Holly of hollies - by Deyse

After leaving the cave inside Mount Nebo, the angels returned to their human form and had to go back to the hotel they were staying at, in Jerusalem. Monica, Andrew and Gloria would go back to the USA together with Professor Thomas North and only then their assignment would be complete and they could go Home.

But right now there was one little angel who required some special care: Monica had many wounds in her arms and face due to the dangerous adventure inside the caves of Mount Nebo but, fortunately, she also had a wonderful friend by her side and he would be the one to take care of her.

“When I saw you 3 entering through that cave I felt like leaving all that equipment behind and going after you...” Andrew spoke, carefully cleaning Monica’s temple with a piece of cotton embedded in alcohol. She was sitting on her bed, leaning against many pillows that her dearest friend had placed there, and resting her hands on her lap while he continued to do his work.

“Well... I have to confess that I myself was a wee bit scared, you know... I spent years in Search and Rescue but I had never been inside a dark cave before...”

Andrew was sitting on the edge of the bed and frowned with concern. “I know... I could feel your fear inside my own heart, angel...”

Noticing his sudden sadness, the little Irish angel reached out and took one of his hands. “But I also knew that the Father was with us all... I knew He was keeping an eye on me... for you!” the cheerful expression on her face and the way she winked at him were enough to melt his heart and a tiny smile appeared on his handsome face. 

“I’m always grateful for that, you know?” he took her hands to his lips. “But still... I’m sorry that you got hurt...”

“Oh, you shouldn’t! I even got me own ‘angel doctor’ to take care of these wee scratches! What else could I ask for?”

Now the blond angel couldn’t keep a straight face any longer and let out a small laugh. Then, he carefully stroked her cheek, “Oh Monica... my angel girl... You’re so precious to me...”

“You’re very precious to me too, Andrew. You’re my special valentine!” She watched with amusement as he blushed deeply and she too felt the colour rising on her cheeks.

“Am I?” he spoke, also smiling and with his eyes locked with hers.

“Of course you are! My one and only valentine!”

Chuckling, Andrew inched closer to her and placed his hands on each side of her face. Then, he studied each little detail on her delicate features and finally bent his head to place a gently kiss on her forehead. With infinite care and tenderness, the blond angel now kissed the tip of her nose and finally, after they had spent a few seconds contemplating each other’s eyes, Andrew slowly bent his head again and pressed his lips onto Monica’s, in a loving, tender kiss.

That sweet and tender kiss was soon transformed into lots of tiny ones, as, always carefully, he kissed her cheeks, her forehead and, once again, her lips. Then, he took her both hands and, after kissing them, he spoke again, “Well, then thank you, my sweet little angel...”

The look in his sparkling green eyes was so tender and full of love that now it was her heart that seemed to skip a beat.

But, a few moments later, her face turned serious and she frowned a little. And the blond angel didn’t miss this sudden change, “Angel?”

“Well... In fact... I... I guess I have something else to ask you, Andrew...”

“What is it?” his immediate concern was an evidence of how much he worried and cared about that little angel. “Are you in any pain? What hurts, Monica? I can...”

“Oh no, I’m not in pain... I mean, the scratches hurt a little but it’s nothing serious, Andrew...” she quickly put his heart at ease. “In fact, I wanted to ask if you could stay here with me tonight. I... I didn’t like to stay locked in that dark cave for such a long time... I’m afraid I’ll have nightmares since I’m in human form...”

A lot more relieved, he sighed and squeezed her hand, “Oh angel, of course I can!”

A sweet smile reappeared on her face, “Really?”

“You thought I would say no?” he frowned, with surprise.

“No... I mean, don’t you have any assignment?”

“Well, in fact I have one assignment! It’s a certain little angel girl I have to take care of, you know. She is the most beautiful little angel I’ve ever seen and has the kindest and most loving heart I know...”

“Oh Andrew... Thank you! Thank you so much...” making an extra effort, she wrapped her arms around his neck and gave him a warm hug. And, before pulling away, the Irish angel brushed a kiss on his cheek.

Smiling at her, Andrew put some strands of hair behind her ears, “Did you think you would get rid of me that easily? Besides, Tess gave me clear instructions to watch over you all the time – not that she needed to ask me that!”

Giggling, Monica nodded her head, “You see? I got me own angel doctor and he knows exactly how to take good care of me!”

“Yes... and that’s what I’ll be doing during the next thousands of years... and even during the ones after those!”

“I love you!”

“I love you, too, angel. Forever!”

He finished to treat her wounds and kept the first aid material on a small table across the bed. Then, he removed his shoes and turned off the lights, with the exception of the little lamp on the bedside table. Monica made room for him on her bed and the blond angel lay down next to his dearest friend. He  waited her to inch closer to him, until her head was resting on his chest.

With infinite tenderness and extreme care, Andrew threw a warm quilt over both of them and wrapped his arm around her small shoulders, placing a loving kiss on her hurt temple. “That’s to help you to heal faster...” he joked, whispering to her in a low voice and enjoying to hear her giggling.

“Ah... so that’s the secret ingredient?” she replied, with a tiny smile still playing on her lips despite her sleepy eyes that were about to close.

“Well... yes, you can say so!” Andrew took her hand and kissed its back, “Now sleep, my little angel. I’ll be here all the time to assure that you’ll only have good dreams!”

The Irish angel raised her head and gazed at him one last time before her eyes shut, “Having you here is already a wonderful dream, Andrew. I love you...”

He couldn’t resist and bent his head to brush his lips against hers once again, in a sweet goodnight kiss, “I love you too... Forever...”

Monica returned her head to his chest and, lulled by the lazy movements of his fingers running through her auburn hair and also listening to his heartbeats, she quickly fell into a deep sleep.

The end.