"Can't you sleep baby?" Tess asked as she went into Zoë's room and
saw her sitting there. It was way past her bedtime.
"No."
"Why not sweetie?"
"Because I am worried. I don't like just sitting here when I could be
helping! I am an Angel, it is my nature!"
"I know sweetie. But Uncle Sam and I are here, and were Angels. It is our
nature to help too. But we are here with you. Besides, I would have thought
that with all the casework that you have seen, you would have known by now
that you can't always help, no matter how bad you want to. You just have to
wait for God, or well, in this case, your Mom to tell you when you can
help."
"That's a new one."
"I'm surprised."
"I'm only eight. There's a lot that I don't know!"
"I'm sorry that I keep forgetting that."
"Its ok, I understand why you do." She said as Tess got up from the side of
Zoë's bed to leave the room. "Do you think that Tessa will be okay?"
"Yes. I know that she will. Good night Angel baby."
It was beginning to grow dark. The sun was setting behind the California hills. The smell of salt water however remained ever more present. "I think we're lost." "That's a little apparent Adam. Sorry. I am just a little bit nervous about Tessa being with Monique. But, on the other hand, everyone is, right? Think how Monica must feel. I am really glad that I am not her right now." "I'm glad I'm not Andrew. Are you jealous of them?" "How could you tell? Don't lie to me; I know that you are too. But lets not use the word jealousy, I absolutely despise jealousy for everything it is. "Thou shall not covet," after all. But its human nature, and although we Angels aren't human, we aren't perfect either. The plus side to this is that God knows it and will forgive us for our transgressions." "Very true. Brilliant observation." "Meanwhile, what in the world are we supposed to find out here anyway? Right, like Tessa's just going to be lying on the ground somewhere out here." "You never know." "That's true, but it is not very likely."
About fifteen miles north west of them Tessa woke-up and rose from her spot on the ground. She looked around her. She would have loved to have seen a Starbucks, instead of an actual woodland creature. But in order to see an actual Starbucks ever again, she needed to get up and keep walking. The very thought of Starbucks, kept her going for the next few hours when she felt like she couldn't.
"Good morning fellow deliverers of evil. Is everything going according to plan?" Monique asked as she climbed on to the deck of the boat. "Not really, when we were planning the rest of our scheme, our little captive seems to have slipped a way."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes."
"Well, we'll get her later. For now, we should just wait. I'm sure Monica and Andrew, and no doubt a few other angels have come looking for her. And after all it is a big lake, is it not?" Monique commented as she went to the bar of the boat and began to make herself a Martini. "Why do you like to pick on these particular angels anyway?" "Well, if you had a twin who was an Angel, wouldn't you pick on her?" "Yeah." "Well, your so new that you haven't even seen Monica yet, and Monica is, in a sense, my twin. I don't think I'll ever forget any of the times in which I have harassed them. My particular favorite was the day Tessa was born. I didn't really do that much that day, but I did show up, I just had to see my twin's baby, I just had to. And I am disappointed in that girl!" "Who?" "Tessa! The day she was born, she was so cute and sweet that she could have easily passed for something evil. Now she's just like her Mother, a good little Angel. And just like her Mother, if it weren't for her addiction to coffee, she'd be hopeless." "What about the little one?" "She's too young to tell anything, plus I didn't show up the day she was born." "But if we wait, won't they eventually just surround us?" "Good point! We must start our new plan at once!"
