Hello Readers! This is a story I started a while back but ended up forgetting about. I read it again and for some reason I got inspired. If you like what you see then feel free to review or comment. Thanks!

I do not own any of the characters or other creations from D Gray Man. But I do own my OCs.

I hope you enjoy!

P.S. Thoughts in Italics.

Jacob Hill lies dying in his bed. His face shows not the fear of one facing his end but the weary pride of a traveler finally at rest after a long journey. Thin graying strands of hair frame his wrinkled features as they break into a well worn smile. He speaks "Wade, my boy, raising you was probably the most valuable thing I've ever done with my life. When you first popped up I thought I must have finally gone mad. But I guess that god really does have a plan for all of us, even for old fools like me." He takes a single rattling breath.

A boy on the cusp of manhood kneels at Jacob's side with a steady stream of tears flowing from his strikingly blue eyes. In a quavering tenor he responds "Well dad I can't say that I disagree. I am one extraordinarily gifted orphan" He grips Jacob's hand "God must have been feeling extra creative when he made me. That or he accidentally used the wrong mold" His brow furrows as he looks back at the source of his self deprecating jibes. Two beautiful wings protrude from openings cut into Wade's shirt, their pure white feathers in sharp contrast to the greens and browns of Jacob's mountain lodge.

Jacob simply snorts. "You've loved them since you were just a tyke, waddling around the forest looking for trouble. When you started jumping off cliffs and treetops I thought I'd have a heart attack, turns out I'm too stubborn to die young." His face grows more serious "But Wade you know what other people will do if they catch wind of you. Most folks are decent at heart but there are more than a few jackals out there that'll use you for their own ends. You've got to be careful about who you let in, otherwise I'll just have to come back and beat some more sense into you."

Wade shrugs "I'll take you on anytime old man. But don't worry, some of your lessons stuck." He wipes his face clear of tears and smiles "I can take care of myself."

Jacob smiles back "I've no doubt of that." He turns his face back to the ceiling with a look of acceptance "Well I guess I'll get this show on the road." He closes his eyes "I hope the angels up there don't hang around too much. I'm damn sick of waking up with feathers all over the place."

Wade lets out a choked laugh and smacks his father with his left wing "just get out of here you old bastard"

…6 years later…

Wade opens his eyes and stares up at the passing clouds as they obscure the shining rays of the noonday sun. He yawns, jumping to his feet and brushing aside a few honey colored locks of hair. "I guess I should head home, I've still got to make dinner…" He says to himself as he shakes the last remnants of sleep from his mind. His plain linen clothes billow slightly in the wind as he gracefully steps out onto the tree limbs' swaying edge. He takes a moment to admire the rocky cliffs of his mountainous home before jumping into the open air. He freefalls for several seconds before extending his wings and catching an updraft that propels him high above the forest canopy. His wings glow with a soft golden light as he evens out and turns towards home. He smiles as the sun warms his back and does a few lazy loops through the air as he considers what to cook for dinner "I've still got that brace of rabbits from yesterday. I could probably make a stew or something." His mouth begins to water at the mere thought of it "Oh yeah a nice rabbit stew with potatoes, onions, carrots, and all those herbs and spices hanging on the rack. Then I'll butter up some bread rolls and break off a piece of…" His thoughts of food are interrupted as a strange feeling, like an electric shock, shoots through him. He leans back sharply and hovers, his wings flapping steadily. "What the hell was that?" He says, spinning around to survey the surrounding area. His gaze locks in on the only trade road running through his mountains. Far below he sees a dark figure splayed out on the side of the road "A traveler?" Without stopping to think he tilts his body forward and begins to dive. His wings flatten to his sides but glow even brighter as he descends. The overwhelming sound of the wind whipping by drowns out everything else as he accelerates to incredible speeds. Just before his dive turns into a crash he unfurls his wings and uses the air to cushion his momentum. The residual force causes a gust of wind to blow loose dirt into a cloud that pools around his feet. He gives one final flap before settling gently upon the earth. Folding his wings he moves quickly toward the traveler. As he gets closer he is able to identify the figure as a dark haired woman in a black dress with a purple scarf and hat "Hey lady, are you alright!?" He says kneeling at her side and laying a hand on her shoulder. The woman doesn't react at all and Wade grows ever more concerned. He carefully turns her until she's laying face up then places his palm flat on her forehead. "She's a little warm but alive. Maybe she pushed herself too hard and passed out." He looks into the shade of the trees and spots something even more out of place. Lying propped up on a trolley is a large grandfather clock and a single travel bag. "She was lugging that thing over a mountain!" He turns back to the woman and gives her one final shake "Hey lady, say something!"

The woman stirs at last, but her eyes only open to thin slits "I'm sorry…?" She says in a weary tone before going limp.

Wade gapes at her unmoving form for a full minute then hunches over in thought. "What should I do… if I leave her out here she could die. Traders don't usually come this way until next month and even if she wakes up on her own it doesn't look like she's prepared for a hike, I mean who pulls a clock this big by hand?" He looks closely at her pale comatose features then at his wings. He sighs "This is no time to be worrying about that. I've got to get her home." He grabs her legs and cradles her in his arms as he takes flight. "Stew it is then, she's probably going to be hungry when she wakes up."