Alright everyone, the way things are looking I should only have one more chapter to go!

And to answer the question of pwashington:

I do understand your questioning and you do have a very good point, as I had said in a previous chapter this entire interpretation is of my own design and doesn't reflect actual truths (or logic). I wanted to add something to give mortality and therefore drama to give Gabriel a more protective character. It also adds to the Archangels being more superior over their soldiers. I had to give reason to save the few over the many. I hope this clears it all up for you! And thank you for reading my story!

Enjoy everyone!

And Ignite Your Bones

For nearly 1,400 years, the trio of Michael, Gabriel, and Alexandria remained close and they spent most of their leisure time together. This was the first time Alexandria had let another into her life, and looking back on how things were, she realized how lonely she had been. Their lives were filled with laughter and conversation, and as the years went on they only became closer.

Alexandria was smart, and kept the soldier part of her life a separate piece entirely. She followed Michael's orders strictly as if she were back to not knowing who he really was. Doing so had kept her safe and in his battalion for centuries.

This relationship between the three of them did not go unnoticed however, and tensions ran high between the other Archangels on the subject. Alexandria was a soldier, disposable in times of crisis and not really worth the time and energy of a commanding leader. Suggestions were made to the All Father, and had all been unanswered or ignored.

They all had become comfortable with each other, but the relationship between Alexandria and Gabriel seemed to change into something else, they were practically inseparable. She seemed to change him, he never smiled and laughed like this before he knew her. She was intoxicating, and her smile was contagious.

There was an unspoken agreement between Michael and Gabriel that Alexandria was not privy to. Whenever Michael's army was called to fight, he kept distance, but never let Alexandria out of his sight. The two Archangels were going to keep her alive whatever it took. Through the years she had a shadow on the battlefield, intervening whenever needed and silently slipping back away. If she knew what they were doing she would be furious and never let Michael worry about only her.

Although Gabriel never lost his smile for Alexandria, she did notice he was starting to change on his opinion of the human race he protected. Nothing they did was boring as long as they were together, and a pastime they would do when conversation would run dry would be to sit together silently and watch the humans. Alexandria loved seeing the silly little things they would celebrate or how they carried out their traditions. She loved them dearly despite their flaws, but Gabriel started to change. Then one day she decided to ask. They were seated on a ledge looking down upon earth, Alexandria sat with her knees hugged into her chest and Gabriel was in a more relaxed position; one leg hanging over the edge and the other was bent up and supporting an arm while the other was behind him keeping him sitting up. They sat close to each other, but never touched.

"Are you alright?" She slit the silence as they watched.

He broke his stare down below to look at her with bright questioning eyes. "I'm sorry?"

"Sorry," she didn't realize he was in deep concentration. "it just seems like something is bothering you when you are watching them."

His eyes, those beautiful ocean eyes, seemed to sigh. "Don't worry Alexandria."

"Please, what is it?" Her questioning eyes melted his defense.

"I'm just concerned for them." he started "They continue to advance and yet it seems all they do is find different ways to kill each other. Why continue to sacrifice our numbers to protect them when they don't even want to stay alive anyway?"

There was a pause between them as she searched for the right words to say. "I do understand your concerns, and I would be lying if I said you were alone in your thoughts, but looking beyond all the violence you can still see how much of a wonderful race they can be. The actions of some cannot decide the fate of all. I thought the same about you at first, too."

Gabriel silently stared at her with a neutral emotion. Alexandria continued; "I mean no offense of course my friend." She gave a sheepish smile. "But before I got to know you, to understand you, I was pretty sure you slept in your armor."

He smiled at this, "You are truly something else." His voice was music and it made her flush.

During the course of the next few days Alexandria kept trying to convince Gabriel to give the humans another chance at falling back into his good graces. It was working slightly, but it all changed the day God wanted to speak to her privately.

On her way to meet with the All Father, she found Michael speaking to Uriel and passed them silently to not interrupt. Michael looked up at her in passing and she gave a wary smile.

She was honestly nervous, and Michael could read it on her in an instant. He let her go without a word however, and continued his conversation. One final backwards glance at her that wasn't returned confirmed that something wasn't exactly right. He finished his talk with Uriel quickly, then went to find Gabriel to find out what was happening.

Alexandria entered God's great hall silently. Her steps made no sound as she quickly paced across the room.

"Do not be afraid Alexandria," His voice filled the room and startled her. She immediately froze. "I have not brought you here for punishment, I need your help child."

Alexandria relaxed slightly and started walking again, this time a little slower and calmer. She moved to the center of the hall, where the massive void projected down to Earth.

"Do you see this woman?" He wanted her to look into the window and she obeyed.

