(by Deyse M.)

Tall pine trees and coloured flowers covered the mountains like a green carpet where cute small animals would build up their houses in the early spring. Gentle sunrays shone across those vast untouched lands where one could feel closer to God and offer their prayers of thanks for so much beauty and peace. A few soft white clouds crossed the blue sky, and once in a while, a flock of birds broke the silence of the woods. If Heaven had a mirror, it certainly was that blessed place.

There, hidden in between the trees, a cabin had been set by the hands of a loving Father. It was a cosy little house, which seemed taken from a fairytale with its red-bricks chimney and wooden walls. Beige curtains framed the small windows and a comfortable armchair had been set at the porch outside. At first, it seemed that no one inhabited it, but a closer look revealed that there was smoke coming out of the funnel. The fireplace had been lit up.

Inside the cabin, more exactly in the kitchen, a nineteenth-century kettle started to chime impatiently, warning that the water inside it would evaporate completely if nothing was done soon. And finally she burst into the kitchen with a worried expression on her beautiful face. Quickly, she grabbed a dish towel to remove the kettle from the stove, but such a hurry prevented her from seeing that the fire was still on. A second later the towel was in flames and the angel let out a yelp and let both fall on the floor.

A chubby black spaniel puppy came right behind her, barking at the mess her "mom" had just made.

"Oh, wee Joy, I'm afraid the flu is starting to affect my basic abilities..." Monica said, watching as the dish towel soon became nothing but some burnt rags. "I told Tess I should try some mocha instead of tea, but she didn't listen to me!"

As if agreeing, the little puppy barked once again and then sat down at a corner, observing as the Irish angel cleaned the floor. Monica was wearing a lilac robe over her flannel nightgown and a pair of socks to protect her feet. Her auburn hair was tied up in a haphazard ponytail and despite her meek Irish beauty, one could notice the exhaustion in her soft brown eyes. And the mere action of picking up the objects fallen on the floor caused her to be extremely tired. Sighing deeply, she leaned against the counter before resuming her task but it was then that a dear familiar voice reached her ears.

"Angel..."

Monica turned around with a broad smile on her face, all her annoyance disappeared completely at the image of her dearest friend standing right before her eyes.

"Andrew!"

A second later she was in his arms, her own arms wrapped around his waist, holding him as tightly as she could, treasuring the comfort and peace that blond haired angel could always bring to her heart.

Andrew tightened the embrace around her small form and kissed the top of her head, breathing in her sweet perfumed hair, tenderly caressing its auburn strands. Relief and cheer joy filled in his very soul after three painful weeks without seeing her, without having that precious little angel in his arms. The last time they met - in a beautiful green field in the country side, had been special. Their friendship had turned into a deeper and much loving bond, but since then, the two angels hadn't had the opportunity to meet, busy with different assignments in many parts of the world.

That moment was precious.

"Angel... I spent weeks wanting to hold you like this again..." he spoke, not wanting to let her go.

Monica closed her eyes for a moment, enjoying the feeling of being in his arms. "I missed you so much too... Of all the times we've been apart, I guess this was different... I guess I've never missed you so much..."

With a slight smile, he pulled away and gently cupped her face, studying carefully her every meek feature and not missing the effects of the flu. "I guess being apart from now on will be twice difficult for both of us. Yet, being reunited again will be twice wonderful."

Her smile back at him melted his heart, and he wondered if he really deserved the honour of having that sweet angel's love. Slowly, he bent his head and brushed a loving kiss on her forehead and a tiny kiss on the tip of her nose. All the exhaustion she had been feeling due to her condition was replaced by the joy of being with her dear Andrew.

He tucked some lose strands of hair behind her ear, "Now tell me, what's going on here? What's wrong with you, baby?"

She sighed deeply, her meek smile never fading. "I... I caught a flu, you know... And as Tess had to leave on a last-minute assignment, our wee Joy has been helping me out to prepare some tea..."

Amused, he looked first at the chubby little dog that had been patiently waiting to greet him properly, and then at the completely burnt dish towel over the counter. "Oh, I see..." he chuckled at her blushing face, "Would you two like some more help?"

Andrew entered the cosy living room carrying a tray containing two mugs of warm tea and some toasts. Like he had instructed, Monica had been sitting on the couch in front of the fireplace waiting for him to bring her snack, and little Joy was lying by the angel's feet. Andrew placed the tray on the coffee table and offered her one of the mugs, which she grabbed with both hands. The tea was warm and immediately made her feel better.

