So I came down with a sinus infection, ear infection & bronchitis just as I finished up this chapter. Thank goodness! I'm currently now recooperating with meds and feeling much better each day, but I had to proof read this chapter before submitting it, thus being the reason why this is late. YOU try to proof read with your eyes feeling glazed over and your nose so stuffed up you can't breath while wheezing and hacking so bad your eyes water while your head feels like it's filled with cotton and your ears are so plugged up it feels like you have ear plugs in! NOT a pretty sight. I missed two days worth of work and I regret every minute of it b/c I so hate missing work! :o( So my apologies for any goof ups, typo errors or anything you find at the end of the story. I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! I'M SORRY! :o)
This is kind of more like an info chapter, can't give away any hints now, can we? ;o) I hope you really enjoy this chapter, as I've enjoyed writing it! Happy reading!
~ Chapter 25 ~
Michael's POV
It tore my heart, seeing Dawn lay on the bed bruised from her fight that she had no control over. It wasn't her choice to be brought into this life, but she held her chin and fought with dignity. She had more to live for now, more of a reason to go on. She may have lost her previous life, but she turned her life into something more glorious, embracing her true destiny. She had a heart of gold, deciding to accept her destiny and to protect the ones she loved. She was as glorious as what we had expected all of these years. We always kept our eyes on the ones that were to turn into nephilim's. There weren't that many of them throughout the world, only a handful really, as we were not technically supposed to interact with the humans like some had done. Not by choice, but by fate.
Fate was what brought Dawn's mortal mother and her immortal father Jamaerah together. The angels were never thought badly for interacting with humans, it was just that we weren't to interact with them to let them know what we truly were. One miss step and their worlds would have been changed forever. So God never condoned us from coming down from heaven, He just asked of us to be careful and to realize what we were doing before we came into contact with any of them.
But seeing Dawn laying on the bed, was a sight that I knew, she was where she belonged. Edward was sitting on the bed beside her while the other family were in the living room, giving us time to see her for ourselves. We still had not met Steven, this former minion, but with what everyone said, we had no fear of him being around Dawn. Apparently he had decided to go for a walk down on the beach with Alice, Alice trying to reassure him that we would be ok with Dawn.
"It's amazing isn't it Michael?" Cass thought out to me. I glanced over at him, my brow furrowing together. What do you mean Cass? Cass broke my gaze to look down at Dawn in awe. "How much she looks like Jamaerah. You can't deny that this is his child." I looked down at her, studying her looks. I had looked at her multiple times before from our meetings, but never took into account of what characteristics of Jamaerah that she possessed.
Her eye brows matched the shape of her fathers, her chin rounded just the same. Her nose had the slight turn at the tip but still slender and smooth, no doubt making a human jealous over it being so perfect without having any type of surgery. Her lips, rounded and the top but peaking just right, just like her father's, dark pink and smooth as well. Her hair was just a light brown with the blond streaks in it that were not meant to be there, but made by a beautician. Where as her father's hair was blond her mortal mother's hair had been dark brunette, making her hair the color in between her parents hair color.
I could tell without her eyes being open, that she had her mother's eyes, beautifully centered. Her right eye had squinted slightly when I last seen her smile, making it crinkle in the corner more than her left eye. Her brown eyes were ones that must have matched her mothers, as her father's were a bright blue, gleaming constantly. Her cheek bones were more profound, higher up, making her have more of the Indian cheekbones from her mother's side of the family. Her ears were rounded correctly, taking the shape of her mother's as well. Her hair line taking that of her mother's, it coming to a slight point in the middle of her forehead, making it perfect whether she had it pulled back or left down, making her look glorious.
I nodded my head at Cass. Yes, she does look like Jamaerah. But I see a lot of her mother in her too. I looked back over at Cass, watching him as he glanced over at Edward. "He's taking this rather badly, isn't he?" I looked over at Edward as well, watching him close his eyes and opening them, showing his lighter golden eyes while he watched Dawn breathe, reaching up to stroke her cheek down to her chin. He dropped his hand to hers, taking one of her hands in both of his, caressing the back of her hand with his fingers. He'll be ok. It's just a lot for him to go through. She's been through a lot since she's been here. You can't doubt that it would take a toll on him Cass. I looked back up at him, awaiting his agreement. He nodded, not thinking back to me.
Alice flittered in through the bedroom, coming up to the opposite side of the bed that Edward was on, while we still stood at the foot of the bed. She looked over at us and smiled, nodding her head at us. We both slightly bowed our heads, watching her movements. "She's a ball full of energy, isn't she?" chuckled Cass. Edward chuckled, no doubt hearing what Cass just thought out. "You have no idea Cass." he mumbled, a smile gracing his smooth face. Alice looked over at all of us, curiosity glistening in her eyes.
Edward looked up at her and shook his head, chuckling softly. "What is it Alice?" he diverted her questionable eyes. Alice's eyes brightened at the question while bouncing on the balls of her feet. "She'll be waking up in about ten minutes Edward. She'll be ok, especially with Michael and Cass here." she looked back at us, looking like she could be vibrating at any time from the excitement that she was trying to contain. I smiled back at her, happy to know that this was the beginning of Dawn's new life.
Steven walked in quietly, knocking on the door softly to gain our attention. We all turned to him, Cass and I surprised at the first sight of him. "I'm sorry Edward, but would you mind if I was here when she wakes? I just have the feeling that I need to make sure she's ok when she awakes." he whispered, his head bowed slightly. Edwards smiled at him, nodding. He walked over to where Alice stood, nodding at her in the process. "I'll leave you all to her. Don't worry Edward, it will all work out." she winked at him. Edward nodded her way and looked back down at Dawn, still rubbing the back of her hand. "Six minutes Edward." she finished, skipping her way softly out of the room, shutting the door behind her.
