Chapter 1

As Monica starred into those green eyes she knew so well, the realization hit her that this was not a dream.  He was real and he was here with her for the first time in so very long, and she didn't waste another moment in throwing her arms around him with a cry of joy.

Tears falling from his own eyes, Andrew enveloped her in his strong arms, holding her as tightly as he dared,

“Oh, how I’ve missed you,” He uttered, his hand stroking her long, auburn hair as he kissed the top of her head,

“Are you okay?  You’re not hurt, are you?” Concern filled his eyes as he pulled away enough to look into her face.

“No, no. I’m fine,” She replied, looking at him, trying to see if anything about him had changed, but nothing had.  He was still Andrew, her best friend,

“I’ve missed you so much,” Monica said softly, a smile playing on her lips,

 “I was just thinking about you and Tess, not even five minutes ago and now, here you are!”

It's that why you weren’t watching where you were going?” He scolded gently, not angry, but just concerned with what had been on his friend’s mind that had caused her to walk out into the street in front of that truck,

“You could have been hit, sweetheart,” He added softly, hugging her tightly once more, before he got to his feet and then helped her up.

“I know, I’m sorry.  I was…preoccupied I guess,” She reached for his hand and squeezed it tightly in her own,

“Do you have to go?  Can you stay and talk?”

 Andrew appeared thoughtful for a moment, wanting more than anything to stay,

“I have at least a few minutes.  C’mon, I’ll buy you a cup of coffee and we’ll talk until I get a call that someone needs me,” He wrapped his arm around her shoulders protectively as they walked back inside of the coffee shop that Monica had walked out of, only minutes ago.

She smiled to herself as she thought about how dreary this place had been five minutes ago, but it no longer looked like that, not now that one of her dearest friends was with her.  She pushed aside the misery of before, only wanting to enjoy these few precious minutes she had with Andrew.

He ordered their coffee and when the waitress brought the two steaming cups, he reached for her hand,

 “How have things been going, Angel Girl?  I’ve wondered so often how you were doing in your new role, even though I knew you’d be wonderful at supervising, it isn’t the same as hearing it from you.”

Monica smiled, knowing she couldn’t tell him the truth of the matter.  She didn’t want him to worry about her and besides, everything she had been thinking might just be in her imagination,

“I love it,” She replied, her eyes meeting his steadily,

“Denise is wonderful.  She’s on assignment right now and I’m just backup, so the Father will let me know when I’m needed.  She’s made wonderful progress, Andrew.” She felt a stab of guilt for not being honest, but how could she burden him when he was only here for a matter of minutes, before someone needed his help?

“And you?  Are you happier in Search and Rescue?”

“Well, it is nice when your assignments don’t die on you,” He replied smiling,

“Don’t get me wrong, it was always good to take humans home and to see the smiles on their faces when they saw God, but when they made the other choice…well… lets just say that in Search and Rescue, that is no longer an issue.  One quick moment and their lives are saved and they go home to their loved ones,” Andrew’s mind clouded, thinking once again of the narrow escape Monica just had with the truck,

“What was on your mind out there, Monica?  That wasn’t like you, to just wander out in the street like that.” Something about her just wasn’t sitting well with him, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it.

“I told you, my friend, I was just having one of my many moments of missing you and Tess.  Speaking of, have you seen her at all?  I’ve been so busy, I haven’t even had a chance to stop by and see the choir.”

Andrew didn’t miss the fact that his friend seemed more than anxious to change the subject, but he went along with her,

“Once.  I stopped by on a day off and Tess was having a great time.  The choir sounded great, but it wouldn’t sound any other way with Tess directing them.”

Monica laughed softly,

“No, Tess is very, very good with direction.  I’ve missed that about her.”

Andrew cleared his throat uncomfortably as he reached for her other hand and held them both tightly,

“Monica, I know a lot of time has passed, but not a day has gone by that I haven’t thought about you and Tess.  I just want to make sure you know that if there is anything you need, from me, or to talk about, that you can.  You know that, right?”

The Irish angel lowered her eyes for a moment, unsure of how to answer him.  What answer could she possibly give that would satisfy him?