A few hours before, Tessa had again succumbed to sleep. Instead of waking up in the grass, she woke-up inside the boat with Monique staring at her. "How did you find me?" Asked an astonished Tessa. "Oh please, you were easy to find, it was Maggie who gave us a hard time." Monique laughed. "Monique, why do you bother?" "What with you and your family?" She asked as she made herself yet another Martini. "Yeah." "Well, let me put it this way; say you were a Demon. You are evil and full of hate. You especially don't like angels; you used to be one. You just happen to have an identical twin that is a really good angel. In addition to being an Angel she literally irritates the living hell out of you. Now, as a Demon, would you not do the same as I?" "No. Why did you stop being an Angel anyway, I know that I've heard Kathleen's entire story a plethora of times, but I never knew why you turned to the dark side. I don't understand who could ever leave the light for any reason." "I don't know. I guess it all started in a galaxy far, far a way..." "Hey, that can't be true, that's just the beginning of Star Wars!" "Oh, alright, I will tell you the truth. It was a long time ago though, in fact, it all started in a century far, far a way and a time long gone. Ok, it was only the American Revolution. In that time period I had spent much time in France, which is now pretty funny because the only war they have ever won without out side assistance was against them selves. Anyway, it was the Revolutionary War, and we, that is your Mom and I were on assignment together." "Wait." Tessa interrupted, "how come my Mom doesn't remember you as her sister, or really at all?" "I guess my turning to the dark side was too much for her and she blocked all memory of me out of her mind." "If your actually telling the truth, which I highly doubt that you are; then didn't you miss her too?" Monique was silent. "Yeah, but one gets over it. After all, we don't have the same relationship that we used to, we are now perhaps the greatest of enemies, but at least I get to see her don't I? Besides, after that, I became best friends with her best friend. And on this side of things Tessa, you have true freedom." "I knew it! I knew you were going to try and get me to turn to your side I knew it! Now this is beginning to remind me of Star Wars. Its like I am Luke and you're the Emperor!" "Tessa, this is no joke, do not underestimate the powers of the dark side." "But, God created you, remember? He can do anything."
"Hey, didn't Tess say that Tessa was going boating, with that thing..?" Monica asked. "Yeah, I think so, why do you ask?" "Because there's a boat, and I bet that if we could just get to it, we'd be surprised at what we might find." "Oh, I see what you mean. And knowing Monique, that's what we will find."
When Monica and Andrew finally got on to the ship, they were startled to see Adam and Gloria. "I guess we all had the same idea." Adam laughed. "It would be quicker if we all stayed and looked for her here. Plus, this is the last place we haven't looked and the most logical." "Your right Gloria." A few minutes later, Tessa was still sitting inside the boat listening to Monique talk about how wonderful the ways of evil were. She looked up and saw four people standing on the deck. And although she could really only see their feet, she noticed their feet and shoes in an instant. She was overjoyed, but how would they ever find her, obviously, that's what they were there for, but still she had to try and let them know she was there. Thankfully Monique was too busy talking and too interested in her Martini to really even notice if Tessa was there. Upon noticing this, Tessa got up and quietly made her way towards the door. She did not care how much noise she made, she simply ran out and let the door slam behind her. And instead of just yelling something out, she walked up to the crowed and hugged her Mother. Gloria smiled upon realizing that they did not even have to look for her. "Oh, not now, Tessa honey, were looking for... oh thank God, you're ok." She said as she realized that she was there and began to cry again as she grabbed her and held her close. Tessa felt the same level of emotion, but tried to hold back her tears by simply holding on to her Mother like she'd never let go. Andrew hugged both of them and Adam and Gloria hugged each other as well. Suddenly they herd the sound of an evil, rather annoying laughter. They all just stared at Monique. "Well hello again Monica. I was just telling your daughter about how much I would love to see you." "Is that so?" "Why yes. We're sisters after all, aren't we?" "Anyone like you is no friend or sister of mine. Meanwhile, are you drunk?" "She is a little, and it's a good thing that you got here, cause she was giving me the Luke Skywalker treatment." "Trying to turn my wee girl to the Dark Side, aren't we Monique?" "Yes, of course I am. I was telling my colleagues earlier about the day she was born, she was so cute, and I thought that she would be so good at being evil." "You were there?" Asked an astonished Andrew. "Yes, but I noticed you weren't." "I was on assignment. Mon.." "I didn't tell you I didn't see the point in worrying you any. Besides, she for some odd reason was nice that day. Why on Earth was that?" "Why on Earth was that?" Monique mocked. "Because, I absolutely had to see her. Plus I am afraid of Tess and she never let that girl out of her sight or her arms. I couldn't have done anything, even if I had wanted to." "Wow, the thought to kidnap me at birth crossed your mind, what a shock!" "No, you would've been to irritating for me to handle as a newborn." Then they heard a girl scream. "Oh no Maggie! She's the other girl they kidnapped, and she's human too!" "We'll go look for her." Adam volunteered as he took Gloria's hand and led her to find Maggie. "Tessa, go with them." Tessa was hesitant but she followed Gloria and Adam anyway. "Monique, we have to talk." "Oh yes, yes we do."
