CHAPTER 44

Tonight's guest

For the next week, Andrew's senses were on high alert no matter where he went. He had volunteered for duty at Ground Zero and though the work was hard and heart wrenching, it also allowed him to work all day shift until it was someone else's job for his fire company to take their turn. This way he was home with Monica every evening, taking care of her and watching as little by little a sense of peace began to show in her eyes once more. He only wished that he could feel it himself more often.

Tess' appearance to his wife had him very unsettled, though he went to great lengths not to let Monica know his concerns. So far she had not given him any grief about his coddling her, which was good as he could hardly contain himself. When he wasn't worrying about Tess, his heart was soaring at the knowledge that a baby made from their love was growing in Monica's womb, and he took every opportunity to care for them both. She was barely even showing yet, just the tiniest bump that only one who knew her so intimately would notice, but he was laying his hand against her tummy in disbelief several times every evening.

"Andrew," Monica giggled, the sound that was finally becoming more frequent like music to his ears, "I'm beginning to wonder if you really believe she is in there."

"Oh, I know she is in there, Angel. I can feel her right here," His hand spanned out over the small bulge on his wife's belly. Lifting her sweater with his other hand, he kissed the bump tenderly, "You know, she might be a boy."

"Yes, but we both keep saying 'she'," Monica pointed out, curling her fingers into his short blonde hair as she gazed at him affectionately.

"Yes we do," He got up from where he was kneeling on the sofa to sit down beside of her, tugging her into his arms, "And I can already tell she is going to be every bit as gorgeous as her mama." Andrew grinned as the color rose in her cheeks.

"You can't tell that..." She murmured shyly.

"I can!" Andrew insisted as he lifted her sweater once more, "This is the most beautiful baby bump I have ever laid eyes on and I have seen lots of pregnant women over the last few hundred years."

"Hmm, well, I hope you didn't lift the sweaters on all of them to compare," The little angel tilted her head back to raise an eyebrow at him, causing him to let out a bark of laughter.

"Not a chance, baby. I never had eyes for anyone until the moment I met you."

"Good," She replied as she snuggled back into his arms, causing him again to laugh softly.

"You are absolutely precious, Monica," Kissing the side of her head, he then rested his chin against the crown, "What do you think about going away for the weekend? We can even take Bear with us," Hearing his name the puppy's tail thumped against the floor causing them both to grin.

"I think that would be perfect, but what's the occasion?"

"Do I need an occasion to spend a romantic weekend with my wife?" Andrew teased gently.

"Never."

But their playful banter was interrupted as they both instantly sensed another presence in the room with them. Though they were no longer angels, some things were ingrained so deeply into them that there was no room to question.

"Tess..." Monica murmured, subconsciously pressing herself deeper into her husband's embrace.

Though he never released his hold on Monica, Andrew sat up a little bit straighter as his previously light hearted expression hardened as he came face to face with the angel who had banished them to earth close to two years ago. He didn't waste any time mincing any words with her either.

"What do you want?" His voice came out harsher than he intended, but the feeling of his wife trembling in his arms was quickly integrated with his memories of the words Tess had spoken to her on that horrible day; words the little angel had taken to heart and had cried over on more than one occasion. No, he had no need to be nice right now.

"Hello Andrew. Monica," The older angel's heart broke at the barely restrained anger on Andrew's face as well as the fear in Monica's dark, expressive eyes, "I was hoping we could talk."

He wanted to refuse her. He wanted to tell her to get out of his home, yet he knew that wasn't the right thing to do despite how good it might feel in the moment. Yet he couldn't bring himself to be warm, "Fine. Talk."

"May I sit?"

"Suit yourself."

"Andrew," Monica's voice was soft as she rested her hand over top of his. She was terribly nervous about this encounter and she more than understood her husband's barely restrained hostility, but at the same time it was really not in his nature.

Drawing in a deep breath, the blonde angel willed himself to calm down a little bit, "Please Tess, have a seat."

Though his tone was far from inviting, Tess sat down in the chair across from them and wiped her palms against her legs nervously, "I owe you both an apology. I tried to have this conversation with you, Monica, a few weeks ago but my timing was bad. You were going through a terrible time and I wasn't sensitive to that."

"It looked more like you appeared when you had what you wanted," Monica replied quietly. Despite everything, she loathed to hurt her former supervisor and friend, yet she wanted to be honest, "You made it very clear you didn't want Andrew and I together...and he was missing," Her voice trembled slightly and tears threatened at the mere mention of those horrible days.

"Baby, that wasn't the first time I was around you both; it was just the first time I actually appeared to you. I've been around from time to time, checking on you both, trying to understand how you could choose to be down here living as humans."

"Because it was the only way we could be together," Andrew snapped hotly, "You made that abundantly clear, Tess, if I recall." He could feel Monica squeezing his hand in an effort to calm him and the last thing he wanted to do was to upset her more, yet all the anger he had been harbouring in his heart since that day seemed intent on escaping.

