CHAPTER 17

The first sunrays of that spring morning shyly crossed the windows and the thin white curtains, coming to rest on the bedroom wooden floor. It was a cozy small town and it was possible to hear the singing of the birds outside, somewhat announcing that the darkness was leaving Earth and that warm days were about to come, renewing spirits, bringing new beginnings for those in need.

An injured angel in human form had been asleep since from the previous night, when he had finally been allowed to leave hospital and go back home. What the doctors and all the others who had contact with him didn't know was that his real home was far away and that he earned for the day he would be able to go back there.

Andrew stirred slowly in bed and little by little his green eyes got used to the light that surrounded him. As the morning sounds reached his ears he thought the brightness that had awoken him was exclusively coming from the outside. That until he opened his eyes completely to observe with wonder the beautiful angel that had been sitting on the same bed, watching him with tender eyes and with a captivating smile.

Monica looked especially beautiful to him now – the splendid glow that involved her form lit up the entire room and her wildflower perfume quickly filled his lungs. She was barefoot, wearing an ivory dress with a lovely embroidered cardigan and sitting over her legs, hands resting upon her lap. A smile appeared on Andrew's face as his eyes studied her full long hair, auburn locks cascading over her small shoulders up to her waist.

"This is the best view of Earth I could ever have…" his voice was low but the way he looked at her spoke volumes to her heart.

Slightly blushed by his eternal flattering, Monica smiled back at him. "Good morning…"

"Good morning, angel." He tried to move and sit up in bed but the sharp pain in his arm stopped him, and watching the expression on his face, Monica's smile faded.

"Please, wait…"

Resigned, he let out a frustrated sigh and rested his head against the pillow one more time. "This human form… it's been keeping me a prisoner over the last few days…"

Nodding her head, she inched closer and reached for his hand, placing it against her heart. "I understand… But this is about to end. There are some people we have to visit and we should leave now."

"Leave? But…"

The confused expression on his face didn't last for long as on the following second Monica wasn't the only one in the room to be in angelic form. Andrew found himself involved by the same light that surrounded his valentine's body. His clothes were different – khaki pants and a white t-shirt replaced sweatpants and covered his bare chest. The pain and exhaustion he felt in his human flesh had disappeared entirely and now the sensation of comfort and peace had once again taken over his spirit.

"The wound made by the bullet…" He spoke, now easily sitting up in bed and touching his healed shoulder in disbelief.

Monica nodded her head as she admired the glow emanating from his angelic form. "Now I myself can say it's the best view I could ever have…"

There wasn't just flattering in that remark but also great relief at seeing her beloved totally healed as he regained his angelic form. Chuckling, he looked back at her and an instant later, they were sharing a loving embrace.

"I'd gladly go through all over it all again if it meant holding you like this, baby."

The Irish angel closed her eyes and tightened her embrace. "Oh, my dear Andrew… I'll be forever thankful that after wandering around Earth we can be reunited again. It's a gift I'll always treasure."

He kissed the side of her head and gently pulled away, just enough to look at her face. "You said we have to go somewhere…"

"We do. It's our last task before we can go Home."

A moment later, Monica and Andrew were standing in a child's bedroom. With happiness, they watched as contented parents and excited siblings stood around the bed of a seven-year-old.

"…you're really staying for the whole day, daddy?" Aiden asked, eyes wide open in surprise at his father's announcement.

"I sure will, buddy. There are so many things I guess I missed for not being at your side… I just don't want to… wake up some day to realize you've grown up and became total strangers to me… You and your mom are my greatest treasures."

The man put a lot of effort to hide the tears that were forming in the corner of his eyes when he said that. And to Josh those words had a special meaning as for the first time the boy felt confident that his father was someone he would look up to and trust. Those feelings had been strange to him since he was very little but thanks to the terrible incident with his younger brother he and his father were able to make up and start rebuilding their relationship.

Watching as the three children and their mother smiled lovingly at Mr Clark, Monica cast a pleased look at Andrew. He returned her smile and placed a hand over her shoulder. There were no words exchanged between them but they knew exactly what the other one was thinking.

"Monica… You came to visit Aiden too!" Jane's surprised and contented voice soon call everybody else's attention, and suddenly the family realized they were not alone in that bedroom.

