CHAPTER 5

The rest of the afternoon was spent in the comfort of their dearest friends, who were all so eager to wish the angelic couple a happy married life. A light lunch was served, but Monica found herself far too excited to eat. Like a little girl, she was unable to believe that this day had finally arrived and that her greatest wish had finally come true. Then she would turn and see her husband's tender, green eyes gazing at her and joy would bubble up inside of her until she felt for certain her heart would burst from its fullness.

As the afternoon began to wind down, the angels were surprised to see Tess with the angelic choir and Monica and Andrew exchanged puzzled glances.

"Babies, before you leave us to go and enjoy your honeymoon, I have one final gift for you both," The older angel met her eyes with each of the two angels in turn and they could both see the tears of happiness that lingered there. As all the guests took their seats, Monica slipped her smaller hand into Andrew's and her heartbeat accelerated when he gave it a warm squeeze. But before she could tell him again just how much she loved him, the music began to play and they all turned their attention to Tess and the choir.

You are everything I need to see
Smile and sunlight makes sunlight to me
Laugh and come and look into me
Drips of moonlight washing over me
Can I show you what you want from me

Angel of mine, can I thank you
You have saved me time and time again
Angel, I must confess
It's you that always gives me strength
And I don't know where I'd be without you

After all these years, one thing is true
Constant force within my heart is you
You touch me, I feel I'm moving into you
I treasure every day I spend with you
All the things I am come down to you

Angel of mine
Let me thank you
You have saved me time and time again
Angel, I must confess
It's you that always gives me strength
And I don't know where I'd be without you

Back in the arms of my angel
Back to the peace that I so love
Back in the arms of my angel I can finally rest
Giving you a gift that you remind me

Angel of mine
Let me thank you
You have saved me time and time and time and time again
Angel, I must confess
It's you that always gives me strength
And I don't know where I'd be without you

Angel of mine
Can I thank you
You have saved me time and time again
Angel, I must confess
It's you that always gives me strength
And I don't know where I'd be without you
...without you

By the end of the song, Andrew was again tenderly wiping the tears from his wife's cheeks as their eyes held one another's gaze.

"Thank you, little angel of mine," He whispered softly to her, "For trusting me with someone so precious. You, Angel."

"I love you," Monica uttered on a tiny sob, before his lips found hers in a sweet kiss that turned into several smaller ones.

It wasn't until the kiss ended that they realized that other then themselves and Tess, they were alone in the field. The tents, tables and chairs were gone and all that remained was their supervisor, smiling lovingly at them.

"I think it's time two angel babies started their new existence together."

"The song, Tess," Monica smiled tearfully, "It was so beautiful. Thank you."

As Monica moved to hug her, Tess gathered the little angel into her arms, "No thanks are necessary, Angel Girl. It's such a gift to see you so happy and to see both of you finally together."

"You made our day perfect, Tess," Andrew replied with a happy grin.

"Well, it isn't over yet, Angel Boy. You two are supposed to head to the cabin for some much overdue alone time," The older angel pulled away from Monica and laid a hand against her cheek, "I know these last weeks have been hard for you, baby, but your only real assignment at the moment is to be together."

"I feel nothing but happiness today, Tess," Monica assured her as her gaze shyly slid across to Andrew.

"I hope that is what you will always feel, Angel," Andrew stated, reaching for her hand once more, no longer willing to not be touching her.

"Enjoy, babies. I'll see you in a few weeks." With quick hugs to them both, the older angel vanished and with her the two younger angels. All that remained in the field in Ireland was the knowledge that something wonderful had indeed happened there.

x

The two angels appeared a heartbeat later inside the cabin and they both marvelled at the differences. Not only was their attire now much more comfortable with Andrew in tan pants and a white shirt and Monica in a long, sleeveless dress and light cardigan, but the table was already set with an elegant dinner. A fire roared in the fireplace, it's flames and the candles on the table the only light emulating the room.

Monica's eyes were again filled with tears as she looked up at her beloved, "Andrew, I just feel so blessed."

He swallowed hard against the lump that had formed in his throat as he looked at her. The light from the candles and fire picked up the reddest parts of her hair, which was still up in the loose bun and the way he was looking at her caused her cheeks to flush pink and her dark eyes to sparkle.

"I understand completely, Angel, because I feel it too," Andrew replied softly, before he closed the small distance between them and took her face into his hands, "The love I feel right now, Monica...it's the strongest thing I've ever known."

Then he was kissing her and stealing her breath again and again, before he managed to control the wide range of emotions that were flowing through him. Clearing his throat, and looking down into her wide, passion filled eyes, he gave a crooked grin, "Well, it seems someone has gone through a lot of trouble to fix us dinner, and if I remember correctly someone didn't eat any lunch."

Monica smiled as she felt her heartbeat return to normal, or at least, to a new normal, "I confess, I am a wee bit hungry."

That was all it took for Andrew to pull out her chair for her, his normal protective instincts coming into play, "Then you need to eat."

Dinner was wonderful. The food was delicious and the event was also marked with sweet, loving glances and words exchanged between the two angels. Afterwards, they both cleared the table and Monica set to work washing the dishes while Andrew put away the leftovers for another meal.

As the little angel washed the dishes, she felt strong arms wrap around her small waist and she smiled as Andrew delivered a lingering kiss to her cheek before he moved next to her to dry and put away the china she had washed. The chores were such simple ones, yet they seemed to take on new meaning now that they were married.

Later, they snuggled together on the sofa in front of the fireplace and replayed the events of such a perfect day.

"Was today everything you had dreamed it would be, Angel?" Andrew asked after a few moments of comfortable silence.

Hearing the hint of worry in his voice, Monica turned in his arms to look up at him in sweet disbelief, "Andrew. It was better and more perfect that I ever could have imagined. Being in Ireland and all of our friends being there and Tess singing for us..." Her voice trailed off as she reached up and laid a delicate hand against his cheek, "But as wonderful as all those things were, I didn't need any of them. Don't misunderstand, they made today absolutely beautiful, but when I imagined this day? The only thing I imagined was you being there with me, promising to love me forever."

"Longer than forever, baby," He whispered once he could speak again, "For all eternity."

His tender eyes drank in her face and her expression, memorizing all over again, all the things he loved about her. Reaching up, Andrew carefully pulled out the decorative hair barrettes that held her bun in place and then watched as her auburn curls fell softly down against her shoulders. His fingers delicately traced along the lock of hair against her cheek before his gaze locked with hers once more.

The expression in those emerald green eyes nearly undid her. Monica could so clearly see his love for her, his thanks, his affection, a million different things that caused her heartbeat to quicken once again. Her own doe-like eyes traced along his face until she closed them as his fingertips delicately brushed against her cheek.

"I love you so much more than you could ever imagine, my precious angel."

When their lips met, their kiss was filled with a need they had never known before. Monica tilted her head back to deepen the intimate caress as her hands moved to his face, needing to touch him. They kissed until they were both breathless and when they pulled apart, they were both breathing hard and the little angel's eyes were dark with a desire she had never felt before.

He would have thought he would have felt awkward, but all Andrew could feel was their immense love for each other, as he swept his wife up into his arms and carried her up the stairs. His eyes moved briefly to the door of her bedroom as his heart filled with a knowledge that now that room would simply be a guest room in their little cottage.

They were now in all things, one.