"May be we should go and help too." Zoë suggested as she helped Tess make cookies. "I told you, its not the right time and it is not your place." "But, I wanna help." "I know you do, but one day baby, your going to be so sick of helping people that you can't stand it anymore. Because even though we love our jobs, even we angels have our limitations." "But, I'm worried. I love Tessa, and I..." "Think of it this way, she's an angel too, nothing whatsoever can happen to her." "But what if she becomes a Demon?" Zoë's voice was shaky and fearful and barely above a whisper. "That is not going to happen. The Father has plans for your sister and he loves her. Those plans do not involve becoming a Demon." "Pwomise?" "Promise." "Why are we making so many cookies?" "That's another part of the plan."
Tessa ran to catch up with Adam and Gloria, but suddenly she couldn't find them anywhere. Her head filled with fear and her heart began to beat rapidly. She looked around her and there was no one in sight. She felt that at any moment someone would just attack her. She was comforted when she turned around, she could hear her Dad talking, and that gave her the strength she needed to go and look for her assignment. But meanwhile, where were Aunt Gloria and Uncle Adam? She looked for them as she looked for Maggie, but she never found them. Then she finally spotted Maggie. Who was in the exact same position that Tess had been in herself some hours earlier. The Demons were so carelessly stupid. Tessa couldn't really even believe it. She approached Maggie who was sitting on the floor of the boat. And as she did, Tessa realized that she was glowing. She extended her hand to the girl as she stood before her. "Maggie." She said as Maggie looked up. Her eyes grew huge at the slight before her. "Don't be afraid, I am an Angel. I am here to help you; to help you find your way. God wants you to know that he loves you very much and that you do not belong on the dark side. He has chosen you to be on his side." Maggie smiled. "Really?" Came her weary reply. "Really very truly." Maggie got up and hugged Tessa. Meanwhile, behind them, two Demons vanished into the darkness, not to be seen again by Tessa for quite a long time I might add.
It was beginning to grow dark. The sun was setting behind the California hills. The smell of salt water however remained ever more present. "I think we're lost." "That's a little apparent Adam. Sorry. I am just a little bit nervous about Tessa being with Monique. But, on the other hand, everyone is, right? Think how Monica must feel. I am really glad that I am not her right now." "I'm glad I'm not Andrew. Are you jealous of them?" "How could you tell? Don't lie to me; I know that you are too. But lets not use the word jealousy, I absolutely despise jealousy for everything it is. "Thou shall not covet," after all. But its human nature, and although we Angels aren't human, we aren't perfect either. The plus side to this is that God knows it and will forgive us for our transgressions." "Very true. Brilliant observation." "Meanwhile, what in the world are we supposed to find out here anyway? Right, like Tessa's just going to be lying on the ground somewhere out here." "You never know." "That's true, but it is not very likely."
About fifteen miles north west of them Tessa woke-up and rose from her spot on the ground. She looked around her. She would have loved to have seen a Starbucks, instead of an actual woodland creature. But in order to see an actual Starbucks ever again, she needed to get up and keep walking. The very thought of Starbucks, kept her going for the next few hours when she felt like she couldn't.
"Good morning fellow deliverers of evil. Is everything going according to plan?" Monique asked as she climbed on to the deck of the boat. "Not really, when we were planning the rest of our scheme, our little captive seems to have slipped a way."
"Oh, is that so?"
"Yes."