I looked over at Cass, my eyes wide. The resemblance is uncanny Cass. I can't believe we hadn't met him before. Cass nodded, looking back at me, no doubt his face showing the same action as mine. "But I have Michael. This is not good." I looked back over at Steven, who was now kneeling beside the bed, taking her other hand in both of his. What do you mean Cass? How can this not be good? Cass put his hand on my shoulder, showing me the last thought he had of this man that stood in front of us.
It was at the last battle that we fought in front of the Golden Gates, the minions trying their next hand at overtaking our fortress. I could see all of our guards fighting with every ounce of their power to keep them back. I could see Jamaerah fighting a minion. The minion was just as powerful as Jamaerah and I could see that Jamaerah was up against one of the best in the Devil's army. His back was to me, but I could see the long blond haired man swinging his sword, connecting fiercely with Jamaerah's own sword.
The minion crouched, taking a swipe at Jamaerah as Jamaerah effortlessly dodged the swing, but kicked the minion in the side, spinning him around as Jamaerah took a long swing of his sword at the back of the minion, slicing through the skin underneath one of his wings. The minion not being able to block the move of the sword in time with his wings. Pain radiating throughout the minions face, as I realized who this warrior was. It was Steven.
Cass brought me out of the vision, looking over at me. "It's the one that got away from Jamaerah. But can you see something else?" he asked me. I turned to look back over at Steven, glancing between him and Dawn. Oh my, can it be? my jaw dropping as I put two and two together. He's related. Cass nodded his head agreeing, gripping my shoulder. "Think about it Michael. The only connection that he could have that makes him resemble Dawn, would be either her mother, which she no longer has, or her father, Jamaerah." I shook my head. Could it seriously be Jamaerah's son? I thought more to myself than to Cass.
"Jamaerah's son was supposedly dead at birth. But what if something happened Michael? What if someone kidnapped him? What if Lucifer had him kidnapped for his own? Turning Steven from an angel to a minion?" I shook my head. I wouldn't put it past Lucifer to do something like that. My God, what has he done? And how did Jamaerah not see that Steven resembled him when he was fighting him? Cass shook his head. "He may not have paid any attention when the fight was happening Michael. Our next question would be, how is Jamaerah going to take this?" He looked back over at me. I shook my head. I have no clue Cass. I have no clue.
Dawn started coming to, slightly moaning as she straightened her arms, stretching them, making Edward and Steven drop her hands momentarily and us bring our attention back to her. She opened her eyes, looking straight at Michael and me, grinning. "You came." We both smiled back, the question we just tossed back and forth to ourselves, momentarily pushed to the side. "I'm sorry we couldn't help Dawn, but it was your time." Cass replied, him and I both hoping that she wouldn't despise us for not being there when she needed us the most. She shook her head, pushing against the bed to sit up, slightly grimacing at what pain she had.
"I'm not mad guys. I knew in a way, that it was time. He was stronger than me, but not for me and my friends." she replied, grinning as she sat more comfortably with the assistance of Edward and Steven helping to pull her pillow up behind her back.
She looked over at Edward and blushed. "I'm sorry Edward." she faintly whispered, looking down at her lap. Edward took her chin in his fingertips as he raised her head to look over at him. "You have nothing to be sorry about love. I'm just sorry that you got hurt." he whispered, leaning over to kiss her forehead. She sighed, reaching over to take his hand and squeezing it.
She moved her glance over to Steven and took his hand. "And I'm sorry to you Steven. I'm sorry that you had to leave the life you knew behind." Dawn chuckled, squeezing his hand in the process. "But I'm glad you didn't try to kill me." she grinned up at him, blushing.
Steven chuckled, reaching up to tuck a strand of hair behind her ear. "You have no reason to be sorry to me as well Dawn and I'm not sorry one bit for leaving my world behind. I feel more of a connection to you, than I did with my brothers in the army. I would leave them again if I had to. You mean more to me than my own life and I have no reason as to why."
Cass cleared his throat from beside me, making the three in front of us turn their attention to him. "We may have a reason to why that is Steven, but we can't speak of it just yet. Not without further consulting from above." Steven stared at Cass, then at me before he nodded, looking back down at Dawn's hand clasped in his.
"Well then, Michael? Cass? Um, here's what I want to know: When do I get my wings?" Dawn asked, smiling at us. Cass and I chuckled, shaking our heads. "Soon, dear one. Soon." I replied.
***
Dawn POV
After Michael reassuring me that I would get my wings soon, Edward convinced me to try to heal the rest of my injuries. My lungs had healed themselves while I was unconscious, Michael saying that I must have been healing myself while I was blacked out, subconsciously. All that was left was the burn marks left on my front half of my body as well as the stiffness that my body had endured. Within seconds I was back to my normal self, breathing a sigh of relief.
Edward had helped me into Emily's living room only to be bombarded by my family. The Cullen's all surrounding me, hugging me and saying how sorry they were for not being there for me. Sam filled me in on what happened at the beach while I was fighting Trent. Emily had gotten up during the story telling, walking into the kitchen after excusing herself, saying she was going to get me something to eat.
"I'm sorry Sam, everyone. I didn't mean to bring all of this down on you." I whispered, regret filling my heart as I knew I was the one to blame for what was happening. Chris got up from her seat and knelt down in front of me, placing her hand on my knee, bringing my attention to her. "Don't be sorry Dawn, not one bit. We're all family. We stand by each other. You didn't mean to do any of this. Don't blame yourself for something that has brought a gleam to your eye once again."
