EPILOGUE

The sun was just beginning its descent when the two heavenly beings appeared in the clearing outside of the cabin. The warmth from the sun shone down on them and the little Irish angel breathed in deeply, inhaling the fragrance of the trees and the wildflowers. She could feel the breeze ruffling gently through her auburn hair and Andrew's hands on her shoulders and suddenly her vision blurred. Only an hour ago, Monica had been convinced that she would be returning to her cell at the prison and now, here she was, seeing and breathing in some of God's most beautiful creations.

But though that was enough to move her to tears, she knew that there was something more. Turning around to face, Andrew, Monica lifted her hand and placed it against his strong jaw as she struggled to find her voice, "Thank you." She managed to say through the emotion that was thick in her throat.

Andrew's green eyes were filled with a love so great it nearly took her breath away, "You never have to thank me, baby and I promised you we'd come here once your innocence was proven."

But she shook her head tearfully, "No, not just for this...though this is beautiful and I missed it so much. What I really want to thank you for is for being with me through all of this. Andrew, I wouldn't have been able to endure it without you and you were there every night and every moment you could be, either as my lawyer, or as my protector or guardian angel...or simply as my Andrew." The tears slipped down her face as her small fingers caresses his cheek, "Other than the Father, there is no one I trust more than you, or love more than you and I need for you to know that now and to never, ever, have any doubts about it ever again," Her lilt was laced with soft sobs and her heartfelt words caused his own eyes to sting with tears.

But the little angel wasn't finished yet and Andrew remained quiet so she could speak her heart, "And I know I've doubted in the past, since this new relationship between us began and that was wrong of me, because you are my greatest gift and most treasured blessing and Andrew, you always have been, even before I knew I was in love with you. And even though it was wrong of me to doubt, you took all my doubts away; you don't want to protect me because you don't trust me, but because you love me so much and I could see that so clearly in your eyes when you would hold me each night at the prison or when you protected me from Sheila," Monica struggled to hold back her sobs, but they were quickly overtaking her, "The prison tried to take from me the sun and the fresh air, but they couldn't, because every night...you were there."

Andrew had to blink rapidly several times to clear his eyes, as he took her hand from his cheek and kissed her palm, before his own gentle hands framed the little angel's face, "My sweet, precious little Angel Girl, there is nowhere else I would ever want to be, other than by your side. The love I feel for you, baby, it just keeps growing; I don't even know where it is coming from anymore. To see you locked up like that, Angel, it broke my heart, baby and I couldn't think of anything else other than anything I could do to set you free. You should always be free to decide what you want, sweetheart; your heart should always be free."

"Free to love you," She whispered with a tearful smile, before she launched herself into his arms, holding onto him desperately as she released the remainder of her tears.

"I love you so much, baby," Andrew whispered against her ear as he held her as tightly as he dared, cherishing the feeling of holding her and knowing that there was no time limit on how long he could do so.

x

As promised, as darkness fell, the two angels laid awake in the hammock outside, snuggled close together as Andrew pointed out the constellations to his beloved pupil. The night air was chilly and the blonde angel had brought out blankets to make sure Monica was nice and warm. The little angel fell asleep with her head resting on his chest and Andrew spent the next two hours simply gazing down into her sleeping face, his heart swelling with love every moment that passed. She was exhausted, and he knew she was sleeping deeply and peacefully for the first time in four long months, though he could still see the weariness of her time spent in the jail etched into her delicate features. Andrew wished he could erase time spent there from her mind, but he knew he could not, and when the beginnings of a nightmare started with frightened murmurs from her, he was only further reminded that it would take time and love to fully heal her spirit, but he had plenty of both.

He kissed the top of her head tenderly, "Hush, Angel. You're safe now. I'm right here with you where I will always be."

His words and gentle touch soothed away the dream and he tugged the blankets more snugly around her small body, before finally allowing himself to drift off into a contented sleep.

Andrew awoke just before dawn and without ever waking Monica, he whispered a silent plea. A breath later, he was sitting on a blanket in the sand, the little angel still fast asleep in his arms, not even the sound of the crashing waves causing her to wake up. The Angel of Death cradled Monica in his arms and stroked her hair until just before the sun was ready to peak up over the ocean and he woke her with tender, loving kisses on her face, just in time to watch the sun rise.

As the sky exploded in hues of yellow, orange, lavender and red, the tears trickled down the Irish angel's face as she whispered, "Only you make all my dreams come true, Andrew."

"And I'll spend the rest of my existence doing just that, Angel." He whispered in return as he kissed away her tears. They watched the rest of God's miracle in comfortable silence and once the sun had risen in the sky, Andrew looked down into her tired, but nonetheless beautiful chestnut eyes before he kissed her tenderly on the lips, "Come. It's time to go inside, Angel as you need to sleep a bit longer."