"M… Monica… I didn't notice you were here…" the children's mother spoke, as confused as her husband.

As little Jane rushed to stand by her side and hold her hand, Monica smiled at them. "You're right, wee Jane. We… Andrew and I, we came here to visit Aiden and to deliver a message for the whole family."

The boy's eyes were wide open with wonder and no fear. "He's the one who saved me!"

"That's true… You're the agent who rescued Aiden." Mr Clark rose to his feet and walked over to the couple, shaking hands with Andrew. "We've been to the hospital but you were not receiving guests."

"George and I are glad to see you're fully recovered… We cannot thank you enough for what you did for our son." His wife added.

"There's no need to thank me, Mr Clark. A while ago, Monica and I came to this small town with two different assignments and hardly did we know that they were connected."

"I don't think I understand…" the man spoke, he and his wife slightly confused.

"We are messengers of God, Mr and Mrs Clark. Angels as wee Jane always says…" Monica's words had an impact on the two adults and on their eldest son. Aiden's and Jane's hearts were already prepared for that and there was nothing in their eyes but wonder.

"Please, don't be afraid…" Andrew spoke, as the glow emanating from his and Monica's forms shone inside the bedroom.

"Angels… Angels from God in our house?" Mrs Clark's eyes were soon filled with tears, and she held her husband's arm not believing what they were hearing.

With a beautiful smile, which made her look even more ethereal, Monica nodded her head. "Sent to your family for two reasons. The first one is to remind you of the precious gift you have in your hands: lovely children and the love that first brought you and your husband together."

"But this love was in disharmony and that's when evil acts… trying to destroy everything you had by making one of your children a victim." Andrew added, his expression serious.

"But you wouldn't allow it, right?" Mr Clark had tears in his eyes as he spoke, aware of the grace that had just been granted him and his family.

A bittersweet smile appeared on the blond angel's face as he shook his head. "Not me, Mr Clark… God Himself, to stop another tragedy from happening."

Feeling his sadness emanating through her heart, Monica held Andrew's arm and gave it a gentle squeeze. "Our Father used Andrew as an instrument to fight evil because He knows Andrew's loving and brave heart. And I personally think there couldn't be a better choice."

Throwing an affectionate look at Monica, the blond angel covered Monica's hand with his. "The truth is that I wouldn't have done it without you." He spoke, with gratitude. Then, Andrew turned to the family that stared at them in wonder. "Please don't ever forget that the love that bring you all together is always more important than any other material possessions. It's the most precious gift you could ever receive from God and all He expects from you is that you live up to honor this gift."

"We will, Andrew… God knows how much we've learned in the last few days. And I know now that the way I was leading my life was far more different than what I had in mind when I met my wife, or when our children were born."

Monica turned to the little girl who never let go of her hand and who seemed a little sad now that she was feeling she would have to bid her "nanny" farewell.

"Goodbye, wee Jane. I'll never forget the time I spent with you and your brothers."

"Do you really have to go, Monica? Can't you stay a little more? Just until we grow?" Her pleading face was cute and Monica couldn't help chuckling at that request.

"I believe you and your brothers won't need a nanny any longer, sweetheart." She said, caressing the little girl's face.

"Then promise you'll be back once in a while to visit us?" Jane insisted, and Andrew knew that she was melting his beloved valentine's heart.

Monica knelt in front of the girl and smiled. "I promise."

After a warm embrace, it was Josh who came closer to the Irish angel. He was smiling at her – Monica realized she had never seen him smiling before.

"I want to thank you… for everything…" he said.

"Would that be possible that I earned a hug too?" Monica replied, and on the following moment they were also sharing an affectionate embrace. It was the same with Aiden, who could not help crying over her shoulder and, therefore, make her shed some tears too. "Thank you for the rollerblading lessons! I promise I'll practice…" She elicited a tearful smile from him. Then, the angel turned to the whole family again. "God loves you all and He blesses this family…"

Monica joined Andrew afterwards and he wrapped his arm around her small shoulders.

"Thank you…"

Mr Clark grateful words were the last ones the couple of angels knew. On the following moment, they were gone, leaving behind five lives who would carry a message of hope and God's love through all their life.