"Well, we'll get her later. For now, we should just wait. I'm sure Monica and Andrew, and no doubt a few other angels have come looking for her. And after all it is a big lake, is it not?" Monique commented as she went to the bar of the boat and began to make herself a Martini. "Why do you like to pick on these particular angels anyway?" "Well, if you had a twin who was an Angel, wouldn't you pick on her?" "Yeah." "Well, your so new that you haven't even seen Monica yet, and Monica is, in a sense, my twin. I don't think I'll ever forget any of the times in which I have harassed them. My particular favorite was the day Tessa was born. I didn't really do that much that day, but I did show up, I just had to see my twin's baby, I just had to. And I am disappointed in that girl!" "Who?" "Tessa! The day she was born, she was so cute and sweet that she could have easily passed for something evil. Now she's just like her Mother, a good little Angel. And just like her Mother, if it weren't for her addiction to coffee, she'd be hopeless." "What about the little one?" "She's too young to tell anything, plus I didn't show up the day she was born." "But if we wait, won't they eventually just surround us?" "Good point! We must start our new plan at once!"
A few hours before, Tessa had again succumbed to sleep. Instead of waking up in the grass, she woke-up inside the boat with Monique staring at her. "How did you find me?" Asked an astonished Tessa. "Oh please, you were easy to find, it was Maggie who gave us a hard time." Monique laughed. "Monique, why do you bother?" "What with you and your family?" She asked as she made herself yet another Martini. "Yeah." "Well, let me put it this way; say you were a Demon. You are evil and full of hate. You especially don't like angels; you used to be one. You just happen to have an identical twin that is a really good angel. In addition to being an Angel she literally irritates the living hell out of you. Now, as a Demon, would you not do the same as I?" "No. Why did you stop being an Angel anyway, I know that I've heard Kathleen's entire story a plethora of times, but I never knew why you turned to the dark side. I don't understand who could ever leave the light for any reason." "I don't know. I guess it all started in a galaxy far, far a way..." "Hey, that can't be true, that's just the beginning of Star Wars!" "Oh, alright, I will tell you the truth. It was a long time ago though, in fact, it all started in a century far, far a way and a time long gone. Ok, it was only the American Revolution. In that time period I had spent much time in France, which is now pretty funny because the only war they have ever won without out side assistance was against them selves. Anyway, it was the Revolutionary War, and we, that is your Mom and I were on assignment together." "Wait." Tessa interrupted, "how come my Mom doesn't remember you as her sister, or really at all?" "I guess my turning to the dark side was too much for her and she blocked all memory of me out of her mind." "If your actually telling the truth, which I highly doubt that you are; then didn't you miss her too?" Monique was silent. "Yeah, but one gets over it. After all, we don't have the same relationship that we used to, we are now perhaps the greatest of enemies, but at least I get to see her don't I? Besides, after that, I became best friends with her best friend. And on this side of things Tessa, you have true freedom." "I knew it! I knew you were going to try and get me to turn to your side I knew it! Now this is beginning to remind me of Star Wars. Its like I am Luke and you're the Emperor!" "Tessa, this is no joke, do not underestimate the powers of the dark side." "But, God created you, remember? He can do anything."
"Hey, didn't Tess say that Tessa was going boating, with that thing..?" Monica asked. "Yeah, I think so, why do you ask?" "Because there's a boat, and I bet that if we could just get to it, we'd be surprised at what we might find." "Oh, I see what you mean. And knowing Monique, that's what we will find."