"Thank you," she spoke, once he sat down next to her. The blond angel reached out and stroked her face. "Angel... I wish I had arrived here earlier so I cold take better care of you."

"You're here now. This is what matters the most."

"And I do not intend to go away from you so soon."

Her smile grew wider as she heard that. "Really? Can you stay a wee bit longer then?"

"Really. I'm on my day off and I haven't been told where to go yet. Besides," he wrapped his arm around her small shoulders, bringing her closer to him, "I felt something was not totally right with you."

Always with a meek smile, and aware of his permanent concern, she snuggled closer to him. "Oh, no, something was definitely not right, as you were away from me!"

Also smiling, but with worry in his eyes, he kissed her temple lovingly. The two angels spent some time watching the flames dancing in the fireplace, just enjoying the fact that they were in each other's company. Monica felt more relaxed now that her beloved Andrew was there, holding her tightly and speaking loving words to her. As a matter of fact, she was feeling extremely tired, and gently refused the toasts and more tea. It didn't take her too long before dozing into a light sleep, lulled by the gentle movement of his fingers caressing her auburn hair. Overwhelmed with tenderness, he carefully moved and passed his arm beneath her knees, keep the other arm permanently wrapped around her shoulders.

Andrew lifted the asleep little angel and carried her upstairs, his heart breaking at the realisation that she had lost some weight. He even considered the possibility of taking her to a hospital if her human form didn't recover. Carefully, he lay her down in bed and covered her with a warm blanket. The angel of death felt her face with both hands and noticed she was running a low fever.

Sighing deeply, he lay down right next to her and once again wrapped his arm around her, his heart aching with love when she unconsciously inched closer, resting her head over his chest.

"I love you, angel... And I promise I'll stand by your side. Always. No matter what."

x

The blond angel spent the next following hours watching over his beloved angel, attentive to the slightest change on the expression of her face. He thought about Tess and the other angels once they were told about his relationship with Monica. Would they be condemned by their co-workers? If angels were not supposed to experience romantic love, then why did he feel like his happiness and maybe his existence depended on the fact that Monica was standing by his side and returning all his love?

As the night fell, he remained lost in thoughts and only a kitten-like yawn was able to take him out of his reverie.

"Hey... Hello, sleeping beauty..." he greeted, gently caressing her hair and amused with the confused look in her eyes.

"Andrew... how long did I sleep?"

He straightened his body so that he could face her better, and gently lay his hand against her cheek. "Well, long enough for the fever to break."

A slight smile played on her lips and she nodded her head, "You're right... I guess I'm starting to feel better after all. Your presence was a good medicine!" she joked, not missing his smile back at her, nor the concern still lingering in his green pools. "I guess I'll always be the angel who has a tendency for falling ill while in human form..."

Andrew stroked her face with a pensive expression, frowning at her words and at the realisation that they were true. "You're right, angel... You're so fragile in this human form, aren't you?" he whispered, brushing away some strands of hair from her face.

She shrugged her shoulders, not a bit bothered with that fact. "Oh, well... I'm glad that in the last few years the Father has sent an angel to stand by my side in these moments! And in the healthy ones as well!" Monica raised her hand and cupped his cheek, her soft brown eyes lost in his own. "I'm very grateful to Him... And to you..."

Overwhelmed with love, he watched as she inched closer, never breaking the eye contact with him. They spent a few seconds hypnotised by each other's gaze and then she was the one to cross the small distance between them and press her lips against his. Andrew was sure that there couldn't be anything sweeter as he brought her even closer to him and their kiss deepened.

He lifted one hand up to her face, cupping her cheek as their sweet loving kiss continued, and when it ended, he covered Monica's face with lots of tiny kisses, as warm and tender as the first one. There would be a time when both would have to face their superiors about their relationship, but right now all that mattered was their immense love.

Despite the sweet moments they had spent at the cabin, Andrew was worried about Monica's condition. It was possible to notice she was still tired and weak. Clearly instructing her to remain in bed and rest, he rose to his feet and went downstairs, to the kitchen, planning to cook something for his beloved one, trying the best he could to make the food appealing to her, as her lack of appetite was a fact.

