Tevy awoke the next morning on the couch she had passed out on between her brothers. Before her eyes opened, she could smell something sweet, like strawberries and sugar, and she felt the soft touch of fingers combing through her hair. Her eyes finally opened slowly to the sight of Gabriel sitting up next to her, petting her hair with one hand and holding a bright red lollipop with the other, licking at it happily. Balthazar was laying with his head on her stomach, legs crossed and laughing as quietly as he could at something Gabriel must have just said before she came to consciousness. Both of them in nothing but denim jeans, their wings were hidden from sight.

Gabriel was the first to notice Tevy's eyes had opened. "Morning, sis," he said with a smile. Balthazar flipped over on his stomach to look at her. "Told ya we wouldn't go anywhere."

"Well he's lying," Balthazar added, "I did have to get up and get the big baby his candy."

Gabriel smiled with the lolli between his teeth and put a huge jar of sweets next to Tevy. She laughed and snatched a blue lollipop for herself.

"Hells yeah!" Gabriel said, dragging out the word 'Hells', "Thats my girl!" He rustled her hair and giggled, making Balthazar roll his eyes and smile before getting up. She couldn't believe this was real. People, no, other Angels who seemed to care about her. Tevy popped the lolli in her mouth and sucked happily at its sweet taste, playing with it in her mouth a little. Gabriel's breath hitched softly as he watched her mouth. "God, you're cute, but don't do that in front of me, Tevy…" he whispered.

"Oh?" She pulled the blue lolli from her mouth with a pop and licked it seductively. "Why not, Gabe?" He smiled at the use of a nickname from her and chuckled nervously.

"Leave the poor angel alone, Tevy," Balthazar laughed, "He's got a weakness for provocative behavior with candy." Gabriel stuck the lollipop back in his mouth and turned bright red and Tevy giggled, biting her lip.

"I'll have to remember that, thanks B."

Balthazar paused and then smiled, shaking his head at what she just called him before speaking, "I'll catch you two later." He leaned in and kissed Tevy on the head before walking out the door. Tevy heard the beating of his wings from outside as he flew away.

"I should probably go," Tevy started, "I don't want to be a bother to you." Gabriel grabbed her hand and looked into her emerald green eyes.

"I don't want you to go," Gabriel said, completely serious, "And if you have to, I would really love it if you would come back…"

Tevy's heart skipped. "What like…"

"You can stay with us… I mean, if you want to…"

"I…" Tevy didn't know what to say. She did have a place to live but it was miserable. "I don't know what to say… yes?" She laughed and played with her hair nervously. "I mean… I'm keeping my place but… I'd love to come stay with you guys here and there."

Gabriel kissed her forehead lovingly, "That makes me incredibly happy to hear. You're our family, Tevy. We wouldn't dream of casting you out."

The warm spring air never felt so good rushing over the bald sides of her head as Tevy strutted down the street to her favorite breakfast joint in town. It had been so long since she had spent time with people at all she forgot how good it felt to feel wanted at all. It was a like whole different world, actually feeling happy. Or was it the sexual encounter that made her feel on top of the world.

She sat down at a table by the window and watched the people walk by. She was never able to decide if she loved being half human or hated it. The waitress brought her the usual, pancakes and eggs with orange juice. She thought eating was a burden and all, but god did she love pancakes. Sleeping was kind of a burden to but the thought of being awake all the time made her stomach turn. So maybe being partially human wasnt so bad.

As she brought a bite of the pancakes laced with boysenberry syrup to her lips, the rush of sweet flavor washed over her taste buds. Sweet. A smile spread over her face and she giggled to herself like a swooned school girl. The thought of something so sweet reminded her of Gabriel. She shook her head, scared of letting herself trust someone. But there was something about him that made it so easy to trust him. Balthazar too. Perhaps it was just that they were her kin.

Tevy returned to her apartment, sighing as she opened the door to a one room, studio, with nothing but her mattress on the floor and her little make shift kitchen. She groaned to herself as she flopped onto the mattress. Maybe this place was the key to her misery.

Moments later she heard a knock at her window. "The hell…" she said to herself, realising that her apartment is on the 6th floor. She looked over and shot up in shock, "BALTHAZAR, WHAT THE FUCK?!" She rushed to the big window and threw it open, grabbing his hand and yanking him in. "Dude, someone could see you!"

Balthazar laughed as he closed his wings and stepped into her home. "Relax! Humans can't see me!"

