Disclaimer: The two songs in this chap, the first one "Around the Corner of Your Eye" belongs to Ateens, the second one "With All That I Am" (also belongs to Ateens; guess I just like them…not really, but the songs fit in good)

Monica sat at the window, peering out. A few hours before, she had been again mad at Andrew, but now, she was worried about him. It was already ten-thirty and the streets were pitch black. Brian had come home from school with a black and blue mark from getting in a fight, Rose had come home with a D on her History exam, and Andrew hadn't come home; that was the problem. She had thought the latest fight would soon pass, but maybe that wasn't what Andrew had thought. It had been at least six hours since he had left. And now, as Monica stared out the window, the realization that maybe he wouldn't be coming home struck her. The thought was almost funny at first, about her waiting for him to get home. It sounded hilarious as she silently thought it over. Never in the past had she been awaiting for his presence in their own household. But then, as the minutes passed and the night turned to twilight, (which in this case means that you can't tell the difference between a black and white string for it's so dark) her emotions came to drown out her anger. She did love him and care for him still; it was just that grudge that was getting in the way. Suddenly, Tess' words came to rest upon her dreary soul.

"Grudges don't hold onto themselves, there's always someone holding onto them."

Was it true? Was she the one holding onto the grudge? Was she the one responsible for this whole messed up situation? How long would this human form take to ware off? Then, the beeping of the clock, informing her that it was the next hour, shattered her abashed thoughts. It was already eleven and Andrew had to work tomorrow. Surely, even though the whole job thing was new, he wouldn't forget that. And him being a fireman, he had to wake up early and go to bed late. And would he have to spend his nights in the firehall, awaiting the bell to ring? Wouldn't she get lonely for him if that kept up?

"Maybe," she whispered quietly, "If I go to sleep, when I wake up, I'll be home, and in God's presence once again. Why am I waiting up for him? He'll be angry at me if he comes home anyway." So Monica decided to sleep, thinking that that would clear her thoughts. She carefully crawled under the silky covers of the grand bed and sighed as he head fell upon the soft pillow. She reached up for the lamp and turned it off. She shut her eyes, but her mind remained on one person. All through the hours that passed, she thought of him. She couldn't help it. As she slowly drifted off, her dreams still revolved around Andrew.

If you're lost without me, wondering where I might be,

I'll be waiting just around the corner of your eye,

Like an angel watching.

Meet me when you're dreaming.

I'll be waiting just around the corner of your eye.

Monica raised her head off the pillow so quickly that she almost scared herself. She turned around just in time to see a figure leaving the room at a fast pace. Her first instinct was to call out to him.

"Andrew? Andrew, wait." She flung the covers aside and leapt off the bed. He hesitated and then stopped, but then immediately continued out. "Andrew! Andrew, please wait," Monica called softly. He slowly turned around and folded his arms against his chest.

"What?" he managed sternly. Monica looked at him and then glanced back at the glowing digital clock.

"It's one-twenty, how can you say what? Where were you? I waited for you until eleven-ten, then I couldn't stay awake any longer. I was…I was worried." She touched his arm, but then quickly let her hand down and looked at the ground.

"Well, that's a surprise," he mumbled. "I'm sleeping on the couch. Just came to get my pajamas."

"Where were you?" she asked again.

"I told you where I was going to be before, Monica. I was on a walk…"

"For about seven hours? What kind of walk is that?" she asked him. He just shrugged.

"A long one…the kind where you get to think in peace." He managed a slight and quick smile and walked down the hallway and down the stairs, heading for the living room.

"Goodnight," she called. But there was no answer. She looked down and frowned. How much damage had she done to him that he was ignoring her?

After he had put on his shorts and T-shirt, Andrew fell onto the couch and immediately closed his eyes. Why had he not wanted to face her? She seemed to have forgotten about everything. But he, no, he hadn't. The fact that she had acted like that towards him earlier still upset him. And the way he had acted towards her, it surprised him greatly. Why did he get so angry at her for just a little thing? It was like he was…scared? No, couldn't be. But as he thought more, he came to realize he was. But scared to face her, or scared to tell her his new feelings, he couldn't tell. He decided to leave it and ponder it in the morning. What he didn't know was that his dreams would grasp his mind while he slept.

Verse One
Last night, I came home too late, and you were there waiting.

I know it's easy to call.

I guess I wasn't thinking of you.

It's not that I don't care you should know me better by now.