When Monica and Andrew finally got on to the ship, they were startled to see Adam and Gloria. "I guess we all had the same idea." Adam laughed. "It would be quicker if we all stayed and looked for her here. Plus, this is the last place we haven't looked and the most logical." "Your right Gloria." A few minutes later, Tessa was still sitting inside the boat listening to Monique talk about how wonderful the ways of evil were. She looked up and saw four people standing on the deck. And although she could really only see their feet, she noticed their feet and shoes in an instant. She was overjoyed, but how would they ever find her, obviously, that's what they were there for, but still she had to try and let them know she was there. Thankfully Monique was too busy talking and too interested in her Martini to really even notice if Tessa was there. Upon noticing this, Tessa got up and quietly made her way towards the door. She did not care how much noise she made, she simply ran out and let the door slam behind her. And instead of just yelling something out, she walked up to the crowed and hugged her Mother. Gloria smiled upon realizing that they did not even have to look for her. "Oh, not now, Tessa honey, were looking for... oh thank God, you're ok." She said as she realized that she was there and began to cry again as she grabbed her and held her close. Tessa felt the same level of emotion, but tried to hold back her tears by simply holding on to her Mother like she'd never let go. Andrew hugged both of them and Adam and Gloria hugged each other as well. Suddenly they herd the sound of an evil, rather annoying laughter. They all just stared at Monique. "Well hello again Monica. I was just telling your daughter about how much I would love to see you." "Is that so?" "Why yes. We're sisters after all, aren't we?" "Anyone like you is no friend or sister of mine. Meanwhile, are you drunk?" "She is a little, and it's a good thing that you got here, cause she was giving me the Luke Skywalker treatment." "Trying to turn my wee girl to the Dark Side, aren't we Monique?" "Yes, of course I am. I was telling my colleagues earlier about the day she was born, she was so cute, and I thought that she would be so good at being evil." "You were there?" Asked an astonished Andrew. "Yes, but I noticed you weren't." "I was on assignment. Mon.." "I didn't tell you I didn't see the point in worrying you any. Besides, she for some odd reason was nice that day. Why on Earth was that?" "Why on Earth was that?" Monique mocked. "Because, I absolutely had to see her. Plus I am afraid of Tess and she never let that girl out of her sight or her arms. I couldn't have done anything, even if I had wanted to." "Wow, the thought to kidnap me at birth crossed your mind, what a shock!" "No, you would've been to irritating for me to handle as a newborn." Then they heard a girl scream. "Oh no Maggie! She's the other girl they kidnapped, and she's human too!" "We'll go look for her." Adam volunteered as he took Gloria's hand and led her to find Maggie. "Tessa, go with them." Tessa was hesitant but she followed Gloria and Adam anyway. "Monique, we have to talk." "Oh yes, yes we do."
"May be we should go and help too." Zoë suggested as she helped Tess make cookies. "I told you, its not the right time and it is not your place." "But, I wanna help." "I know you do, but one day baby, your going to be so sick of helping people that you can't stand it anymore. Because even though we love our jobs, even we angels have our limitations." "But, I'm worried. I love Tessa, and I..." "Think of it this way, she's an angel too, nothing whatsoever can happen to her." "But what if she becomes a Demon?" Zoë's voice was shaky and fearful and barely above a whisper. "That is not going to happen. The Father has plans for your sister and he loves her. Those plans do not involve becoming a Demon." "Pwomise?" "Promise." "Why are we making so many cookies?" "That's another part of the plan."
Tessa ran to catch up with Adam and Gloria, but suddenly she couldn't find them anywhere. Her head filled with fear and her heart began to beat rapidly. She looked around her and there was no one in sight. She felt that at any moment someone would just attack her. She was comforted when she turned around, she could hear her Dad talking, and that gave her the strength she needed to go and look for her assignment. But meanwhile, where were Aunt Gloria and Uncle Adam? She looked for them as she looked for Maggie, but she never found them. Then she finally spotted Maggie. Who was in the exact same position that Tess had been in herself some hours earlier. The Demons were so carelessly stupid. Tessa couldn't really even believe it. She approached Maggie who was sitting on the floor of the boat. And as she did, Tessa realized that she was glowing. She extended her hand to the girl as she stood before her. "Maggie." She said as Maggie looked up. Her eyes grew huge at the slight before her. "Don't be afraid, I am an Angel. I am here to help you; to help you find your way. God wants you to know that he loves you very much and that you do not belong on the dark side. He has chosen you to be on his side." Maggie smiled. "Really?" Came her weary reply. "Really very truly." Maggie got up and hugged Tessa. Meanwhile, behind them, two Demons vanished into the darkness, not to be seen again by Tessa for quite a long time I might add.