CHAPTER 4

"It's almost time, buddy," Adam grinned as he re-entered the white tent where Andrew had been getting ready. The blond angel was now fumbling with his bow tie, nervous fingers clumsily trying to get it straight, "Andrew, calm down. Here, let me help."

Andrew left out an impatient sigh, "Is everything ready out there?"

"It looks perfect, amigo." Another fellow angel, Rafael, replied, as he finished adjusting the tie, "Why on earth are you so nervous? This is Monica! You've loved her for so long!"

"I know and I want today to be perfect for her, Adam. She's been through so much lately and I just want today to be everything she has imagined it would be."

"I think all she has imagined is you being there promising to love her forever, Andrew," Adam replied patiently, though he was rather amused at the nervousness of the usually very calm Angel of Death.

Not far from him, in a clearing surrounded by exuberant flowers and tall green trees, Monica looked at her image reflected on the mirror. A white tent had been built up in that secluded part of the woods and only she and Tess had spent the latest hours there. The supervisor helped her to dress and, as she was in human form, she also helped with the light make up that would only accentuate her meek Gaelic features.

"As an angel I do not cultivate vanity, you know Tess. But I cannot deny that when I look at this I..."

"You are gorgeous!" The supervisor spoke, proudly looking at the work she had accomplished so far. She had declared that she would make Monica's wedding gown, claiming that "no other angel knew how to sew one as well as she knew, due to her vast experience in wedding gowns department". They had spent the entire morning there and indeed, the old angel had done an amazing work.

Monica sighed deeply, an embarrassed and amused smile upon her face as she heard that. "The dress is so beautiful..." her fingertips touched the pure white fabric even so gently, as she was still admiring the lovely gift.

Monica was wearing a simple, yet elegant dress, or maybe it was just her lovely Gaelic features that made the dress so beautiful. The gown itself was sleeveless with a neckline that followed her collarbone, and accentuated her delicate bone structure. The bodice was in lovely white lace and at the dropped waistline the gown became a soft satin. The matching veil was of the same satin to her waist and then trimmed in the white lace of the bodice.

The little angel's hair was done up in a loose bun, though some wispy curls fell softly and daintily, framing her face. There was just a hint of Baby's Breath scattered throughout her auburn hair and a simple pearl necklace hung around her neck.

And then Tess's eyes travelled from the beautiful dress to Monica's feet, and the supervisor frowned when she saw Monica was barefoot. "Though nothing is perfect!"

"Have you ever felt the soft green grass underneath your feet, Tess?" the little angel asked with a smile, aware of Tess' dissatisfaction and slightly amused.

"No, because God created man and man created shoes and while you are in human form these are what you will be wearing, Miss Wings!"

Biting her lower lip, and making an extra effort not to laugh, she still made one last attempt. "I think Andrew would not mind if- "

"Andrew is an angel of death, not an angel of fashion!" Tess cut her of and pointed to the beautiful pair of two-inch high heels shoes that matched her wedding dress. "Now if you please."

x

Andrew gasped at the vision of his sweet Monica finally appearing in the green meadows of Ireland, making her way through the crowd of angels who were there to watch their two dear friends share a bond that so far had only been granted to humans. Rafael, Sam, Ronald, Gabriel and many others watched in awe as Monica walked barefoot over the short green grass and towards the one angel who had captured her innocent and loving heart.

The angel of death was standing next to Tess and Adam, and for a moment he was grateful for not having to say anything, as he didn't believe he could put into words what he was feeling inside. There was a mix of joy and emotion in his deep green orbs, and he felt walking over up to her at that very moment and holding his soul mate tightly, telling her once again how much he loved her.

But his urgency was over soon, as Monica finally approached him and Tess, carrying a bouquet of delicate wild flowers and some lilacs. Those same flowers the Irish angel used to pick a long time ago, when she would walk along those same green fields all by herself. But now, besides the Father himself, there was someone else who would hold her hand and walk with her, eternally listening to her heart, to each of her thoughts.

And this someone was gazing at her with wonder. She smiled back at him and soon their eyes were locked in a loving gaze, never noticing Tess' distress at the fact that she had previously decided to remove the shoes that the supervisor had so carefully picked for her.

Monica gladly accepted Andrew's proffered hand and her smile grew wider as he took it to his lips. "None of the Father's creations could ever be compared to what I can see now..." he spoke, gently cupping her cheek.

"Well... Never before have the Ireland fields meant so much to me as they do right now..." she replied, with a broad smile that could not hide the tears threatening to fall from her eyes at any moment.

"I wanted it to be in a special place for you..."

Tess' voice interrupted their little conversation. "And you were both right, babies. Because here is where the Father wants to bestow His blessing on your love."

Their gaze reluctantly broke as they turned their heads to look at their dearest friend and supervisor; hands permanently entwined.

