PART 3

The couple of angels was now sitting next to each other on a booth at a nearby café. The waitress brought them two large mugs, one containing mocha with extra cream and another, hot chocolate. Monica wasted no time in taking the first sip of her favourite drink.

"It's perfect. The way I like it!" she exclaimed, and Andrew couldn't seem to take his eyes from her, the delight on her face always filling his heart with much joy, "You should try chocolate some day, Monica, it also tastes great!" he spoke, visibly teasing her.

"Well, let's make an agreement then: next time, I drink chocolate, you drink coffee!" she winked at him mischievously, and took another sip, watching with amusement as he playfully rolled his eyes.

"You said you have a charge..." he resumed the conversation started at the beach, with visible and genuine interest in knowing everything she had done during the time they'd been away.

"Yes, she came to me some days after... after we went on separate ways." There was a hint of sadness in her eyes when she remembered that day.

But Andrew was quick to send it away, "And what is it like to be a supervisor?"

"Well... it's wonderful, Andrew. But I don't really feel like a supervisor, you know... I feel more like a friend to Clarice. A friend who's ready to help her and guide her footsteps..."

He smiled and took her hand, "And wasn't it the same thing Tess was to you?"

"Y-yes... Yes, you're right," she recognised, only now realising that fact. She looked at their conjoined hands and added, "And so were you... There hasn't been a single day I didn't think about you two..."

"The same goes to me, baby... I miss the old days I worked together with you, as a caseworker and not as an angel of death. After you left, I became an exclusively angel of death."

"And don't you like it?" she stared at him with some worry, as he became serious again.

"Oh, yes, I do. I like it a lot. In fact... I've been requested to become a supervisor too..."

Monica's mouth dropped open and a broad smile appeared on her surprised face, "Oh Andrew! This is wonderful!" she squeezed his hand. Now it was Andrew who looked at her fingers laced with his and also smiled, "When I first knew about it I wanted so much to tell you... And I thought I'd never have the chance..."

"I guess our days off weren't mere coincidence, right?"

"Well, considering that there isn't such thing as a coincidence..."

Happy to hear that everything seemed to be going just fine for Andrew, Monica gazed at him with admiration and great affection. "You'll be a wonderful supervisor, Andrew. I'm sure you will! You have always been warm, comforting and peaceful and at the same time, such a wise and compassionate friend."

As she spoke, their eyes met in a loving gaze, which both of them couldn't (and didn't want to) avoid. He let go of her hand and raised his own to gently stroke her cheek, "So these are the qualities a supervisor needs, huh? Well, then I believe you, cause you are all of those things!"

They didn't even see it when the waitress came closer to their table, "Excuse me, would you like more coffee?" she said, interrupting their conversation.

x

As the night fell, a cool and gentle breeze started to blow from the sea to the coast. It was a spring day and now the sky was covered with bright stars and a beautiful full moon. Monica had wrapped her arms around his own and both angels started a slow walk along the sand, enjoying the pleasant atmosphere and, most importantly, enjoying each other's company. Since the moment they had met, a couple of hours earlier, they had been chatting non-stop, talking about every single detail of every single assignment they had worked on. The joy brought by that reunion was undeniable, leaving them to wonder the last time they had been so happy.

But being in human form had some drawbacks too. Early in the evening, they stopped by a small supermarket and bought some food, and then headed to the beach house, where they would shelter until the next morning, when different assignments would sadly part them away again.

But they elected not to think about it for a while. They were together again and that fact alone was enough to fill their hearts with happiness for the next hours. Nothing could spoil that moment.

"I'll cook a special dinner to celebrate this occasion!" he said, as they entered the small cosy house, placing the bags on the big table in the kitchen.

"Yes! And I'll help you to prepare it!"

Although he didn't have the intention, he couldn't help staring at her with eyebrows raised and a rather questioning look. And Monica didn't miss the uncertainty in his eyes, which he tried by all means to hide from her. She placed her hands on her hips, facing him indignantly. "For your information, I've been practising a lot!"

"I didn't say a word!" he replied, finding her annoyance adorable.

"But I know what you're thinking!"

Chuckling, he crossed his arms in front of his chest, "Oh really? So you can surely see that, at this exact moment, I'm thinking that I'll be in command of the kitchen and you'll be my charge!"

"Very well... And I will show you how much I've improved my abilities!"

x

That night Andrew prepared a delicious dinner and if Monica's culinary abilities had remained the same, her care to set and arrange the table and dinner utensils was impeccable. With a beautifully decorated dining room, Andrew served the food and they sat at the table, offering a prayer of thanks for meeting each other again.

Then, while they ate, they kept on talking for over an hour, when the blond angel finally reached across the table and took both Monica's hands, "Monica... this was the best day I've ever had in six months..." he spoke, looking at her with tenderness and pure love, and lacing his fingers with hers, "... and it's thanks to you, angel."

With an extra spark of happiness in her eyes, the Irish angel smiled cheerfully at him, "I can say exactly the same, Andrew... In all those months without seeing you I kept on wondering if you were alright, if you needed any help or just some company... And I also missed your reassurance... your comforting presence every time I was in doubt about what to do..."