She paused and then looked at him quizzically, "Really? You can do that?"

"Duh!" He laughed as he walked farther into her loft, looking around at every inch of it. "You know you really are welcome to come stay with Gabriel and I."

Tevy scoffed and shut the window before haphazardly trying to pick up various pieces of trash and underwear that were scattered around the floor. "Yeah, I know its not pretty, but,"

"You're afraid," He cut her off, "That we will betray you. That's it isn't it."

She shuffled her feet and huffed, "Well you know I don't really have the best track record with people."

"We aren't people."

"Well then in that case you know my track record with angels too…"

Balthazar grabbed her hands and pulled her close, "Don't you dare compare us to those who cast you down from heaven. We are different, just like you and I know you can tell, you can feel it inside. You might not understand why or how but you know you can trust us."

"Why are you so desperate for my trust?"

"Perhaps Gabriel and I are just as desperate to feel needed just as you did…"

Tevy lowered her eyes and clenched her jaw tight, trying not to let her eyes well with tears. Balthazar lifted her chin and pushed her hair back. "Tevy, sweet heart…"

Tevy lurched forward and wrapped her arms around him. Balthazar hesitated before wrapping his arms around her too. "I'm sorry." she said, tears falling silently from her eyes. "I just have been so alone for so long…"

Balthazar gripped her tighter, his wings wrapped around her as well as he pet her head, consoling her. "I've not had anyone to call a friend since the night that I fell…" She cried into his shirt, "I've been using my body to get money from willing men, last night was the first and only time I've felt a man's touch in a kind way and the only time anyone has really seemed to care about. I know that we only spent one night together, but you don't have any idea how hard its been not to commit sin and off myself, B, you both saved me and I have been at war with myself all day trying to decide whether or not this was even okay to feel like this…"

"Thats the best part of living under Heaven's radar, Tevy," Balthazar said, softly, "Living a life of feeling. We can do whatever we want, who ever we want to, and if you and Gabe are the only angels along for the ride, so be it, the two of you mean the world to me."

"But we've only just met."

"You're family. It doesnt matter how long I have known you. I wouldn't ever feel this way about just any being, but a renegade angel like myself. We will come to know each other better in time, but for now all that matters is feeling and living free."

Tevy walked in the front door of the vast house, locking it behind her. As she walked into the living room where she had passed out the night before, Gabriel peeked around the chair he was perched in, a sucker hanging half out of his mouth. Closing the book he was reading, he got up to greet her, hugging her the second she was in front of him.

"Gunna have to get used to that." She grunted as he squeezed her tight,

"Tevy," Gabriel sounded upset, "Balthazar told me what you said when he came to you. I'm so sorry if we scared you or overwhelmed you in some way."

"No, Gabriel," She said, "It's okay, really, after thinking about it and talking with him, it actually is quite nice having someone to call family."

Gabriel smiled and let go of the hug, grabbing her hand and pulling her towards the stairs. "Where are we going now?" Tevy laughed as Gabriel guided her up the stairs, shooting her a look over his shoulder and smiling. He opened a door a the end of the hall upstairs to a large bedroom, a big four post bed sat in the middle with a side table next to it, adorned with a lamp and a small bowl filled with blue lollipops.

"It's yours if you want it, Tev." Gabriel smiled at her and walked in, sitting on the bed, "Anything you want added just tell me and I'll make it true."

Tevy laughed and walked over to the bed, sliding herself onto it and giggling happily, "Thank you so much, Gabriel! It's so comfy."

He couldn't stop smiling as she rolled around in the giant bed. "I'm glad you like it," he said as he got up and began walking out of the room.

"Wait," Tevy said, "Don't go…"

Gabriel stopped in his tracks and smiled to himself, before turning around and facing her again. "Oh?"

Tevy blushed as his golden eyes met hers, "If… that's okay."

Gabriel slid into the bed next to her, propping himself up on and elbow, "Its more than okay." He leaned in and kissed her lips softly before nipping them gently, making her giggle and wrap her arms around him, pulling him down on top of her. He rolled back over onto his side, facing her and holding her hands, kissing her nose and smiling while looking into her eyes.

"Gabe…" Tevy spoke softly.

"Tevy," he answered, still smiling.

"Will you tell me about father?"

Gabriel's smile faded for a moment, letting out a sigh before kissing her tenderly once more and began telling a story he hadn't told in a very long time.