I stood at the roof's edge, watching the city. It was late, there was nearly nobody in the streets and a calming quiet washed over Vega. I only wore a long, oversized T-shirt and tiny shorts, but it didn't matter, no-one could see me up here anyway. I should have been sleeping, resting myself for a change, but I didn't dare - how could I close my eyes when I knew what was waiting for me?

Quiet footsteps walked up behind me, and for a moment I feared that my nightmares had come to visit me in my waking hours. I turned to see Michael standing a few feet away, clad only in his pyjama trousers. "Are you not going to sleep tonight again?"

"That depends on whether I feel it's worth my time." I said sadly.

Michael came to my side, intertwining his fingers in mine. "Come to bed, you need to at least try to sleep Azriel."

I sighed, "I have gone longer without sleeping before"

"Yes, and then you passed out and slept for three days. This is not good for you."

Staring down at the city I said, "I know"

Michael took a step back, gently tugging my hand, "Come to bed now, Azriel."

I let out a quiet sigh but nodded. Michael led me back to the stairs and took me back to his room. It was technically our room - both our bed's were there (despite the fact that my bed was rarely ever used), our clothes and belongings too. But I had always felt it was more Michael's space than mine, I never felt like anything here belonged to me, here on Earth that is - it never felt right.

He led me to his bed, lying down and moving aside to make space for me. I kicked of my little shoes and reluctantly crawled in beside him. Michael ran his fingers slowly through my hair, his hand resting on my waist. I lay on my side, my head on his shoulder, my hand on his chest. "Is he still visiting your dreams?" He asked cautiously.

"Yes" Gabriel had never left me, always tormenting me - he thought he could get me back, have me with him again. But he was wrong.

Michael wrapped his arms tightly around me, "He has no idea how much hurt he causes you, if he considered his actions for a moment he would know that he is hurting you." He condemned. I had nothing to say. I nodded my head against his chest, breathing slowly. "I will make this stop Azriel. I will speak with Gabriel, he cannot continue this. It has been years since you've been able to sleep without him invading your mind."

I let out a short breath, "You can try any means you think have a chance of working Michael, but you know how he is. I think there's little hope of me being allowed to rest by this point."

"I still have hope. I will have hope enough for us both if needs be" he told me softly. My pain was his, when I was hurting he could feel it.

I closed my eyes, just resting them for a moment. Michael was my soul mate - not in the sense that the humans had made up, but in it's original meaning. Soul mates were two people who are strongest when they are with one another, people who find comfort in each others presence and are pained by any distance between them. They are not always lovers, though it is common, but above all - it is only angels who can have a soul mate. Not all have one, some believe they are soul mates but are not - when an angel meets their soul mate they can feel it, a pulling deep within their soul dragging you towards the other person; it is unmistakable and simultaneous, even painful to an extent. I felt it when I first realised Michael - I had seen him from a far in the past, but once we were close, once we actually saw each other for the first time, I knew. Gabriel always claimed he had felt that same feeling for me, and as his friend I had been saddened to tell him he must have been wrong. The extent of my feelings for Gabriel ended at friendship, there was never anything more.

Michael pulled the covers up over us, settling down with me in his arms, "Try to get some amount of sleep."

Opening my eyes I looked up at him, "I suppose I'll have to try."

He smiled, "Good night Azriel"

"Good night Michael"