Title : For this Child

Author : Katiyana

Disclaimer : All identifiable characters aren't mine.

Chapter 3

"Buenos dias, mi amigos," grinned Rafael at his friends from the lovely white sailboat he was standing on, coiling a length of rope.

"Good morning, Rafael! Are you taking us out sailing today?" greeted Monica in delight.

"Si, senorita. We're sailing on the La Guarda, isn't she a beauty?" said Rafael with a bright smile.

"She's beautiful," gushed Monica in her Irish lilt, approaching the boat. She stopped and turned back as Rafael came towards her to help her over.

"Let me take the basket first," said Rafael helpfully. Monica gladly surrendered the picnic basket. Her eyes met Andrew's with a smile as he walked down the pier behind her with Amy in his arms.

Andrew gave her a reassuring smile, knowing that she still harboured a general distrust of large bodies of water. But Amy had looked so hopeful when she asked to go sailing after watching a movie on television that Monica had yielded easily to the child's wish even though she wasn't that fond of boats.

Rafael carefully guided Monica across to the white sailboat. After ensuring that she was securely moving around the spacious boat, he turned his attention to Andrew and Amy. Amy had hid her head shyly at the sight of Rafael. It was clear that she was not afraid of him but she was just feeling a bit shy at the unfamiliar presence.

"Hola, Amy. My name is Rafael. Would you like to come on the boat so that we can take a trip out on the beautiful ocean today?" asked Rafael in a gentle voice.

Amy nodded shyly, but still kept her cheek pressed close to Andrew's chest.

"Hola, Andrew. Come, I'll make sure she's steady," said Rafael.

"Hi, Rafael. Thank you," said Andrew, holding Amy with one arm and using another to hold onto the railing to help himself across to the boat.

They heard a group of childish voices coming closer. Amy's ears pricked up and she raised her head toward the children approaching excitedly.

Elyse came down the pier surrounded by her four young charges. She and the oldest girl, Elena, were on either side of the youngest boy, Joshua, who was only six. Elyse was holding on firmly to eight-year-old Tommy by her other hand. He looked ready to race to the boat. Elena's other hand was clasping Georgia's, an eight-year-old girl.

Monica's heart lifted at the joyful spark in Amy's eyes as she saw her former playmates. Andrew had turned her so that she could wave to them. Rafael was standing by, ready to ensure that each child climbed aboard safely.

Tommy broke loose and very nearly hurled himself aboard but fortunately Rafael was ready to grab him with a laugh. The boy was so excited he couldn't wait for any introductions. Elyse's sigh of relief was clearly audible when Tommy was safely set on the boat.

"Guys, this is Rafael. You already know Monica and I'm sure you remember Andrew," introduced Elyse, shaking her head at the impulsive Tommy.

"Hi, I'm Tommy," piped up the little boy with a cheeky grin, holding out his hand confidently.

Rafael laughed and shook his hand, "It's nice to meet you ,Tommy."

"Amy!" yelled Tommy, rushing over to the little girl, whom Andrew had just put down.

Elyse grinned fondly as Tommy started chattering at top speed to Amy. "And this is Josh, Elena and Georgia," she finished, indicating each child in turn.

"Hello, Rafael," chorused the rest politely in varying tones. Georgia and Elena crossed and started chatting to Monica.

However, Josh still looked hesitant about crossing. Elyse knelt down and spoke to him softly but he still shook his little blond head and refused.

After a few minutes, Amy spotted her friend and came over. Tommy had become distracted by something else and Andrew frantically tried to keep an eye on the fast moving boy and Amy at the same time.

"It's okay, Andrew. Watch Tommy. Amy's fine," said Rafael, noticing his friend's dilemma.

"Josh, come on," said Amy, beckoning him over with a hand. She moved and held onto Rafael.

Josh looked at her uncertainly. He wasn't quite convinced.

"Josh, please. It's okay. They're all angels. Can't you see? Now come on!" pleaded Amy simply.

Josh bit his lip. He finally nodded slowly. Elyse praised him and lifted him up and handed him over to Rafael's firm grip. Amy stood by patiently as they took Josh across. Then she took Josh's hand and led him towards her favourite angel.