Peace filled my body as Jasper manipulated my emotions to calm me down, but not before a single tear rolled down my cheek. Edward reached over from beside me on the couch to wipe the lone traitor of my sadness away. I looked over at Edward, then Jasper and whispered my thanks to him.
I took a deep breath, letting it out slowly. "You're right. But I just wish that no one would have had to get hurt on my behalf." I shook my head. "Maybe if I was to leave, I can save all of you from this mess again." I looked over at Michael and Cass who were standing across the living room by the door. "Maybe Michael and Cass can help me figure this out on our own." I whispered, looking down at my hands.
Edward gently pulled me into his arms, a sob retching his body. "Please don't. Please let us help you Dawn. I can't possibly think of how things would go if you don't stay. Please love, I love you. Don't leave." He begged, whispering into my hair. He placed a kiss on my head before pulling back, looking me in the eyes. The dark golden eyes that I met, pulled something in my stomach. I knew that I could never leave him, but how was I to just stand by, while all of this happened? How could I bring the fight to them, only to keep protecting me? I knew that once I got all of my powers, I would be able to protect myself, but I still had to have the time to prepare myself and get a hold of what I had become.
But maybe things would be different if I kept my family with me. I wouldn't be able to live without the love that they had shown me, become of me. They were a part of who I was, something mythical, something special. I shook my head at my thoughts. How could I leave Edward? The one that I was so connected to? So many freaking questions, with so little answers.
Michael took a step closer and I turned to look at him. "If I may dear one, I suggest you stay with your family. They will help you with more than you know. Cass and I will be here to help you adjust, to help you train, but your family is here to support you. If they didn't love you, they wouldn't fight for you." Alice, Jasper, Carlisle, Esme, Rosalie, Emmett as well as everyone else nodded in response.
Sam cleared his throat, "He's right Dawn. You may not be a part of our family per say, but you are big part of our lives, just like Chris is. We stand behind our family and we include you, by blood or not." Chris squeezed my knee, smiling up at me, nodding. "It's true." she whispered.
Edward squeezed my shoulder slightly, from his arm that he still had wrapped behind me. "Please love?" he begged, pulling me to his side more tightly. I inhaled slightly, tucking my head into the crook of his neck. "Ok." I said, giving in. "I honestly don't know what I would have done, being away from you Edward." I whispered. He kissed me on my head, before chuckling softly. "Go insane like I would have."
Cass took a step up closer to Michael. "Which brings us to a point." I turned to look at him, confusion marking my brow. "Once it's time to fight, it's going to be hard for you two to separate." I sat there for a second before nodding. "Ya, I didn't think about that. But I remember Michael saying something about it." I looked over at Edward, fear and worry etching my heart.
Peace and calm washed over me gently, making me smile as I looked over at Jasper. "What would I do without any of you in my life though? I think I can manage awhile, fighting for what is right, if it means coming back to what is most important to me. My family." Esme tucked herself into the crook of Carlisle's arm, him wrapping her up with his arms, comforting her with his love.
"We're going to have one bad ass angel on our side." grinned Emmett from the love seat. I chuckled and shook my head at him as Rosalie reached around from her perch on the arm rest and smacked him on the back of his head. "OW! Damn it Rosie! I swear you hit harder each time!" Rosalie smiled and chuckled, all of us relaxing and laughing at the two. Breaking the depressed tension that had previously filled the room.
"You are worth it, darlin'. You know that right?" Jasper asked, a slight smile on his lips as he looked at me pointedly. I chuckled, meeting Chris' eyes as her and I both thought of his same line that he said in the book from the hotel room. I ran my hand through my hair as I turned back around at him. "You vampires don't forget anything do you?" Jasper chuckled, shaking his head. "Nope, I remember from the book. But seriously. I was right in the book and I'm right now. You are worth it. Look at what you and Chris have done for me. For Edward. For the whole family." I smiled, accepting that this was my family. They were here for me, as I was here for them.
Emily walked in, carrying a mug filled with Cream of Mushroom soup and a glass of milk, handing them to me easily as she turned to sit with Sam on the floor. The family broke off after a few more minutes, leaving me with Chris, Paul, Edward, Michael, Cass and Steven while the others either left to patrol or to hunt. I sipped the steaming hot soup as the leftover group talked about anything off the track that we had once been on.
I looked over at Edward, noticing that his eyes were getting darker by the hour. I took the mug in one hand has I softly patted his knee, bringing his attention to me. He turned, looking at me with suspicion. "What's wrong love?" I shook my head. "You need to hunt. You're eyes are going darker." I simply stated, watching his movements.
Edward reached up and tucked a stray strand of hair behind my ear. "I hunted last night, but you're right. I'm feeling the thirst again. It must be the stress. Do you mind?" he asked. I shook my head, "Not one bit. Go. Go bag a mountain lion for me." I grinned, pushing him slightly as he leaned over and kissed me softly. He inhaled deeply, placing his forehead on mine. "Alright. I'll be back shortly." I nodded, kissing his cheek as he stood.
"I'll go with you if you don't mind Edward." Steven asked, standing up from his seat. Edward's eye brows raised, surprised at Steven's offer. "No," Edward said, shaking his head. "I don't mind at all. Just make sure you stay back while I drink. Believe me, it's not a pretty sight." Steven chuckled, walking over to the front door. "And believe me, I don't want to be anywhere near the smell." Paul laughed while Chris shook her head, looking over at me.