A tear rolled down on her cheek but he was quick to brush it away. "No... no more tears, angel. Don't cry, please..." he stood up and pulled her by the hand, "Come with me..."

They left the room and headed to he porch. Andrew made her sit on the porch bench and sat right next to her, wrapping his arm around her small shoulders and bringing her closer to him. "These hours together are a gift, Monica. Let's enjoy it at the maximum, okay?"

Monica wrapped her arms around his waist and rested her head on his shoulder, "Yes... I'm sorry..."

"You don't have anything to be sorry about, baby." He gave her a light squeeze and kissed the top of her head, "I'm just so glad you're here with me..."

His sweet caresses and delicate touch caused her to suddenly feel butterflies in her stomach; a mix of joy and other different and unknown emotions to well up inside her heart. But this time she didn't question them. After so much time missing him terribly, her dearest friend was standing right next to her, holding her tightly, and she wouldn't question those new feelings that now took over her very soul. She just accepted them.

And with the angel of death it wasn't different: a pleasant sensation of happiness invaded his heart, giving even more strength to the great love that had already settled there a long time ago. Saying goodbye on the following day would be hard, and for some few seconds while they chatted, the thought of leaving her terrified him. How could he ever manage to let that precious little angel go away from him once again if one minute far from Monica had already become extremely painful?

"It seems the stars of the Orion galaxy are shining brighter this night..." Monica said, her soothing voice gently bringing him back to where they were, immediately causing his troubled heart and soul to ease.

She was looking at the sky, covered with lots of different spots that looked like small diamonds sparkling from above. But there were other views that enchanted him much more than that. "I see you didn't forget our class about galaxies!" he said, looking at her with a pleased smile.

Also with a beautiful smile, she met his gaze, "When you gave me your pocket watch you told me to remember all the good moments we spent together... I keep every single one right here..." she pointed at her heart.

The blond angel felt a lump in his throat hearing those words. As a matter of fact, he had kept his love for her as a secret. Andrew didn't know what her reaction would be, he didn't even know if he was supposed to feel like that, as it was totally new and unknown to angels. What if Monica didn't feel the same? What if he told her all that he felt and the little Irish angel ran away from him for good? Even if he had to spend centuries to come without revealing his feelings, Andrew wouldn't jeopardise their friendship and closeness. Things should remain the same.

"I'm happy to hear that you didn't forget, angel..." he took her hand and kissed her palm, "You know that the same goes to you, don't you? That every single day I think of you and wonder what you're doing, if you're alright..."

The Irish angel released his hand and touched his cheek, stroking it gently, "To be honest I guess I knew it but I was hoping that you said that... Just to make sure, you know..."

Andrew leaned over and brushed a loving kiss on her forehead and then tightened his hold on her, secretly wishing they could stay like that forever.

The two angels spent more time sitting on the porch, chatting initially, and later on contemplating the sky in a pleasant silence, until the moment Andrew realised that his dearest friend had fallen asleep. But he didn't make any attempt to wake her up. Much on the contrary: the blond angel took the opportunity to change the bright stars up in the sky for the image of Monica sound asleep in his arms. And the great love he carried inside his heart became more evident than never, as there was nobody there to witness his true feelings, which he had been fighting to hide for years.

Taking some strands of hair from her face and softly stroking her cheek with the back of his hand, he felt like - at least for some instants, she only belonged to him. "Angel... What a selfish creature I am..." his whispered voice broke the deep silence, and he kissed her temple.

Only some time later, did Andrew gather the Irish angel in his arms, always careful not to wake her up, and took her to inside the beach house. With slow light steps, he walked along the living room and the corridor, and then pushed her bedroom door, which had been left ajar. Then, the angel of death walked up to her bed and gently lay her down, covering her sleeping form with a blanket.

Then, he knelt on the floor by her bed and started to stroke her hair again; his bright green eyes focused on her beautiful face. "If you only knew how much I love you, Monica..."

Only many minutes later, he finally brushed a tender kiss on her cheek and quietly left the room.

x

Standing by the window, in the dark living room, Andrew stared at the sky with a mix of happiness and sorrow evident on his face. The time and distance he and Monica had been separated only made the love he felt for her grow stronger each and every minute. And if meeting his beloved friend on that day had filled his heart with so much joy; having to say goodbye to her again ached so deeply it brought tears to his eyes.

"Father... I'm such a sinner... I don't even dare to ask for Your forgiveness... Only for Your mercy... I can't control these feelings I've been carrying inside my heart. I can't keep them away as much as I try..."

A single tear made its way down his face, "And the truth is that I don't want to... I'd do anything for her... I'd do anything to have her love... even giving up my whole eternity..." He confessed, his voice nothing more than a whisper. "Father, if there's a way to make it possible, please, tell me... I don't care about the sacrifice I'd have to make... But... if this love is impossible; if it's forbidden because we're angels, I'll go away from her existence and never come back..." he stated, pain and sorrow breaking his heart as he lowered his head.

But then he looked up at the sky once again and added. "I'll keep it in my heart, though. For the centuries to come..."

X

To be continued