"Hey, Rafael. Thanks," said Elyse, taking the hand Rafael offered. The two angels hugged briefly and then everyone got busy helping and watching as they started up the boat for their day out on the water.

# * # * # * # * # * #

"Where does he get all his energy from?" asked Andrew, tiredly. He and Rafael had been taking turns watching the adventurous Tommy, who showed great talent for trying to fall overboard or somehow get himself into all kinds of mischief aboard the sea craft.

Elyse giggled.

"Well, I'm grateful that he's using it all up now. He'll be out like a light tonight," said Elyse. She sat on a bench with Josh's head in her lap.

Suddenly a shriek pierced the air.

"She's fallen over! Elyse! Help! Someone help!" were frantic cries from Elena.

All the angels raced towards the screams. They found Elena pointing at a spot in the sea. They saw a tiny hand reach out.

"Georgia, hang on, sweetheart! They're coming!" yelled Elyse, clutching a frightened Josh on her hip.

Rafael grabbed a float and dived over the side. Andrew was hampered by Amy clinging to him. Amy wouldn't let him go. Monica hugged the crying Elena and a severely shocked Tommy as they watched.

Fortunately, the sea was quite calm. Rafael surfaced and quickly spotted the gasping girl nearby. He quickly swam over to her and slipped the float on her. Everyone sighed in relief. Andrew had managed to transfer Amy to Monica so that he could help Georgia and Rafael back onboard.

Elyse quickly grabbed towels for the wet pair. They dried the little girl quickly and took her into the cabin to get her out of her wet clothing and make sure that she was fine.

"I didn't mean for her to fall over. I'm sorry! I just thought it would be funny to scare her a bit. I didn't mean to push her that hard, honest! I'm sorry! I'm so sorry!" blurted out Tommy. He had moved and crouched down, hugging a post with his arms up over his head protectively. He was sobbing loudly.

"Wow, wow, buddy! It's okay, I'm sure that you didn't mean to hurt Georgia, Tommy. It's okay," said Andrew. His heart clenched at the sight of the terrified little boy, so different from the cheerful lad he had been just a few minutes before. It was obvious that Tommy feared being beaten. Andrew wondered what had happened to him previously.

"Elena, are you okay to hold Amy's hand for now? I need to speak to Tommy," said Andrew.

"His mom and dad, they beat him a lot," whispered Elena, taking Amy's hand, confirming Andrew's worst fears.

Andrew heard Rafael's sad sigh as he cautiously approached the little boy on his knees, trying to make his large form less intimidating to the traumatized young boy, who was sobbing loudly and desperately.

"Tommy, it's okay. We all make mistakes sometimes. I'm sure Georgia's fine. Just a little wet. Nothing we can't fix. We know that you didn't mean to hurt her," said Andrew slowly and reassuringly.

Tommy continued to cry for a while and Andrew stayed where he was patiently. The girls and Rafael watched in silence. After a few minutes, Tommy's cries quietened. He peeked at Andrew through his hands. All he saw on Andrew's face was a loving expression.

"You're..., you're not mad at me?" stuttered Tommy disbelievingly.

"Tommy, it was just a mistake. No, we're not mad at you. And no one is going to hurt you either," said Andrew.

It took a few more minutes but Andrew finally managed to coax Tommy out of his defensive position. He was still wary of approaching Andrew though. Clearly his experiences had conditioned him to not completely trust men. Tommy was also older and he couldn't sense the angelic nature of the adults he faced.

"It's okay, Tommy. This Daddy is good," said Amy simply. She pulled Elena over and put her arms around Tommy to give him a hug.

Tommy closed his eyes and hugged her back. Elena put a comforting hand on his back but also watched the adults with some suspicion still. Her own past was painful and like Tommy, at nine years of age, she was older and had stopped being able to see angels in their true form. It had taken her a long time to trust Elyse but she still found it hard to trust other people even if they were Elyse's friends.

The two angels watched quietly and marvelled at the amazing love of the Father manifested in the form of this tiny fragile little girl. Amy did what they could not do. She was able to comfort the scared little boy.