"Just be careful you two. Steven, it may be safer to stay up in the trees out of his way till he finishes." I added, looking pointedly at him. I couldn't explain it, but I had some worry filling me, as I felt like he was in danger just by leaving with my mate. Almost like there was something that I didn't know.
Steven nodded, looking intently into my eyes. He winked at me before turning to the door, Edward and him leaving quickly. I turned back to my cup of soup, looking over at Michael and Cass. "So what's next?" I asked them in between my sips of the still hot liquid. "Well," Michael started, looking over at Cass before looking back at me. "We need to get you started on how to extract your wings and then your powers. But afterwards, we need to get you up to date on all of the information that you are missing out on, on all of us."
"Like what information?" I drank the rest of the soup, sitting it down on the end table. I looked back up at them, Chris moving from the floor beside me to sit on Paul's lap in the recliner. Cass cleared his throat while Michael grinned at me. "Learning about us. Learning about each of the Arch Angels and what we do. What each of our powers are. Learning all of the 'myths' if you would."
The very next thought that ran through my head was of the Vatican City, Rome. I remember watching a movie called Angels and Demons and had thoroughly enjoyed it, learning of the statues after watching the movie. I had been intrigued watching it and remembered wanting to some day visit the city, seeing all of the sights.
Alice ran in, her hair slightly out of place with twigs and leaves that were broken, mixed in with her tangles. I laughed, "Doing something naughty in the woods dear Alice?" Her beaming smile turned into one of annoyance, her hands flying to her hips. "Don't start with me Dawn." I laughed again, Chris as well as the others, following suit.
"But that's not why I rushed in!" Alice started, Jasper coming up behind her, wrapping his arms around the tiny pixie's waist, grinning. I calmed down, trying to wipe the laugh from my lips. "Then why did you just come flying in here?" struggling to keep my composure. Alice beamed, bouncing slightly and clasping her hands together. "Because I think a trip to Rome is an excellent idea Dawn!"
I cleared my throat, all trace of the laughter now vanishing from my lips. "Do what?" I looked at her, my eye brows raising high. "Hmmm," Michael hummed, looking over at Cass. "That's not a bad idea." Cass nodded, smiling over at me. "Not bad at all." Cass added.
"Are you all serious?" I basically screamed out. Chris and Paul beamed from their position. "I like it." Chris said, "But if you're going to go, so are we!" she all but bounced out of Paul's lap, Paul trying to hold onto her from her waist. "Hold on there princess. I think this is a trip just for Dawn and them." he nodded over to Michael and Cass.
I shook my head vigorously. "Oh no, you too are coming as well. If I'm going to go, I'm not leaving here without one of my most important best friends to come along with me." I grinned at her. Alice squealed, as well as Chris, both so excited.
Jasper groaned from behind Alice, lowering his head down to Alice's, burying his head in her hair. "You have no idea as to what you girls have gotten yourselves into." Alice turned around in his arms and smacked him on the arm lightly before giving him a quick kiss. "Rome has some of the most famous designers in the world! How can you say that Jazz?" she asked, pouting up at him. "Sorry darlin'. I simply forgot." he replied, causing all of us to bust out laughing.
A few hours later, we were all talking and discussing the trip to Rome, when Edward and Steven walked back in. Edward gave me a curious look as he walked my way, sitting down beside me. Leaning over to my ear, Edward whispered, "Why are you all planning a trip to Rome?" I smiled up at him, pecking him on the lips with my own. "Because Michael and Cass want me to know more about them and the other Arch Angels and the so called myths of their world. I thought back to a movie Angels and Demons, thinking how once I wanted to go there and Michael and Cass thought it would be a good idea. Show me some sights and discuss their world while they were there."
Edwards now light golden eyes looked over at Michael and Cass, raising his eyebrows. "I don't think that's a good idea." Michael and Cass stopping their conversation with the others, to look at him curiously. "Why do you think that Edward?" Michael asked. Edward cleared his throat, taking his gaze over to Alice and Jasper who were sitting next to the angels. "Well, as you all should know. Rome is in Italy. Italy is the home of Aro, Marcus and Caius. It wouldn't be a good idea to bring them to the same country as them."
Alice rolled her eyes. "Oh get over it Edward. We won't be anywhere close to Volterra. They won't even know were there." Edward shook his head. "Can you guarantee that Alice?" challenging her. Alice's eyes glazed over, going to one of her visions. After a few moments, Alice shook her head. "I can't see much, but I can see us all returning home just fine. It's a little fuzzy, like always when the angels are around us, but I know we'll be ok in the end."
"But you can't guarantee that we won't run into them Alice?" he asked sternly, lowering his head slightly at her. Alice shook her head, looking over at Jasper before turning her gaze back to him. "No. I can't guarantee it." Edward sighed, looking over at me and cocked a sad smile. "I hate to bring you so close to them." he whispered. I shook my head, bringing my hand up to softly caress his cheek. "Life is no guarantee Edward. We can't spend the rest of our lives, wondering 'what if'. And we can't always depend on Alice's vision." I turned to Alice quickly, "No offense Alice."
She shrugged her shoulders, giving me a smile. "None taken. You know my vision are subjective. It can change in a second. So if we go or not to Italy, it wouldn't matter. They could still decide to come here if someone got word to them of you and Chris being here." I turned to Edward and raised my eye brows. "See, why should we fear the future when what happens, is inevitable?" Edward groaned, raising his hand to swipe down his face. "I guess I'm out numbered on this, correct?"
