, and sometimes that was exactly what made Monica retreat into herself. The saying was that you couldn’t teach an old dog new tricks, but Tess was determined to prove that didn’t apply to angels.

Monica, for her part, was only a little surprised by Tess’ question. She knew that she had been pretty fidgety after dinner. One definite hold over from her two assignments with Paul was that she had a hard time settling down to actually rest and relax. An over-abundance of thoughts was usually the problem, at least some of them concerning the agent.

"No, everything is fine, Tess, really," she finally answered after taking a sip of coffee. "Just doing a lot of thinking."

Tess nodded in understanding. She had a feeling she knew exactly what those thoughts revolved around, and she had heard Andrew’s heavier footsteps follow Monica outside. As long as the little angel was talking to someone, Tess was happy.

"I guess you must have slept pretty well," Monica said with a wry grin as she took another sip and raised her eyes to peer at Tess over the rim of her cup.

The older angel quirked her lips into a smile and rolled her eyes. "Now don’t be thinking that I’ve gone all soft just because I’m making you coffee."

"No, never!"

"Hmph. Well, it just so happens that I got word from the Father this morning and he told me that our assignment is to stay put… and I guess a bit of a vacation for you two is reason to celebrate."

"Stay put? Us two? You mean Andrew and I? What about you? You’re not leaving are you?" A touch of separation anxiety was another little hold-over, but Tess was quick to allay her fear with a firm hand on her arm.

"No, nothing like that, baby. It just looks like whatever this assignment is, when it comes, the Father wants me to handle it. You two are unofficially, officially, on a much needed break."

Monica tilted her head and her eyebrows drew together. "But certainly you could use a break too."

"Oh, trust me, Monica, I’m fine. I’ve been doing a lot of supervising and not much actual "angeling" lately… I’ll be glad to have something to keep me busy."

"Well in that case, I hope you have a wonderful time. Andrew and I will promise to keep out of your way."

"You and Andrew are never in my way, baby," She replied firmly with a shake of her head, "But I do want you both to relax and enjoy your time off together as it has been awhile."

Though Monica was unsure of when was the last time she had truly relaxed, she nodded her head, "I’ll do my best," She moved to the counter where Tess had begun making breakfast, "Can I help?"

Tess raised her eyebrows in amusement, "You want me to let you help cook?" Her eyes clearly showed what she thought of the idea.

"Please?"

Monica’s expression was so hopeful that the older angel was completely unable to resist, though she knew enough to keep the little angel’s tasks simple, "You can break up those eggs in that bowl over there. Mind the shells and no coffee in my bowl."

"Yes, ma’am," She grinned triumphantly, pleased with having won what could have been a long battle of wills, as she set to work on the eggs that Tess had set aside.

Tess watched her momentarily, not missing the pleasure in her charge’s dark eyes. Monica had been finding great joy in even the smallest of victories the last year and little by little Tess had watched her come back into her own. Monica had changed due to her difficult assignments when Paul had been a part of their existence and Tess wasn’t sure if those changes would ever go away, but she was pleased with the progress Monica had made just the same.

"So what is left for me to do?"

The sound of Andrew’s voice caused them both to turn around and Monica smiled happily at him. It was an expression that warmed his heart.

"Just relax, Angel Boy. I tried to get your friend here to do that, but you know how stubborn she can be."

"We’re on vacation, Andrew," The little angel informed him as she went back to her egg cracking.

"Oh really?" He raised his eyebrows in surprise at this bit of information.

"Well, you and Monica are on vacation, baby. I’ll be flying solo on this one."

"Time to clear the cobwebs off your wings, huh?" Andrew grinned though he quickly hid his smile when the older angel glared at him.

"Look at it this way, Tess," Monica offered with a giggle, "Now you can be your own boss."

"Hmph," Her supervisor muttered, going back to chopping up potatoes in order to hide her own smile. Monica was laughing again, and if the joke was at her expense, then so be it.

"So, what can I do to help?" Andrew repeated, leaning up against the counter between his two friends.

"Make sure she keeps the eggshells and mocha out of my bowl," She instructed firmly.

"Tess." The little angel objected with a pout forming on her lips.

"Don’t you ‘Tess’ me, Angel Girl. You have managed to sneak coffee into many a recipe I’m working on. You’ve built your own reputation as a kitchen terrorist, so you have only yourself to blame over Andrew having to watch you like a hawk."

"But you all liked my coffee pizza the last time I made it," She pointed out, her pout changing to a grin as she added, "Paul had two pieces!"

"Paul was being polite," Tess informed her, "You could have served him sardines over waffles with jam and mustard and as long as you cooked it, he would have eaten it."

"He said it was made in love," Monica argued, working on winning her second battle of the morning, her fingers poised to pick up another egg.

"No one is questioning that, angel," Andrew smiled as he laid his hand over hers, "And even if he hated it, which we don’t know, Paul is a ‘it’s the thought that counts’ kind of guy."

This response seemed to satisfy Monica as she smiled at him and went back to cracking the last of the eggs Tess had put aside.

"So, if we’re on vacation, what should we do today, Monica?" Andrew asked, moving to hoist himself up on the counter as the other two angels worked.

She appeared thoughtful for a moment before she looked up at him, her doe like brown eyes sparkling, "A walk in the woods complete with a picnic and tonight sleeping out under the stars. There isn’t a cloud in the sky."

"That sounds like a plan, Angel Girl. Care to join us, Tess?"

But the oldest angel declined the invitation graciously, "You two go ahead and enjoy yourselves. I plan on just relaxing a bit here until the Father shows me what He wants done."

"Aww, but we’ll miss you, Tess," Monica replied, finishing with the eggs and turning to face her.

"Thank you, baby," She smiled gratefully at her young charge as she prepared to fry up the potatoes on the stove, "Now step back. The actual cooking will be left up to me and me alone!"

Andrew smiled as Monica announced she was taking a shower in the interim as she cheerfully headed from the kitchen, leaving him missing her presence. Despite missing and worrying about Paul, along with a few other minor problems, she seemed much more like her old self again and for that he was eternally grateful.