He was checking on the soup when a familiar voice caused him to look over his shoulder.

"Angel boy!"

"Tess!"

Andrew was genuinely happy to see the supervisor there. There would be one more angel to watch over his Monica and the fact that she was so fond of Tess only made things better. They had to have a long conversation with the supervisor about their relationship, but it was for later. Now all that mattered was to make Monica heal.

"Oh, dear Father, I was so worried about that angel girl being here all alone while I was out!" Tess exclaimed as she received his warm hug, relieved to see the angel of death there. "I'm so glad to know you're here, baby!"

"I got here in the morning, Tess. I could feel there was something wrong and I came as fast as I could."

"How is she?" the older angel wanted to know, her worried eyes quickly scanning the kitchen, noticing he was preparing dinner.

"She was running a low fever when I arrived," he informed, watching as her eyes saddened a bit more, "but she slept the entire afternoon and when she woke up the fever was gone."

"Oh, thank You, Father!"

"I'm preparing her dinner, but I know she only agreed to eat something to please me."

Deeply worried, she placed a hand over his shoulder. "I'll go and see her."

Andrew nodded and observed as the supervisor left the kitchen, heading towards Monica's room. He sighed deeply, wishing that the little Irish angel would heal as fast as possible, as he had just been informed that he would have to leave on the following morning.

x

"Come in, Andrew..." Monica's voice was the reply to the soft knock on her bedroom's door.

"It's me, angel girl..." Tess was quick to say as she opened up the door and saw her dearest friend smiling back at her.

"Tess!"

"How have you been, baby? I feel so guilty for leaving you here all alone!" she said, quickly approaching the bed and taking Monica's hand, not missing the traces of exhaustion on her meek face.

"And I feel so blessed to have you and Andrew by my side right now." She said, visibly happy that the ones she loved so much were there with her. And then she added. "And always."

Andrew brought Monica's dinner some time later and he and Tess were overjoyed to see that little by little, the Irish angel was recovering from the terrible flu that had kept her in human form for a few days. She didn't eat as much as they wanted, it was true, but the fever never returned and she was actually smiling and recovered the natural brightness in those doe-like eyes that Andrew secretly loved to gaze at.

Once she was finished, he took the tray away and returned soon afterwards to notice that she was drifting off into a light sleep. Watching as her eyelashes insisted on closing, he sat down at the edge of the bed and took her hand, putting his feelings in check once their supervisor was standing in the same room.

"Why don't you take some rest too, baby, it's late and her fever isn't coming back... Our angel girl is getting better." The supervisor offered, after a while.

"I know... I just..." he sighed, not really sure on how to translate his feelings into words. "After the incident in the island I keep on having this... sensation that something is not just right and that I have to keep an eye on her."

Tess eyed him closely, studying every little feature in his handsome face, "Is there something wrong, baby? I can see there's something in your eyes... there's great worry but there's also something else I cannot fully understand..."

Andrew lowered his head, struggling with the secret feelings he was keeping inside his heart. He couldn't tell Tess about them right now, Monica had been ill on the latest days and he would have to leave soon. Leaving her all alone after that revelation was out of question to him.

"I... I missed being here at this cabin with her, with you all. And the latest assignments haven't helped either..."

He was telling the truth. The blond angel was exhausted and one could notice the time he had been on Earth had been quite difficult to him. Being with his friends and especially with his beloved Monica was essential to him; now more than never. With compassionate dark eyes, Tess caressed his blond hair, aware of the strong bond her two babies shared. "I know, angel boy, I know."

"I might not be here when she wakes up."

The oldest angel rose to her feet and straightened the blanket around Monica's asleep form, "Then stay with her. I know she can feel your presence even in her sleep."

He quickly held her hand before she pulled it away, "Tess..."

"Yes, baby?"

"We love you very much." There was a lot more meaning in that statement than the older angel could have guessed. But those gentle words went straight to Tess' heart and she smiled warmly at him.

"I love you two very much too, angel boy. You're both my babies, and I'll never stop thanking God for blessing me with these two precious gifts." She leaned over and kissed the top of his head. "Have a good night, baby."

"Good night, Tess."

Andrew watched as she left the bedroom and closed the door behind her. Then his eyes rested on Monica once again. He took her hand to his lips and kept it in his own hand. There, sitting by the edge of the bed, the blond angel remained. Lost in thoughts, some sweeter and more loving than he could have ever imagined, and others confused and anguished about a future that was not too far.