"You're right, Andrew, I did," The older angel replied sadly, "And I didn't bother asking the Father's opinion or anyone's actually. I was so taken back by what had occurred between the two of you and I was so afraid of what could happen to the two of you because of this newfound love between you, that I reacted terribly. "

"It's all right, Tess," Monica stated earnestly, but was silenced when Andrew untangled himself from her and rose to his feet.

Turning to Monica, he first rested his hand against her cheek, "Baby, I know your beautiful heart only wants to forgive and forget, but I can't do that yet. I'm sorry," His eyes were sad though he could see the trace of understanding in her eyes.

Turning back to Tess, his eyes hardened once more, "I need to be honest here, Tess, before I can move forward," Seeing her nod her head, he continued, "I can understand and respect that the things Monica and I felt for each other took you by surprise. I get that. I can even understand you being angry about it, though some understanding for the fact that we were confused would have been much more helpful. But what I struggle with; what I have continually struggled with were the horrible, cruel words you said to Monica that day. You blamed her. You told her this was her fault. You made her not only feel guilty for what she felt, but you made her feel as if she had caused my downfall as well. You had to know how terribly those words would hurt her yet you used them anyway," He drew in a deep breath, knowing without having to look that Monica would have tears on her cheeks from these memories, "I could not have cared less what you said about me, but the pain you caused her that day is the reason I am so deeply angry."

Tears filled her own eyes as she looked at Andrew, so clearly seeing the fierce protection he felt for the little angel. It was a testimony to their love; he should have been furious about being sent to earth, but no. His anger stemmed from the pain she had inflicted on one he loved so dearly. Tess' eyes then travelled to Monica, who was struggling to hold back sobs, even as tears trickled down her cheeks. It was obvious that Andrew's words and her presence had brought it all back to the surface, "Baby? Say what's on your mind."

A small sob escaped her, causing Andrew to sit back down beside of her to take her hand firmly into both of his, a calming presence as Monica managed to speak past the emotion in her throat, "Tess...you know I've forgiven you...you know that. It's who I am, but..." Her nervous eyes met with those of her husband and she relaxed a fraction at seeing the tenderness in his gaze. It made her heart ache with love for him all over again, "But I never would have done anything to intentionally disappoint you...and I never would have done anything to hurt Andrew...ever."

"I know that now, Angel Girl and in all honesty, I've always known that, because, as you said, it's not who you are."

"Yet how quickly you forgot who she was," Andrew interjected bitterly, "How quickly you forgot who we both were and quickly you elected to punish us as if we were children. All we wanted to do was to talk to you and you say you are sorry yet it has taken you almost two years to come to talk to us. You do however admit to sneaking around to spy on us..."

"I missed you both, Andrew, I wasn't spying on you."

"What I'm saying is that you could have started making this right a long time ago, but you didn't," His worried green eyes moved to his wife, whose head was down and he was sure she was trying to hide tears. He could feel how conflicted she was; she loved Tess, but had been so deeply hurt by her. It had taken Monica so long to adjust to their new situation and now she was frightened all over again, "I need time, Tess, and Monica and I need some time to talk."

The older angel nodded her head sadly, "I understand, Andrew and I would not have expected any less." She stood to go but a pointed look by the blonde angel stopped her.

"I need to know where this is going, Tess. What did the Father say about us? We're married now and I don't plan on giving that up for anything."

"And you're not being asked to. Had I bothered to ask the Father what he wanted from the start, I would have known that the only way your hearts could turn to each other was through him. But I didn't ask," Tess drew in a deep breath and met Andrew's gaze with as much bravery as she could. Generally, she would not tolerate any attitude from any other angel, but she understood how deserving she was of his anger and it was obvious his protective instincts were on high alert. It also broke her heart how quiet her Angel Girl had been through the entire conversation, "I was with you, Monica, when you and your friend, Ella found out you were expecting and baby, that news brought me to my knees. A gift like that could only come from God and here you were getting the best news while going through such a terrible time and I just wanted to go to you, but I couldn't yet. I had to go to the Father first and beg his forgiveness for treating you both as I had."

There were tears streaming from the older angel's eyes and Andrew felt his heart softening a tiny bit, but he still didn't have an answer to his question. Not really. "And what did he say? About Monica and I? About the baby?"

"You have to stay here, until the baby is born, of course. At least, Monica would have to and the Father and I both know you need to be with her. But once the baby is born, you two are free to come Home, where you have always belonged...just like you have always belonged together."

Monica raised her tear streaked face, "Home? We can come Home?"

"Yes, baby," Tess whispered, "You and Andrew can come Home."

Those words were all it took for the young Irish angel to break down into soft sobs as she buried her face in her hands.