Michael and Cass chuckled from across the room. "Yes, it seems as though you are my young friend." Michael said.
***
A few days later…
"Damn it!" I grumbled, stomping my foot. I'm never going to get this. I thought to myself. I had been trying for the past two hours to try to extract my wings, but it was very difficult. Michael and Cass weren't kidding when they said I would need help.
Edward chuckled from the back porch where he was leaning his arms against the porch rails. "You'll get it love. You just have to be patient." I turned and glared at him. "Patience is something that you vampires have. I don't." Edward chuckled again smiling, shaking his head as he lowered it and looked back up to me as I stood with Michael and Cass.
Michael chuckled slightly and stepped to me, placing his hand on my shoulder. "He's right. You just have to be patient and calm. Don't work yourself up. It takes a bit, but you'll get it. Don't get yourself down Dawn." I nodded at him, closing my eyes and taking a deep breath. He dropped his hand down from my shoulder as I started to concentrate again.
After a few minutes of concentration, a bright white light shown through my eyelids as I tried to peak out from them. Once the bright light vanished, I opened my eyes to see a tall man, dark skin with medium length blond hair and the brightest blue eyes I have ever seen. They were brighter than Chris' and this guy was standing a good fifteen feet away from me.
I could tell from the white wings that stuck out from his silver cloak that he was an angel. I looked over at Michael and Cass and seen grins plastered widely on their faces. They turned to look at me, their smile never faltering. "What?" I asked, looking between the three angels. The blond smiled at me, taking a few steps closer to me before he stopped.
Michael put his hand back up on my shoulder, "Dawn, I want you to meet your father. Your real father. Jamaerah." I gasped, my eyes shooting directly over to the man standing no more than ten feet away from me now. This is my father? Edward walked slowly off the deck, coming to my side at a human pace, taking my hand in his. "Are you ok Dawn?" he thought out to me. I nodded my head, still speechless. "Go to him Dawn. Go." he squeezed my hand slightly, giving me his reassurance.
I took a couple of steps closer to my father, releasing Edward's hold onto my hand, letting my own fall to my side. I felt like my whole body was numb from the realization that my real father was finally standing right in front of me. How long have I waited to meet him, to finally see with my own eyes, that I still had someone who loved me, other than the Cullen's and Chris? Someone who was still blood related to me.
"Dawn." he whispered to me, raising his arms to me, as in wanting to hold me. I stopped still about eight feet away, seeing his smile falter slightly. I grinned, feeling my heart race slightly more. Before I could stop myself, I ran. I ran directly to him, colliding with him as he bent down slightly to wrap his arms around me as I wrapped my own arms around his neck tightly. A sob breaking from my throat, I buried my face in the crook of his neck, feeling myself lift up into the air from his height as he straightened up with me still in his arms, wrapping me in his warm embrace.
He held me tightly as I cried, tears streaming down my cheeks. Jamaerah brought me down to my feet, running one of his hands into my hair as he gripped me tightly with his other around my back. "Daughter." he whispered. I chuckled through the tears, pulling back slightly from his hold. "Father." I whispered back, smiling up at him while my tears still rolled down my reddened cheeks.
Jamaerah looked into my eyes, his darted back and forth between the two of mine. He raised the hand from the back of my head to run his fingers down the side of my face, wiping the tears from my cheeks with his thumb. "You have your mother's eyes." he whispered, grinning down at me. His own eyes clouding up with tears. I nodded, letting out a sobbed chuckle.
A single tear rolled down his cheek, glistening in the morning sun that instantly peaked through the clouds that had constantly rolled above us. I looked up, smiling at the sun, closing my eyes. "Thank you." I whispered to no one around me, but only to the one above, that I knew was smiling down upon us now. Jamaerah chuckled, knowing who I was speaking to.
"I'm so happy to see you. You don't know how long I have waited to meet you my precious girl." I opened my eyes, looking down slightly more to meet my father's eyes. Grinning, "I'm happy too. More than you'll ever know." I whispered the ending.
"And believe me," I heard a voice from behind us. Turning around, I seen the Cullen family, watching us. All of them in the arms of the ones they loved, watching us with intense emotions. Jasper grinned from above Alice's head. "I've not felt her this happy since she has been here. You really have made her happy." he said, winking at me.
I bowed my head before looking up at my father. His grin grew, crinkling his eyes in the corners, showing his brilliant white teeth. He pulled me closer, giving me a warm hug before loosening his grip to pull me to his side. "We have much to talk about." he whispered, kissing the top of my head. "Too much." I finished, looking back over at my other family.
"But first," Michael said, taking a step closer to the two of us with a smile of his own. "We have to finish with our training." He stopped walking, standing directly in between the Cullen's and my father and I. I looked over at Edward, seeing him smile with happiness. I smiled back at him before looking back up at my father. "Ah yes. You need to get your wings. Well," he said, pulling me to walk back to the others. "It looks as though my help is needed."
As soon as we got closer to the Cullen's, I wrapped both arms around Jamaerah, giving him a squeeze before letting him go. I ran the rest of the way to Edward, who in turn, grabbed me in a tight hug, spinning me around in his arms as soon as I got close to him. Laughing, I placed a kiss on his lips as he sat me down. "Feel better my love?" I nodded. "Oh yes. Much." I turned to look back at Jamaerah, my father, to see a quizzical look on his face. He looked between Edward and I, a question waiting to be asked in his eyes.
