Chapter 3

        The weather was still perfect looking by the time Andrew led Monica

        outside, a friendly arm wrapped tightly around her shoulders. A serious

        expression was displayed on the angel's handsome features as he led his

        friend over to a nearby fancy-looking bench and sat down with Monica

        still at his side. Gently releasing his hold on his friend, the Angel of

        Death gazed at the Irish angel beside him and reached for her hand,

        giving it a friendly squeeze.

        Looking back into her best friend's gentle, green eyes, Monica returned

        the squeeze as her stomach turned, the same worriness she had felt about

        an hour ago when Andrew had told her and Tess that he had an announcement

        to make later that night...was that "later that night" now??

        I guess all I can do right now is wait, the angel reminded herself,

        gripping her friend's hand tighter. If he's going to tell me now...I'll

        have to be ready. I'm sure we'll all be okay...

        "Monica?" Andrew began quietly, looking intensely into the angel's dark

        brown eyes, watching them sparkle,

        "Honey, I brought you here for a reason...I wanted to talk to you about

        something important...Well..." he paused, glancing quickly up at the

        blue, cloudless sky,

        "Two things, actually...I'll be repeating one of the things I'm going to

        tell you to everybody later tonight, but...I have to tell you first. Even

        before I tell Tess..."

        Watching and listening to her dear friend's words and facial expressions,

        Monica tilted her head and opened her mouth.

        "What do you need to tell me, Andrew?" she gently questioned, her

        curiosity growing by the second and her heart pounding in her ears.

        Without bothering to say another word, Andrew kept his green eyes on

        Monica as he reached out and wrapped her up in his strong arms, holding

        her as tightly as he could. Softly rocking her back and forth, the young

        Angel of Death ever so softly stroked the head of curly, auburn hair his

        face was buried into.

        This would probably be one of the last moments he would ever have alone

        with his friend...and he wanted to make it last...

        "Andrew?" Monica whispered in his ear, tightly clutching her friend's

        waist even tighter.

        "Monica...I want you to hear this," Andrew began, still holding the angel

        lovingly,

        "You have to hear this..." Gulping, the angel felt a few tears fill his

        friendly, green eyes as he forced his words out,

        "Sweetheart, I want you to know how much I care about you and love you,"

        he continued quietly into her right ear,

        "You've been the best friend an angel could ever ask for...you've never

        given up on me over these past years when I was lost and hurting at

        times. I thank you so much for that...I know you'll make an excellent

        supervisor, Monica, and the angel that you'll be in charge of will be

        very lucky to have you for a teacher...I'm sure of it..."

        "Oh, Andrew," Monica emotionally choked out, fighting back touching

        tears, but found it not possible,

        "You know how much I love you and care for you, too, my friend. You'll

        always be my friend and you'll always have my love, no matter what."

        Gently rocking her best friend in her arms, the angel rested her head on

        his shoulder, wanting to hold him for a long time.

        Softly sighing, Andrew braced himself as he rested his chin on the top of

        her head, knowing that he had to tell her now the announcement that he

        would tell the rest of his friends and fellow angels in the next couple

        of hours...

        "Monica...what I need to tell you now...please always remember and know

        in your heart how much your friendship has meant to me over the years.

        And still will as the years pass...please remember it, Monica..." the

        pleading Angel of Death uttered tearfully as he only tightened his arms

        around his pretty friend.

        Already feeling like she was going to burst and start sobbing

        uncontrollably at her friend's gentle words, Monica managed to get a hold

        of herself and nodded.

        "I'll always remember, my friend," she softly answered, the tears already

        falling as she gripped her friend as tightly as she dared,

        "I've always known it and I'll continue to know it, no matter what. I

        promise, Andrew..."

        Reluctantly releasing his friend slowly, Andrew removed himself from the

        embrace and immediately grabbed hold of the Irish angel's soft, warm

        hands, the tears noticeable on his cheeks.

        "Monica...sweetie...I've been transferred, too. The same day the Father

        told Tess and I about your promotion to supervisor, He gave me the news.

        After tonight...I'll no longer be an Angel of Death. I asked Him a few

        weeks ago if I could be moved to Search and Rescue, and...yesterday, He

        agreed. But...Monica...after this night...I'll no longer be working with

        you and Tess. I'll be working with a different supervisor...I couldn't

        take working as an Angel of Death any more, so...I-I don't know when I'll

        be seeing you and Tess any more..."