With a pleased smile upon her face, and healed from the bad cold that had left her in bed two weeks before, Monica watched as the young couple she had been helping finally accepted each other's apologies and resumed their romance. It was their prom and now both would head to university and follow the same career. Always smiling, the little Irish angel tilted her head and pictured them a few years from now - both were meant to be eternal sweethearts and would certainly raise a beautiful family, blessed with adorable children and much love.

And then she started to think about her dear Andrew and what they had. So far, it was still a secret as he insisted he should be together with her when she told Tess about their love. Monica hoped it could be soon, as she didn't like the idea of hiding something from her dearest friend and supervisor. What was happening between her and Andrew was so precious and so amazingly beautiful that she longed to tell her about it - the oldest angel was the closest thing to a mother to them, and hiding away what was happening between them was unfair.

Besides this, the little angel was nervous about the reaction the other angels would have once they knew about their romance. Monica hoped that Tess would understand it as the old supervisor loved Andrew just as much as she loved her, but what would the other angels think about it? And most importantly, what did their loving Father think about it? Of course He already knew about their relationship, but so far she hadn't had the courage to voice her feelings to God and ask for His guidance, and neither had Andrew. Monica felt a slight trembling at the possibility of this love being denied.

And staying away from her beloved angel of death was something she wouldn't bear.

Lost in thoughts, the Irish angel left the ball room in slow steps and went outside the club where the party was happening. By the swimming pool, she looked up at the sky and marvelled at the sparkling of the thousand stars and at the full moon. The surroundings and the gentle atmosphere were so involving that Monica didn't realise a certain pair of green eyes watching her every movement from just a few feet away.

With a smile on the corner of his lips, Andrew admired her in secret for a few moments, his heart full with love for such an adorable angel of God. She was so beautiful wearing that dark red dress, with a beige scarf draped over her small shoulders, that he couldn't help feeling like the most blessed creature in the universe for deserving her love. He observed as she tucked a few strands of her long auburn hair behind her ear and then crossed her arms, maybe due to the slightly chilly breeze that blew against her face. The meekness of her features, her sparkling brown eyes and her whole image seemed to hypnotise him.

Andrew was going to come closer but suddenly Monica frowned and started to look around her - her angelic heart was already alert about his loving presence.

"I love staying in a corner, just admiring you..." he said, walking towards her and smiling when she immediately turned around to look at him.

"Andrew!"

"... but I found out that I'm not able to do it for too long, you see. Because I cannot stay close to you and not hold you in my arms!" His words were not faster than Monica, and as he finished the sentence, she had already thrown herself in his strong arms; her own arms wrapped around his neck. And he wasted no time in holding her back, just as lovingly and warmly, burying his face on her shoulder and breathing in her sweet perfume.

"I was wondering when I would see you again... I thought that at this very moment you would be in some other part of the world... far away..." she said, never letting go of him.

"And I was... But no place is so far away to stop me from finding you wherever you are, my angel." She grinned at those words and, as they pulled away, Andrew looked down at her, admiring her natural beauty, accentuated by some light make up and her beautiful dress. Then, he raised his hand and gently caressed her cheek. "You're so beautiful..."

"It's my assignment's prom!" she quickly informed, with the childlike excitement that would always make him chuckle.

"I can tell you fulfilled it beautifully, judging by this pretty smile on your face."

"Well, I did. And this time, when I watched Jim and Kate together and confessing their love, I didn't have to just wonder how it feels... As now I have you." She said, but then frowned in a way that made her more endearing to Andrew's eyes. "Actually, I guess I can say that I always had you, but this time it's different, you see..."

Smiling warmly at her, he nodded his head. "You always had me, Monica. And you always will."

Slightly blushed, she lowered her eyes up to his chest for a second, and then looked back at him. "I have to confess something to you... Sometimes I wonder if everything that's happening between us... if this is all real... Sometimes I wonder if I've dreamed all of it..."

Lost in her sweet brown pools, Andrew took one of her hands and kissed its back tenderly. "Then I guess it's my duty to let you know that you haven't been dreaming, angel." He said, pulling her closer to him, and added, "Even though it does seem like a dream..."

