Chapter One

A little Less Sixteen Candles, A little more "Touch Me" - Fall Out Boy

Disclaimer: It's called Fanfiction for a reason.

The sounds of a tender symphony floated on the air, as the all too familiar silver strings of the Golden Harp were being graced by the hands of Christina Endommagé. The lids of her golden brown eyes were shut, and a serene look graced her features. Her fingers flowed against the chords, plucking each string with slow and thoughtful gestures. The figure lying against the fluffy pillows next to her was none other than the daughter of this talented maiden. Like her eyes, her Hazel-nut brown hair favored her mothers, but the cappuccino tone of her skin was a noticeable contrast to the soft cream color of the female sitting beside her. Courtney Endommagé was the title given to her at birth, and she has lived in Heaven ever since that blessed day. She is one, of the very few, hybrid angels who've ever received the opportunity to glance at the heavens that rest above the heads of earth dwellers, let alone live there.

Soon, the comforting sound of the harp being played stopped, as her mother finished off the melody with the ending notes. Courtney clapped whole-heartedly, as her excited eyes and bright smile gave her mother all the approval and admiration she could muster. Christina smiled back, opening her once closed eyes to give her daughter a thankful curtsy. "Merci, Courtney. I'm so happy that you enjoyed it." Her soft voice chimed, the slight French accent subtly clinging to her words. "I can't believe I even got the chance to see you play, that was beautiful, mom! You need to give performances more often." Courtney said, rising up from her former seat on the floor. Christina stood as well from her small, cushioned stool. She snapped her fingers, and her personal angelic imps took a hold of the fine instrument and whisked it away. "Oh no…I couldn't. My playing is only reserved for the ones I cherish most." She said, tapping her daughter's chin affectionately with the tip of her finger. Courtney smiled bashfully. Her mother was more of a best friend and a role model to her, than an actual parent. She trusted her more than anyone, and her trust didn't exactly stretch out very far.

Courtney was ridiculed and outcast by most of the angels at a young age, for being a Halfa, of course. Her mother, although full blooded angel, had mated with a human during the brief period she had spent on earth. Nine months later, Courtney was born into the world-err-Heavens. It was only a short time before Courtney's true leadership attitude took over and dominated her ridiculers. She soon had them waiting on her hand and foot, and straightening up their former disrespectful attitudes. It only took a few days around the other children before her truly over-confident and upfront personality began to shine. Although, that didn't mean she always felt that way on the inside. Although outsiders didn't know it, she had a few minor insecurities and a slight sense of self-doubt about her, and her mother was the only soul (besides, of course, God.) who knew of the inner obstacles she kept bottled up.

The sound of light footsteps echoed throughout the room, catching the attention of the winged female and the bare-backed Halfa. They both turned to see Julius, a member of the holy advisors, approaching them. His arms were folded behind his back, and his posture oozed nothing less than superiority, and complete confidence. Christina and Courtney gave each other knowing glances, as he stopped before the two. Julius pulled out a strip of parchment from his silky robes, and cleared his throat before beginning to speak. "To my beloved Courtney, I am clearly aware that today is your 16th birthday, the day you have finally stepped out of the doors of childhood and stepped into the doors of womanhood. You have shown Grace, loyalty, growth, intelligence, poise, and an overall well rounded persona." He said. Courtney and Christina gave each other hopeful smiles. "But-" Julius chimed, quickly flipping the expressions of the angelic females. "-this does not alter the fact that you are still only a half angel. All Halfas are required, by law, to prove themselves in some fashion. Therefore, I am sentencing you to two years of Exile to earth. You have until you are OFFICIALLY a woman to prove yourself worthy of your angelic title. Complete this task, and you shall be rewarded with full recognition as an angel. With love, the big guy upstairs." Julius said with finality in his words, as her let the parchment roll back to its original closed state, and turned on his heels.

Courtney's eyes widened, as her mother stood beside her with her face resting in her delicate palm, shaking her head. "What!? Hey, w-wait!" Courtney shouted, stumbling after the man in an attempt to catch up. Julius stopped, but did not turn back around to face the girl. She stopped a few feet away from him in an attempt to catch her breath, and took his ongoing silence as permission to speak. "W-what happens if I…don't manage to prove myself?" she asked. Julius sighed, and looked at her from over her shoulder. "Fail, and you shall be stripped of the small amount of Angel you have and be reduced to a mortal, or possibly a demon if you choose to go against the word of God." He said in an impatient tone, as if the answer were obvious. Julius turned back and continued to walk briskly, trying to get back to whatever he had been doing before. Courtney stared at the spot he had originally been standing in, dazed and confused about what had just happened to her. She felt the familiar comfort of her mother's arms wrap around her shoulders. "I'm sorry…I know this is sudden, and I should have told you. Believe me, I tried t-" "You knew?" Courtney snapped back, traces of hurt and confusion in her eyes, as she stared at her mother. Christina bit her lower lip back, thinking of a way to go about explaining why she didn't tell Courtney initially that her Orientation was to be held on her 16th birthday without her words blowing up in her face. Courtney had always been a tad bit hotheaded, and when her wrath was unleashed, all hell broke loose.

"Moi Cherie, I did not mean for you to find out this way. I was planning on telling you a week prior to this day, but I just could never find the words." She said, pleading for forgiveness with her eyes. "So what, you were just going to wait until I was gone for me to find out? Very helpful." Courtney argued, shrugging her mother's arms off and crossing her own. A light sigh could be heard, courtesy of Christina, coming from behind her. "Please, Courtney, you have to believe that I didn't intentionally hold off telling you. You know that I care more for you than that. You're just a little bit thrown off by the sudden news, it's okay to feel a b-" "Oh, so now you know how I feel too? What are you, psychic?" Courtney barked, not at all holding back how upset she was with Christina. "And you're supposed to be the only one I can count on here…with the exception of God himself." She said, the anger in her voice replaced with a new emotion. "Oh, Courtney…" her mother said, placing her hand on Courtney's shoulder in a small attempt to comfort her, but Courtney smacked at away the moment it came in contact with the fabric on her shirt. "Just leave me alone for a little while, okay?" she said, walking away into a random direction, leaving Christina alone with her unsettled guilt.


I expected this to be longer ._.

R&R plox?