Though happy, Monica was too weary to argue, not that she would have anyway, and she allowed him to pull her to her feet and guide her back up the beach to the small but cosy little house they sometimes occupied. Andrew noted how she leaned into him heavily, her little body simply worn out from weeks of sadness and pain. He was still deeply worried about her, but his concern was interrupted when Monica wrapped both of her arms around his waist as they walked and gave him a loving squeeze.

"I love you," She murmured, gazing up at him, "I never want you to forget how much."

"Never, baby." He replied, stopping long enough to tilt her chin with his fingertips to kiss her once more, "And I love you."

Andrew waited outside of her door for her to change into a warm nightgown, before he knocked softly and came into her bedroom once she had bid him enter. He smiled as he watched her open the sliding glass door, leaving only the screen in place.

"I want to hear the ocean while I'm falling asleep," Monica grinned sleepily before she slipped into bed. A tiny sigh escaped her at the feeling of the comfortable bed and soft, warm sheets as she remembered all too well the horrible hard cot and single blanket from the prison. Just as she started to close her eyes, they suddenly snapped open and looked at Andrew, "You don't have to leave, do you?"

"No, baby," He assured her, "I've been told to stay right here with you."

"Then stay with me, please? While I sleep?"

Her hopeful expression went straight to his heart, "Nowhere else I'd want to be, Monica."

She waited until he had settled in beside of her before she abandoned her pillow for his chest, the soothing sound of his heartbeat beneath her ear lulling her into a deep sleep, knowing she was safe in the arms of the angel she loved the most.

X

Three days later, the Irish angel was slowly coming back to herself, though she was still dealing with some residual emotions. The nightmares still plagued her sleep, though the dreams of Sheila coming after her had finally faded away. Her worst dreams involved being trapped in a place that grew smaller each moment and Andrew had woken up to her screaming the previous night.

But this morning, Monica was smiling as she hurried up the sidewalk and then turned and walked up the path to the small house. The sun was shining brightly and the fall day was unseasonably warm and perfect. Her small hand made a fist as she knocked on the front door and waited impatiently and hopefully for an answer.

"Monica!" Abby cried out as she opened the door and immediately moved to hug the angel, "I didn't think I'd see you again!"

The angel grinned, "Usually you wouldn't have, now that you have been proven innocent."

"I am so thankful to you and Andrew, for getting me out of that horrible place," The woman's eyes took on a haunted look that Monica knew at times matched the look in her own chestnut eyes.

"God did it, Abby, so you can thank Him. He just sent Andrew and I to help."

"Yes, but I'm still sorry you had to go through that whole experience as well."

Monica thought about her words for a moment before answering, "Well, I'm not sure I'll ever be grateful for the experience, but I was very blessed to have Andrew with me, and I certainly wasn't sorry to be helping you."

"I'm just so glad to be out of there."

"Are you all settled in?"

Abby nodded her head slowly, but sadness was reflected in her eyes, "I just...I'm not having much luck finding Corey. I called Social Services, but there is all this red tape and he's apparently been moved around a few times. It could be awhile before I see him again...if I see him again."

Reaching out, Monica grabbed hold of Abby's hand, "Well you know, God has an uncanny ability to work miracles, as Andrew recently reminded me."

"I hope so, Monica," the human whispered, blinking back tears and trying to smile, "Where is Andrew, anyway?"

"Oh, he's coming." Turning around, she called out his name in her Irish lilt.

Abby watched as the tall, blonde angel appeared from around the corner of the house, but her hands immediately flew to her mouth as tears sprang to her eyes and began to course down her cheeks. There, held in the angel's arms, was her precious son.

"Corey!" The word was a sob as Andrew tenderly deposited the little boy in his mother's arms and watched how the pair clung to each other.

"God not only has a way with miracles, Abby," Monica smiled tearfully, "But He has a way with red tape too."

Soon after the joyful reunion, the two angels walked hand in hand away from Abby's home, both content with the completed assignment. Though still holding much concern for Monica in his heart, Andrew could also feel apprehension there as well and knew it was coming from her.

"Angel?"

Looking up at him, she managed a smile, "I guess we are soon going to be reassigned," She stated sadly, knowing that they could easily be assigned apart, and that was what she was most dreading.

Andrew stopped walking as knowledge filled his heart and a slow smile spread across his face, even as his heartbeat accelerated. Looking down at Monica's adorably confused expression, he cupped her cheek in his hand, "No assignments yet, baby. The Father has something else in mind."

"Andrew-."

A finger against her lips cut off her barrage of questions, "Come with me, Angel."

x

To be continued