This story takes place after the events on "Far from Heaven." (which can be found if you click on my name and acess the list of the stories I wrote. The stories of these series have a definite beginning, middle and ending, so it's not necessary to read the previous one to undertstant the next. The whole series can be found at my homepage (address on my profile), in the session "Friendship" (though now stories have been more romantic). Here go the two first installments.

Kim, sis, you've been patiently waiting for me to write it. Thanks for your patience and for your encouragement.

Hope ya'll like it! :-)

BEFORE THE DAWN

(by Deyse M.)

PROLOGUE

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?"

CHAPTER 1

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.