Chorus
I am sorry that I made you lonely and sad, I am sorry I made you feel bad.

What I am trying to say is I'm not always that way,

So love me for all that I am.

Verse two
I know I often forget to say that I love you.

And yes, I truly regret the times I might have hurt you that way.

I guess I wasn't thinking of you.

It's not that I don't care you should know me better by now. (chorus)

"Huh?" Andrew awoke to the phone ringing. He shook his head. His dreams were getting to him. He picked up the phone and answered it in a gruff voice. "Hello?"

"Hi, I'm calling on behalf of the community. We need this fighter at the hall. I'm sorry to disturb you and your family so early, but two called in sick," a familiar woman's voice said.

"Tess?" Andrew asked in a surprised voice.

"Oh, Angel Baby, it's you. They just gave me a list of numbers with a last name. I wasn't sure…say, Dahline is your last name. Pretty, Baby, pretty."

"Tess, why are you calling me?" Andrew asked in a confused voice.

"Oh, you didn't know that you worked at the fire hall?" she asked.

"Oh, that's why. But it's only three in the morning," Andrew groaned as he glanced at the grandfather clock above him.

"I'm sorry, Baby," she said. "Say, how are you and Miss Wings…"

"Tess!" a stern voice in the background cut her off. Andrew stared into the phone and smiled. Right away he recognized the strong tone.

"Uh, Angel Boy, I have to go…"

"Now!" the stern voice said. "You just had a simple order. Pick up the phone, dial, and notify each fighter that they were needed."

"Yes, Sam," Tess sighed. "Bye, Angel Boy, see you soon…"

"Tess!" Sam hollered. Andrew smiled and said goodbye. He stood up and yawned, realizing how tired he was. He had been out so late. Maybe Monica was right, maybe he should've told her…no! He didn't have to let her know everything about his life. That was his own business.

"Andrew? I heard the phone ring. Is everything all right?" the intimate Irish lilt asked sleepily.

"Yeah, I just got to go work," he mumbled, not even locking eyes with her. In fact, he didn't even look at her, and that's what he intended to do.

"Are you still…"

"I think I'll get some breakfast at the fast food place down the block on my way." Andrew folded the blanket carefully on the couch-at least it was careful to his eyes. To a woman, it would be very messy.

"I can make you something," Monica said. She flicked on the light. Andrew covered his eyes and squinted.

"No, I already said that I'd pick up something. So that's what I'm going to do," the obstinate angel of death replied.

"Andrew, seriously, stop being so stubborn," Monica said. She finally got him to look at the little Irish face. "I'm going to make you something." Before he could answer, she ran into the kitchen and he heard the fridge open and the stove turn on.

"For goodness sakes, God, how do you expect me to argue with that?" He pointed towards the kitchen, a light streaming out of the doorway and onto the floor.

"I don't, Andrew, I don't."

Andrew could almost hear his conscious biting his ear. He sighed and rubbed his eyes. The tired and weary angel walked into the kitchen and right away caught glance of the petite woman running around as quickly as possible. She was everywhere at once in the huge kitchen. Only a few minutes later, Andrew found himself seated at the table across from the auburn, a pile of waffles and a nice cup of steaming coffee in front of him. He grabbed the fork in front of him and smiled.

"Should I be afraid?" His words startled himself. What happened to the grudge. It seemed like they both had their times when they would forget about it. Monica just beamed wildly and shook her head.

"No, I just microwaved them. The coffee I made, but hey, I make the best coffee right?" she asked in a cheery tone. They both laughed, filling the room with a long wanted joy and happiness.

"Actually, they're good and so is the coffee." He managed to blow a kiss at her and she giggled.

"How are you going to get used to getting up this late?"

"You mean this early?" He took another bite. "Well, if I have to I have to. Say, guess what. Tess works at the hall."

"Really?" Monica eagerly asked. "Can I bring you to work?"

"Sure, why not…oh, except one problem, Sam was there and I bet he still is. It appears that Tess is only supposed to interact with us as long as she promises not to say anything about you-know-what."

"So Sam is supervising her and making sure she doesn't?" Monica asked.

"I guess. Okay, I'm done…it was awfully good. Now, it's off to work."

"Okay," Monica said. "Oh, Andy, you probably want to get dressed and comb your hair." She giggled. Andrew glanced down at the T-shirt and then looked up at his blond hair that was going every which way.

"I suppose you're right." He laughed with her. For the moment, the angels had forgotten the grudge.