CHAPTER 3

Despite the fact that Andrew had stayed with her until she had fallen asleep and despite the fact that she'd had very happy dreams most of the night, a nightmare was just taking hold of the Irish angel when she felt a gentle shake to her arm that would have startled her had the voice accompanying it not been so familiar and gentle.

"C'mon, Angel Girl," Tess urged with a smile, "We need to get you moving, baby. You have a wedding to attend."

The dream was immediately forgotten as a slow and beautiful smile spread across the little angel's face as she opened her dark eyes, "Is it really happening, Tess?" She asked, her eyes dancing with little girl excitement, "I'm not dreaming?"

A chuckle rumbled in the older angel's chest, "It looks to me as if you are very much awake, baby!"

In a rush of excitement, Monica sprang up from her bed to fling her arms around her mentor in a tight hug, "I'm so glad you're here! That you are going to be a part of our special day! I couldn't imagine it without you."

"Monica, why on earth would you think I wouldn't be a part of it?" Tess asked, as she pulled away enough to look into her charge's eyes.

"I'm just so grateful is all. Do you remember the day I confessed to you how I felt about Andrew?"

"Remember it? Angel Girl, I'll never forget it! You were crying so hard, you wouldn't allow me to tell you that the Father had blessed your love." She laughed at the blush the rose in Monica's cheeks.

"Yes, but I was so afraid that you wouldn't approve, Tess. I had no way of knowing that the Father was going to allow it, but I certainly never thought you would."

Affection filled the older angel's eyes as she laid her hands on Monica's shoulders, "How could I not approve of something that makes you so happy, baby? All that Angel Boy has to do is walk into the room and your eyes light up with so much love, and it is obvious just how much Andrew loves you as well. There isn't anything he wouldn't do for you, Monica and the two of you have always belonged together, in one way or another. It only seems right that such a strong and beautiful friendship has blossomed into a love that will last for all eternity."

As Tess had spoken, the little angel's eyes had filled up with tears as she thought about the gentle Angel of Death, "Is he still here, Tess?" Suddenly, all she wanted to do was to fling her arms around him and get lost in his kiss.

"No, baby. Though angels don't believe in luck, neither good or bad, it does add to the fun of the day for the bride and groom to not see each other until the wedding," Seeing a hint of disappointment in her charge's eyes, Tess smiled, "Fortunately for you, you don't have long to wait. We need to get going."

"Tess, please. Where?"

Hugging the angel that was like a daughter to her close, Tess replied with a smile, "Close your eyes, baby. Your Andrew is waiting."

X

Monica knew where she was before she ever opened her dark eyes. She could feel the lush grass beneath her feet and breathing in, she could smell the flowers and the hint of mist that was still lingering in the morning air and the tiniest sob rose to her throat as she opened her eyes.

"Oh Tess! Ireland! My beloved Ireland!" Her small hands were clasped over her mouth as her eyes took in the sight of the countryside where she had been created.

The older angel smiled, as she gently swiped at a tear on her Angel Girl's cheek, "When you were in the prison, baby, after you'd go to sleep at night, Andrew and I would talk. He would tell me how worried about you he was and one night he told me that you had been worried that your wedding would never happen."

Monica nodded her head, not trusting herself to speak as she remembered that day. Andrew had come to see her as her lawyer and she had fallen apart completely from missing him so much and from feeling so hopeless. Remembering that time caused tears to sting her eyes.

"Do you know what he told me, baby?"

A little shake of her head urged Tess to continue as the Irish angel blinked rapidly to keep from crying.

"He told me that he would not rest until he was able to marry you because he loved you so deeply. He told me that all he wanted was to spend the rest of his existence making you smile and he told me that the day he was given the greatest honor of his existence, he wanted it to be here, in the place you love the most."

The tears were falling freely once more, though Monica was smiling through them, "He always remembers, Tess."

"Baby, I don't think there is a single thing that Angel Boy has ever learned about you that he has not committed to memory." Tess replied seriously though her eyes sparkled merrily at the happiness and great love she could see radiating from Monica's face.

"I want to marry him, Tess," She whispered excitedly, her heart nearly bursting from how it full it felt, "I feel like I've been waiting for this moment forever."

Tenderly, Tess laid a hand against her charge's cheek, "I know you have, baby, and I want you to know that I wish for you every happiness. You know, it wasn't so long ago when I was the only one looking out for you other than the Father. You've always been like a daughter to me, Angel Girl."

"And you like a mother to me, Tess," Monica replied, the emotion still so present in her voice.

"I would imagine that what a human mother would want for her child is for her to find someone to love who makes her happy, who protects and respects her, who would do anything for her. Someone who will laugh with her and who will hold her and hurt with her when she cries," Tess blinked rapidly at the tears that were in her eyes, "Those are all the things a human mother would wish for her daughter, Angel Girl, and I am so happy to say that I know you have found all those things in Andrew. I know I can trust him with you, baby and there isn't another angel out there I could say that about."

Flinging her arms around her supervisor once more, Monica uttered tearfully, "Thank you, Tess. For everything you have done for both of us. I love you so much."

"I love you too, baby," she replied before pulling away and her expression turned to all business, "Now, enough of this chatter. We need to get you ready to be married!"