I chuckled, looking back at Edward before looking back at my father. "He can read my mind. As well as I can read his. But only if we project our thoughts to each other." I leaned back up to Edward's cheek as he leaned down to meet me half way, kissing him. "But it seems as though I can't help but to project almost all of my thoughts to him all the time." I looked back at my father to see him smiling, nodding at both of us.
Edward chuckled, "It's not like I don't mind it love. I love hearing your thoughts. For quite awhile I longed to hear what you had on your mind." he leaned down to kiss me on my head. "And now I know." he finished, whispering into my hair.
"Well!" Michael said quite loudly, clapping his hands together, making me jump slightly from the unexpected noise. The Cullen's chuckled at my reaction, making me blush. "We have a very important job to do and we need to get back to it. Now." Michael insisted, looking back at me sternly. I nodded, looking back at my father. He raised his hand, wanting me to come to him.
Edward kissed my head again before placing his hand in the middle of my back, insisting I go to him. Walking the few steps to my father and placing my hand in his, I felt an instant sense of peace and relief flow through me. I looked back at Jasper, who was looking at me with a puzzled look on his face. "It wasn't me darlin'." he said, answering my unspoken question. "That was all you." I grinned, knowing that I was for once, feeling mostly whole on the inside.
"Shall we?" Jamaerah asked quietly at my side. I nodded, looking up to meet his brilliant blue eyes. Grinning, I took a deep breath before centering myself, for once again, concentrating on manifesting my wings for the umpteenth time today.
***
Chris POV
Carlisle had called me, letting me know earlier today that Dawn would be practicing on trying to extract her wings. This was something that I did NOT want to miss, so I easily talked Paul into going with me up to the Cullen's to watch.
Once we finally got out of bed and showered, we quickly ate but was stopped by Sam wanting to talk quickly about Paul's patrolling times. Paul was scheduled to start patrolling this weekend and since this was already Thursday, I was getting a little nervous for the day to come when Paul would leave my side once again.
"So you're going to patrol the early morning hours correct? From eight to eleven for right now?" Sam asked Paul. Paul nodded from behind me, wrapping me in his arms around me. "Yup. Hopefully we'll be ok." he kissed the top of my head, making me smile and close my eyes. My eyes popped open quickly at a thought that just came to me. "Sam?" I looked over at him, anxious now, hoping that he would go with my idea. He met my eyes and raised an eye brow as in answer to his name.
"What would you think of me joining Paul? You know, as kind of a training patrol?" Paul groaned from behind me, lowering his head to mine. Both of Sam's eye brows shot up this time from surprise, not expecting my idea. "Um," he said, looking up at Paul who raised his head from mine. Paul sighed, as I turned in his arms. I was taking it that it wasn't Sam's decision to answer, but Paul's. Paul closed his eyes as if in defeat and opened them to look down at me. "Chris, I'm not too sure about that." I furrowed my eye brows at him, curiosity now taking the best of me.
"Why not? That would mean that I wouldn't be away from you and since I'm able to transform into a wolf myself, I need to start holding up my end of the pack. I need to know the smells, the area and more importantly how to fight." Paul shook his head, groaning again. He sighed, finally giving me the look of defeat.
Sam cleared his throat from behind me, "She has a point Paul. She needs to know as well." I nodded, looking over my shoulder to him, smiling my thanks. Paul groaned again, bringing my attention back to him. "Fine." he mumbled, almost too low for me to hear. "What was that?" I asked, poking him in the side. He jumped to the side, chuckling slightly. "I said fine." he said much louder. He grabbed me back into his arms. "But under one stipulation." he looked at me intensely. I nodded, waiting for him to finish. "You have to listen to what I say. You have to follow my command." Grinning, "Oooh, the big bad Paul is going to command me huh?" I huskily asked.
Paul put his hand under my chin as he leaned down, kissing me gently. "You know it babe." I chuckled, reaching back to smack his ass. Sam cleared his throat again, making us remember that he was still there. Paul laughed, seeing me blush as I turned around in Paul's arms again to face the Alpha of the pack. Sam smiled, nodding at me. "Ok, so both of you will patrol Saturday, starting at eight." he directed his gaze up to Paul. "Make sure you pay attention to your surroundings Paul. You don't want to get too wrapped up in training that you're not paying attention to the smells as well."
Paul agreed and finished up the conversation. We took to the Escalade, deciding for once not to take our wolf forms and just taking the day like normal human beings for once. Paul drove as I rolled down the windows, letting the wind blow throughout the truck. Paul had turned up the radio, letting the newest hits blast out through the windows as we smiled at each other.
After our ten minute drive, we finally turned down the three mile driveway that led up to the Cullen's home. Once reaching the front of the house, Paul parked next to Edward's Volvo and Emmett's Jeep. Jumping out, Paul waited on me as I reached his side before taking my hand as we walked up to the front door, opening it before knocking.
The unwritten rule for us entering the house, was that we could enter the house on our own, as long as there was a vehicle parked out front which meant that there was someone home. If not, we had to knock, just in case there were vehicles in the garage and someone was needing some private time, or to see if they were even home. Which, as I came to realize someone was almost always home.
We walked through the house, not hearing a soul, but still calling out to see if someone was around. We heard a door opening in the back of the house, Alice hollering back at us. "We're all out back guys! Come on out!" Paul and I chuckled as we made our way to the kitchen sliding glass doors. We seen the whole Cullen family outside along with Dawn, Michael and Cass. A blond man, standing next to Dawn was looking down at her with love in his eyes as Dawn had her eyes closed, concentrating on something.