"He knows that the bond that keeps you two together is pure in its essence. And it's so strong and so beautiful that all those who have the privilege to be here today marvel at what we see in your eyes." The oldest angel continued, after the couple exchanged one more quick glance. "Angels are not perfect. Yet, our nature consists in affection, kindness, compassion and devotion and like all of us you two have been granted with all those feelings at the moment you were created."

A sudden memory made Tess smile. "And from the day that I introduced you two, these feelings I'm talking about grew stronger inside you and made your hearts become one."

Andrew reached out to wipe the first tear that rolled down on Monica's cheek, and kissed the back of her hand. She shot him a grateful loving glance; her sparkling brown pools telling him how true Tess's words were.

"As angels, we all know that I am not the one to receive the credit for your meeting and the beautiful story that came out of it. But I have to say here that nothing makes me feel more proud. The Father's joy is to see His children's joy. It's to see that their contentment lies in loving each other, and that's why He's so happy for you right now."

The angels around them smiled, all of them equally happy to see such a beautiful moment.

Tess looked at Andrew and took a more formal tone of voice, her smile never fading. "Andrew, do you love the angel Monica with all your heart and soul?"

That question brought a large smile of contentment upon his handsome face, and he looked at his beautiful fiancée, certain that he would never get enough of her gorgeous image standing right next to him. "Yes... with all my heart and my soul..." came his soft answer, and only after that he turned to look at the supervisor again. "... I'll love her like that forever."

Pleased with his reply, even though it was far from a surprising one, Tess now turned to a very emotional Monica, who was biting her lower lip in order to stifle a crying sob. "Monica, do you love the angel Andrew with your heart and soul?"

"Oh, yes, I do! I love him so much!" she immediately spoke, as she could not wait any longer. Then she turned her tear-filled eyes to Andrew, who actually felt sorry for her, as he knew the turmoil of loving emotions going on her sweet angelic heart at that moment. "Andrew is my constant... the best reminder of God's creations..."

Now it was the blond angel who needed to be strong not to let his emotions take over at those words. Words that had come from the purest of the hearts, from the most loving and sweetest creature he had ever met. She too was the reminder of God's infinite love; his beloved angel was the one to bring comfort to his spirit and warmth to his soul. The angel Monica made the angel Andrew complete.

"Having your love is more than an honour, angel... It's a blessing." He caressed her cheek with the back of his hand, his voice hoarse with emotion.

"Grateful I am for having the opportunity to witness something so beautiful..." Tess spoke, in an audible voice but more to herself. They turned to her once again and the supervisor nodded her head. As if fulfilling a silent order, they fell on their knees on the two white cushions previously set over the grass, and Monica carefully placed the small bouquet right over the fluffy pillow so that she could hold both of Andrew's hands.

They closed their eyes and rested their foreheads together as the supervisor kept on speaking.

"I have the honour to proclaim that the angels Monica and Andrew share a bond that was blessed by the Father Himself, and that from this moment on their souls are joined forever." She placed her hands on their heads. "One only soul when they are in their heavenly form... Two hearts beating like one while they turn into humans. Love will always be present in both occasions, and from this moment on you should exist not only to fulfil assignments as God's messengers, but also to love each other and make each other's existence a very happy one."

Under their angelic friends' standing ovation, they opened their eyes and looked at each other again, big and joyful smiles on both faces even if Monica's was also wet with tears. Andrew kissed each of her hands before she took the bouquet and they could rise on their feet again.

Only then, the blond angel let go of her hand and gently cupped her cheeks, wiping her tears with his thumbs. He crossed the distance between them and very softly pressed his lips against hers, in a sweet tender kiss that sealed their union under their creator's eyes, and under the eyes of many of their friends, all of them moved with the beautiful ceremony.

When they pulled away he still kissed her forehead and spoke words that caused another sob to escape from her. "I love you so much, my precious angel."

"I love you too, Andrew... With my entire heart..."

He kissed her lips once again, certain that there couldn't be anything sweeter than that loving caress. When they parted, they heard Tess' voice and only then noticed the few tears that the supervisor was unsuccessfully trying to hide.

"May God bless you, babies..."

Monica looked at Andrew and he nodded - two minds so closely connected that words were not necessary for them to express their feelings. She let go of his hand to hold her dear friend. "Thank you, Tess!"

"I am not a mother but I certainly know what a human mother might feel at a moment like this... And I'll be forever grateful that the Father gave me this present..." she said, emotion evident on her face.

"Congratulations, buddy!" Adam was the first to shake hands with his colleague.

"Thanks, Adam!"

"I guess humans would say something like I wish you all the happiness but I when I look at you guys I see happiness itself! Anyone can see that!" Rafael spoke, also shaking hands with the blond angel.

They received the compliments of their other friends and when time had come, all of them, including Andrew and Tess, moved a bit away from Monica. The little angel smiled and looked at all the angels. Then, she turned her eyes at the sky and threw her bouquet up in the air.

And they watched in wonder as the delicate flowers turned into many white doves, which cooed and flew away right over their heads, ending that beautiful ceremony.