"Oh Angel Girl..."

Andrew held up his hand to stop Tess from speaking further but this time he chose his words carefully, "Thank you, for telling us this. It means more than you know. And please don't misunderstand, but I think you should go for now so we can talk. We're going away for the weekend, so why don't you plan on coming by one night next week?"

For the first time, Tess felt a glimmer of hope at his words, "I'd like that, Andrew."

Once the older angel had vanished from the room, Andrew turned all of his attention to his beloved wife, as he sat down beside of her and tugged her into his arms, "It's okay, baby," He soothed, as he pillowed her against his chest.

"Oh Andrew...we can go Home...I'm so happy, but...so sad too," She wept up against him, small shuddering sobs that she struggled to gain control of, "Our friends...Ella and Mark...and Carolyn and Peter...my students...I'll miss them all so much...and Bear," She pulled away, fear and panic in her dark eyes, "Andrew, what about Bear? We have to be able to take him with us...we have to!"

"Shhh...Angel, it's all right," He rested a warm, reassuring hand against her cheek, "Please calm down, sweetheart. This can't be good for you or the baby. We'll work it all out; I promise."

Monica gave a sharp nod of her head as she forced herself to calm. Laying her head back against his chest, she listened to the soothing beat of his heart, and focused on the feeling of his arms around her, of the way he stroked her hair and kissed the top of her head. This was the safest place she had ever known and with that knowledge she allowed herself to think about going Home.

"You know," She began softly after several minutes had passed, "When we first came down here to live, all I wanted was to be told we could stay together but still return Home. For months I could barely think of anything else. But then something happened. I realized what I had always known; that my home was wherever you were...and where the Father was, and He is everywhere, so this little apartment, this incredibly busy and sometimes frightening city, became my home, because I shared it with you." Monica allowed a small smile to creep across her face, "And though I missed our friends, God gave us new friends to share the journey with and I have grown to love them, so though when we first got here, I felt torn between two worlds, now, at the other end of the journey, I actually feel the exact same way."

"So do I, Monica," Andrew responded slowly, trying to decipher exactly where she was going with her thought process. For as well as he thought he knew her, there were times she kept him guessing and he hoped that never changed, "So are you saying..."

"Oh no, after the baby is born, we need to go Home. We're angels and it's where we belong and I've missed doing the Father's work...well, in an angelic capacity anyway."

"Baby, every soul you have helped down here has been in an angelic capacity, even if it was unofficial," He kissed her forehead lovingly.

Raising her head, Monica met his gaze with her own red-rimmed eyes, "I love you," She murmured shyly.

Unable to resist, Andrew leaned forward enough to capture her lips with hers in a sweet kiss, "and I, you." He replied once their lips had parted.

Sighing softly, she gazed at him imploringly, "How am I going to say goodbye to Ella? And the other teachers and children? I know I have said goodbye to many assignments I loved but I have never been on assignment as long as this before."

"We have seven months yet, baby. We'll have plenty of time to tell most of them what we really are."

"It will be nice for Ella to finally understand. I never told you but the night before our wedding, she asked me first if we were married to other people and then if we were related." His laugh caused her to giggle, "I couldn't tell her what really happened." Her smile faded as she steadily met his eyes, "And what about you and Tess?"

Drawing in a deep breath, Andrew shook his head, "I don't think I'm ready to talk about that."

"But maybe you should."

"Monica, just don't, okay?"

The sharpness of his voice startled her, and hurt flickered in her eyes for a brief second, which was all the longer it took for Andrew to realize what he had said and how.

"I'm sorry, baby..." He began, his face showing his regret as he lowered his eyes with a sigh.

"Andrew, I understand," Laying a hand against his strong jaw, she waited until he looked up once more, "If I have learned nothing else while we've been down here, it is that when it comes to me, you're very protective; you always have been and only you really know how much Tess hurt me, how much she hurt us. Please don't think I will be upset with you if it takes you some time," She moved her hand to lay her palm against his heart, "But the other thing I know is that your heart will not allow you to not forgive her. In her own way, she was probably just as confused as we were; she just didn't handle it well."

"No, she didn't," Andrew replied, but his voice was more level now as he considered his wife's words, "I just need some time, Angel, before I talk to her again."

"I understand," She repeated, before smiling at him, "And you have plenty of time because I think you were talking about a romantic weekend..."

"Why, I do believe you're correct," The tension faded from his body as he took the little angel back into his arms. Andrew was certain that no matter what else was going on in his world, that no matter how bad things could seem in the moment or how confused he might feel, as long as he had Monica in his arms, all was truly right in his world, "And I plan on spoiling you all weekend."

"Andrew, how is that different from any other day?" She giggled, "You spoil me all the time."

"Nothing less than you deserve, baby," Taking her face into his hands, he touched his lips lightly to hers and smiled at the contented sigh that escaped her.