We walked out, stepping down off the porch to join the rest of the family, watching Dawn's every breath that was taken. Walking up to Jasper and Alice, I leaned over and whispered to Alice, "What's she doing?" Alice grinned as she kept her gaze on Dawn. She replied, whispering the same, "Trying to extract her wings. She's having a difficult time, but she'll get it in the next ten minutes." I pulled my eye brows together, trying to figure out how she knew this. Last I knew, she couldn't see Dawn. "How do you know when Alice?" I whispered back to her. "Oh, I don't know really, I just see everyone else happy. She's been at this for two and a half hours now. She's almost there." I nodded my head, "Ah." I whispered.
I leaned back closer to her again, "So who's the blond angel?" my curiosity got the best of me. Alice finally broke her gaze from Dawn to look at me, a gleam in her eye and a wide smile on her lips. "It's her father. Jamaerah." My eyes widened as I jerked my head back to the tall blond man. "Oh." I breathed out in a gust of air.
Now that she said it, the resemblance was uncanny. Dawn didn't have the blond hair, but she had the same shape as her father and the same chin. Their body build was the same, but her father's was built more. Their stance was the same as well. It appeared that Dawn had more of her mother's looks, but there was a lot of her father in her that there was more than I could explain.
I looked around, noticing that everyone was here, minus Steven. I leaned over again, knowing I had to be getting on Alice's nerves by now, but she never showed an ounce of it. "Where's Steven?" I whispered finally to her. Alice leaned her head towards me again, "He left to run to the store. Esme sent him with a list of things that Dawn was wanting to eat again." she quickly said back. Huh, you'd think he'd want to be here for this. "Why didn't he stick around a little bit longer?" I whispered over again to her. Alice shrugged, "I don't know. He said he'd give this time to all of us since we were closer to Dawn. He said something about family bonding. How this was a family affair. I don't know." I nodded my head, understanding completely.
Paul stepped from the side of me, to behind me, wrapping me in his arms like before, placing his chin on my head. We stood there, for another five minutes before Dawn's face scrunched up with determination and I seen her lean slightly forward. A look of pain crossed her face as something protruded from her back slowly. I gasped as I watched the tips of white feathers break through the back of her white tank top, ripping it as the wings slowly came out.
Dawn gasped as the pain continued, her breaths coming out like pants as she leaned forward, placing her hands on her knees. Edward took a few steps forward as Dawn let out a scream, falling on her knees. Her hands placed on the ground below her. Jamaerah took a few steps closer to us, holding out his hand to Edward, letting him know to stand back. Edward stopped, but I could see in his eyes that he wanted to come closer to his mate.
Dawn lowered her head to her hands below her, screaming again. In that next second, her wings literally blew out from her back, expanding widely, stretching to the sides as she gasped for breath. Dawn groaned as she let her wings fall downwards, laying on the ground to the sides of her like they were too heavy for her to hold up.
"Dawn?" Jamaerah whispered, kneeling down to place a hand on the back of her head. "Are you alright?" Dawn nodded, taking a deep breath before pulling herself to sit on her legs. Her face looked tired, like her whole energy had been used up. Her eyes closed, she kept breathing in through her nose and out of her mouth. "Damn." she whispered, opening her eyes up to look at her father.
Jamaerah smiled at her as he reached up to hold her face in one of his hands. "You did it." he whispered. Dawn looked over to the side of her, her eyes widening at the sight of the massive wings that still laid to the side of her, the tips and lower parts of the wings laying on the ground. She looked back over at us and grinned, looking at all of her family before her eyes laid on Paul and I.
She put her hands up to her mouth and sobbed. "You came." she said, as she lowered her hands, showing her lower lip quivering. I smiled, nodding, walking out from Paul's hold. I walked slowly to her as she slowly raised herself up off the ground, Jamaerah taking a step back and looking over at me. He smiled, as he realized who I was, making room for me to step up to his daughter.
I closed the distance quickly, wrapping her in my arms as I hugged her. "You did it. I seen you do it. You're magnificent!" I whispered to her, so happy that she had concurred probably the hardest thing that she was going to go through. She sobbed in my shoulder, pulling back to look at me. "Ugh, that was so painful!" she laughed as she reached up, wiping away her tears.
"That's the only time it's going to be painful Dawn. The next time you do it, it won't even feel like a pinch." Jamaerah said, placing a hand on both of our shoulders. Dawn sighed, "Thank goodness. I don't know how I'd be able to do it every time." I smiled over at her, my arm still wrapped around her waist. "My God." I whispered, looking over at her wings at a closer glance. I quickly reached up, covering my mouth as my eyes got wide. "I'm sorry." I mumbled through my hand, looking at Jamaerah. He chuckled, shaking his head as he looked at me. "Quite alright. I suppose that's about the right reaction when looking at them this close for the first time.
The Cullen's chuckled from behind me. I knew that was their reaction as well, seeing her wings stretch up. Dawn smiled, looking over to the side. I could tell it was a lot for her to raise them, pulling them in towards her then pushing them back out before raising them high into the sky. A look of determination was again etched on her face.
The rest of the Cullen's as well as the other two angels and Paul made their way closer to us. Now curious on their own as to what they looked like up close. Emmett was baffled, his face full of awe. I had to chuckle at the big oaf's face. If a vampire could be speechless, it would be Emmett. "Awesome." he whispered, causing the rest of us to chuckle. The rest of the family was beaming, happy that she finally concurred another goal set in her new life.
"Well, Dawn. Are you ready for the next step?" Michael asked from the side. She looked back over at him with surprise. "Fly? Are you serious?" Michael smiled, nodding at her. "I'm serious. We need to get you up in the air today." Dawn looked over at her father, her eyes filled with worry. "Will you teach me?" Jamaerah nodded, smiling as he leaned over and kissed the top of her head. "It would be my honor." he whispered. Dawn smiled as she wrapped her arms around her father's waist.