The blond angel crossed the small distance between them slowly, still able to watch as her marvelled eyes closed, a second before his lips touched hers. Andrew kissed her rosy lips tenderly and softly as she tilted her head and fell limp in his warm embrace. That loving caress ended up in smaller kisses, spread over Monica's face, and then the two angels held each other for a long silent minute; their minds travelling in the sweetness of the moment and in the uncertainty of their future.

But a slow romantic song started to play and even though they were not inside the club, the music reached their ears and was enough for them to pull away with one common thought.

"May I have this dance?" He whispered, taking her hand to his lips once again.

"Always." Came the simple answer, and on the following moment the two angels turned into humans were swaying with the perfection proper of two valentines deeply in love.

Monica and Andrew never knew how long they let the romantic melody conduct their bodies. Only when the song slowly faded away were they aware of what was around them, and then their eyes met each other's gaze briefly, before they closed once again and another kiss started.

When they pulled away, Andrew kissed her lips one more time and they rested their foreheads together.

"What will happen to us, Andrew?" the Irish angel whispered.

"I don't know, angel... All I know is that I love you, and this fact will never change." He said, and then gently lay both hands on each side of her cheek. "I love you forever."

"I love you forever too... And so much I... could never measure it..."

With a reassuring smile, he leaned over and kissed her forehead and lay a gentle kiss on her lips, sealing a promise of unconditional and eternal love.

But it was then that they heard another voice, quite familiar to them but whose tone was far from a happy one.

"What are you two doing?"

Tess had exited the club, and was standing just a few steps away from them. And judging by the perplexed expression on her face, she had been there enough time to learn about their relationship.

The two angels pulled away and, extremely nervous, Monica gave a step back, disentangling herself from Andrew's loving arms. "Tess..."

"I cannot believe what my eyes have seen..." the oldest angel spoke, coming closer to them and frowning with disapproval.

"Tess, I... I can explain, I-"

"There's nothing that requires an explanation, Monica... Nothing that I didn't understand..." her voice was low but bitter and the expression on her face one of accusing.

And watching how his beloved Monica conjoined her hands and fidgeted with her fingers nervously, Andrew gave one step closer to her and lay his both hands over her small shoulders. He shot a firm, determined look towards Tess. "We wanted to tell you, Tess."

"Tell me what? That two angels of God have been acting against their own nature?"

Monica gave Andrew a helpless look, but the blond angel remained firmly staring at the supervisor - there was no fear in his eyes. "Monica and I were waiting for the best moment to tell you that... things have changed. Our love has changed. Or simply grew. Much more than we never imagined." He replied.

"Oh, I see." The supervisor eyed them with strangeness, "And of course you decided this alone, and the fact that you are angels didn't matter at all..."

Two long tears rolled down Monica's cheeks as she spoke again. "It did matter... We've been so anguished, wanting to tell what was inside our hearts but then..."

"Then what? You decided to keep quiet because you know that 'what's inside your hearts' is a mistake?" Tess snapped back, causing Monica to lower her head in shame as more tears fell from her eyes.

"Tess, this is not fair!" Andrew took a step forward and stood in front of Monica, as if shielding her from the oldest angel's harsh words and accusing gaze.

"Fair? And what do you consider fair, Andrew? That I accept that two angels think they can have human feelings for each other as if this was normal?"

"We don't 'think' we're having feelings, we love each other and this is not human love, it's just love!" the angel of death stated, anger rising within him.

"That's not what angels are intended for, and you should know that by now!"

Andrew gave one more step towards her and looked at the supervisor deep in her eyes. "You are not the one who dictates what is right or wrong here, Tess!"

"Please... please, stop arguing..." Monica pleaded, almost in a sob as fresh tears fell from her sad, doe-like eyes.

His beloved angel's crying voice held so much anguish and sorrow that Andrew felt his anger diminish a bit as he heard it. He turned around and wrapped an arm around Monica's shoulder, staring back at Tess accusingly. "Can't you see what you're doing to her, Tess?"

"She is the one who should see what she's doing to herself." The supervisor replied.

And it was then that they heard another familiar voice, and turned their faces to see Sam approaching them. "In a way, you're right, Andrew..." the old angel said, also with a serious expression on his face. "... Tess is not the one to decide this issue. I am."

Monica searched for Andrew's eyes almost in despair, and it broke his heart to see the expression on her face: she was as scared as a child.