For her to see, there was a woman in her early 30s currently giving birth in a hospital. She looked utterly exhausted and the room was filled with others, telling Alexandria that this was a difficult birth. She nodded to let God know she understood what was going on.

"This woman will shape the future of mankind. She is a teacher, and one day she will influence a boy who may save the human race. Her child will not survive, it will be born breach and will suffocate. Without her child, she will fall into deep regret and I fear the future will be altered. One missing link in the chain can alter the outcome completely."

Alexandria stared at the poor woman, pain and agony were all over her face, and it would all be for nothing. Her heart ached as the woman screamed.

"The choice is yours Alexandria, but you can save her. I can put your soul into the child's body and make the vessel live. It comes at a price however; the mind of a human is fragile in comparison to an angels, so I cannot allow you to keep your memories. Your human body won't be able to handle the information and would shut down."

As he spoke, Alexandria's thoughts immediately went to her friends. She would be losing them, and unable to remember who they were.

"Also," God continued, "you will be born as a human, therefore you will die as a human."

Her heart became heavy, as she knew what the only choice was. She had only one question.

"And them?" she didn't give names, but she knew God would know.

"I will put the burden of their anguish on myself, it will be as if I cast you out. I will hide you from them so they will never know."

She gave a small, defeated smile. Asking God to play the bad guy was something He didn't offer up lightly, she may have been given a choice, but she knew it was already made. She nodded her head.

"I accept."

As soon as she agreed, she saw movement out of the corner of her eye. Looking over to the right, she saw Raphael walking into the room. His expression was smug as he walked towards her, Alexandria became nervous.

"I am truly sorry child." She heard God "But we must remove your wings. This will be very painful, but it will be over shortly."

Raphael gave a smirk. Alexandria knew he had it out for her as soon as she became friends with Michael and Gabriel. He believed the Archangels were above such things as camaraderie with the soldiers. He felt it made them weak, and his battalion was one of the fiercest fighters (not to mention the dullest). Alexandria knew it was going to hurt, but Raphael was going to make this as painful as he could. She silently turned to face the void once more and spread her wings.

"Your weapons." Raphael spoke behind her, a hint of malice in his voice.

She undid her baldric and her swords clanged onto the stone floor.

"Farewell, Alexandria." He was definitely enjoying this

Alexandria's mind struggled to keep her body calm. She thought of Michael and Gabriel. Her dear Gabriel.

Raphael grabbed the humerus of a wing and held it roughly. Tears streamed down her face, she remained silent.

I'm so sorry.

The pain came strong and quick, and as much as she tried not to cry, Alexandria screamed.

"What do you mean she wouldn't tell you?" Michael crossed his arms

"If I knew anything else I would have told you." Gabriel shot his brother a look that said leave it alone.

"Something is wrong Gabriel."

"And you don't think I know that?" He got to his feet and started to pace.

"Maybe we should go. See what-" Michael began but suddenly stopped

His reason: A piercing scream sounded out. Both of them instantly knew who it was.

Gabriel shot to the skies in a second and flew as fast as he could towards the source, Michael was right behind him.

Raphael practically sawed off her wings, making it as slow as he could. His rapier was sharp enough to remove the wing with one strike, but he wanted her to suffer. The floor was soaked in blood as Alexandria stood and let Raphael finish. She didn't move, and after the first deafening scream, she was unable to produce any more sound.

A rough hand came and seized the collar around her throat, ripping it off and dropping it on the floor in a loud clang. The deed was done. She felt a strong hand on the small of her back push hard, sending her frame falling forward into the void. Her thoughts remained of Gabriel.

Right in that moment, she looked towards the door of the massive hall. As she was falling the doors slammed open and she saw her two friends' horrified faces. It was all in slow motion, she saw their expression change from worry, to horrifying surprise as she fell.

Then a flash of light.

And she was reborn.

There was a deafening silence as Gabriel and Michael tried to absorb the scene. Raphael was cleaning off his bloodied rapier as he stood next to two disregarded wings of their former friend.

She had been cast out. She was killed by the All Father. Gabriel screamed.

It wasn't a normal wail by any means. This had power behind it. The entire building started to vibrate as he screamed, setting off a chain reaction that rattled the whole of Heaven. Raphael looked genuinely afraid, but Gabriel continued to shout. He fell to his knees and clenched every muscle in his body as the pain of what he was feeling was coming to light. It was the scream of a desperate and painful heart.

Earth had felt the power of the Archangels cries too. Gabriel had unknowingly been the cause of the 8.1 magnitude earthquake that decimated Mexico City in 1985.

As Alexandria's mother held her new baby girl in her arms, Gabriel lied broken, defeated, and numb on the smooth floor.

Hoo-Rah! Almost done (it only took me what, like 3 years?)