Cass clapped his hand down on Jamaerah's shoulder. "Just make sure you tell her how to land before she attempts it." he chuckled. Jamaerah laughed and nodded, pulling back from Dawn and took her hand. "Ready?" he asked her. Dawn took a deep breath before looking over all of us, waiting for our encouragement.
"You're so ready girl." I said, beaming at her. She nodded, grinning widely. Everyone gave their praise, saying it was now or never and she would be great at it. She finally turned to her father, taking both of his hands in hers, squeezing them before letting go. She turned, walking to Edward as he grinned to her. "My angel." he whispered, running his fingers down her jaw. She placed her hands on his chest as he wrapped his arms around her. "You know it babe." she said, standing on her tip toes to kiss him. She gave him a tight hug, pulling back from him. "Be careful my love." he whispered down to her. "I'll take good care of her Edward. You have my promise." Jamaerah said from behind her.
Dawn sighed, smiling slightly as she pulled back from her mate to stand next to her father. She looked down as if she was pulling all of her confidence inwards and looked up at her father, nodding. "I'm ready." Jamaerah smiled, then proceeded to explain to her how to take off as we all stepped back to give them room. After the quick explanation, Jamaerah stepped in front of Dawn slightly, but to the side so that she would be able to watch him take off.
"Don't fall Dawn!" hollered Emmett from behind me. Everyone chuckled as he dodged one of Rosalie's head smackers, racing to the side of the family. We laughed as Dawn shook her head, smiling at him. "You just wait Emmett McCarthy. You're going to get that 'ride' that you asked for the other day. And I don't mean on a wolf either." she threatened. Emmett's eyes widened at the thought of being flown through the air. I could swear he turned another shade of pale.
We laughed at his expression as Jamaerah nodded to Dawn, smiling, beating his wings to show her how to take off. Dawn mimicked his movements, and within moments, was floating off of the ground by about three feet. I threw my hands up to my mouth, excitement rushing through my veins. She's doing it! I thought out, screaming in my head. Dawn smiled as she looked over at her father who also, was floating in the air at the same height. "Higher." he insisted. Dawn beat her wings harder, making herself float ten feet up in the air, Jamaerah keeping up with her height. "Higher." we heard him say.
She went up to about thirty feet, all of us now craning our necks to watch them in the air. "Let's go." was all he said and they turned their body's, laying horizontal with the ground as they pounded their long, wide wings in the air and headed towards the reservation.
Silence filled the air as we seen them fly above the tree tops, awe filling my insides. I could not believe what I had just witnessed. I thought I was amazing, but I was nothing compared to my best friend. She was something. She would be everything. I was so glad to call her my best friend.
We all turned to each other, silence still filled the air as I seen un-fallen tears in the Cullen's eyes. No doubt happy and in awe themselves over witnessing such an event for someone so close to them. We silently walked into the house to wait for their return, knowing that Dawn and her father needed the much needed quiet time to themselves now that they finally found each other.
Michael and Cass stuck around, wanting to discuss more things with Dawn once they returned. Alice skipped off to Carlisle's study to start the vacation plans to the Vatican City, Rome. Edward walked to the piano, softly playing a melody that was slow and relaxing as Esme and Rosalie made their way to the kitchen to prepare something to eat for the ones that would need supper. Carlisle, Jasper and Emmett sat in the living room, quietly talking about what had happened, Jasper feeling content. Paul and I stood in each others arms in the living room, silently looking at each other. Not a thought in our heads as we took in the love of the family that surrounded us.
This was truly where I belonged. In this reality, in this life. This was were Dawn and I truly were meant to be.
So there you have it! She finally got her wings! UGH, it's been quite a ways from the beginning of the story to finally get here! But the story isn't over. Still another vamp working it's way into the story! It's gonna be a few chapters, as I have things in the workings till then, but it will happen! Next chapter I'm trying to get my fuzzy head to work on will be another intense, hurting chapter. But it's gonna be one that will need to be written. Questions are going to be answered finally from Jamaerah :o) Plus, I think a revealing is in order!
A friend of mine asked if this was a cheating story. (she just started reading the first four chapters). No, it's not. If anyone has followed this story, they see that when one reality has been erased, what is one to do? Would one still feel obligated to their lover's faith, even if their faith is no longer with them in one's different reality? They might as well not exist. I could have written it like that, but no. Because I have a purpose for my ending on how I want it to go. If you want a hint, I will give you one: Think back and tell me what Jamaerah is the Arch Angel of. Hmmm? Do you get it now? :o)
So I've gotten ten reviews on this story. How about we try to get to twenty? It doesn't matter whether I get one or one hundred by the time I'm done writting this story, it's just all for fun for me and for you to read! But I seriously would like to know what all you think. Am I doing a good job? Could I do something better?
I have a chapter in mind later on about Dawn playing the piano and singing again, but I'm not too sure when I'm going to do it. Just like anyone, a person needs a stress reliever. That's what Dawn's is, to listen to music and let her mind free itself. But let me know if you think I should do it, Dawn's got alot of stress with having training coming up. It would be something simple, maybe only a page long in my Word document. Usually my chapters run between nine to twelve pages long, so it wouldn't be a very long scene. Or give me some other ideas! I'd love to hear from you!
Here's to another chapter that will be working it's way to you; and some heavy medication to get me to sleep through the night! LOL
XOXOXO