Disclaimer: Again, Kevin owns everything If he wanted to, he could probably own me DON'T SUE!

Chapter 2: The Mission

He smiled at her again, unfurling his massive wingspan. "Like them? They're the latest model," he bragged, stroking the soft white feathers. "I heard your prayer, Bethany."

"So, God let you back into Heaven?" She asked, dumbly, staring gape-mouthed at the former renegade angel who had once tried to kill her. She was still kneeling on her bed, her hair wild and her eyes filled with abject terror. He smirked at her.

"Of course. God forgave my trespasses," he said. "She's a very merciful being." He gazed down upon Bethany, smiling vaguely. "So, what to do about this kid of yours..."

Bethany's shoulders slumped. "She wants to know who her dad is," she muttered.

"I heard," he said, casing his wings. "I'm here on business, and I don't have to be back to Heaven for a bit. I can stick around. And plus, we need you and your daughter for the Mission."

"Mission? What mission," Bethany exclaimed, staring at Bartleby, her heart seized by panic.

"Loki and me, we need you. A dark angel has risen against the Lord, followed by a loyal bastion of demonic brethren. It is up to the Last Scion to stop them," he said, softly.

"You mean me," Bethany asked, her voice shaking. She twisted her hands in her lap as she chewed on her bottom lip, anxiously.

"No, I mean Faith. This is her mission. SHE is the Last Scion, Bethany." Bartleby smiled at her, warmly, as he propped himself up on his elbows. "It's up to her to save humanity. You've done your job for us in raising a strong willed daughter. And only then, only after she's saved the world, can she finally see her 'Father'."

"Oh God, Bartleby. She's only ten," Bethany whimpered, shaking her head. "She's just a child. I can't let you take her."

Bartleby leaned forward and traced her jawline with the back of his hand. "Don't fret, human. Your little girl has many years ahead of her. You must tell her who she is. And who her 'father' is."

"I can't! It would destroy her," Bethany cried, grabbing onto his hand. "Can't you understand? I can't do that to her! She's just a child! I don't want to ruin her life!"

"You won't," he whispered, softly, trying to soothe her. "She's a strong girl, Bethany. Just as her mother is, and her Father is. It's kind of funny, referring to God, who is a woman, as Faith's Father..."

Bethany allowed herself to smile, slightly, before sinking into an even deeper depression. "She'd never believe a woman could be her father," Bethany said. "If her friends found out, they'd be merciless. You know how kids are."

Bartleby nodded, removing his hand from Bethany's to pat her on the head. "Yes, I do. I know how cruel kids can be. Which is why I'm making this offer."

"What offer?"

"Why don't I pose as Faith's father?" Bartleby shrugged his shoulders.

"But you're an Angel," Bethany said, looking pointedly at his groin. He only laughed, shaking his head at her.

"I don't think that would be a problem, Bethany." Bartleby smirked at her. "Faith wants to know what it would be to have a real father, and I would, believe it or not, want to know how it feels to have a child. Someone dependent on me...other than Loki." He shrugged his shoulders and smiled, trying to win her over. Little by little, Bethany was giving in.

"How is he," asked Bethany.

"Loki's...well, off being Loki," Bartleby said, shrugging his shoulders. "Damned if I know where he is at this moment. Probably in Atlantic City with the Apostle and the prophets, shooting craps."

Bethany rolled her eyes at the mentioning of the prophets. "Are those two still as horny as dogs in heat?"

"Worse." Bartleby said.

"So, tell me about this dark angel. Who is he? What's his deal?" Asked Bethany, laying back in bed and drawing her covers over her chest.

"You mean SHE," Bartleby corrected Bethany. "HER name is Leilita, and she is a danger to the very fabric of life. She is leading her demon brothers against God because she blames God for the loss of her relatives durng the Crusades. Lucifer is assisting her in her war on God, as well as Azrael. You remember him, don't you?" Bartelby smiled.

"Yes... But didn't Bob kill him?" Bethany asked, shaking her head. "This is all so confusing, Bartleby..."

"Bob killed the Host, not Azrael. When his Host's body expired, Azrael's spirit returned to the underworld," explained the angel.

"Why are you trying to HELP God? Didn't you want to ruin everything she created only ten years ago?" Bethany asked.

Bartleby sighed, shrugging his broad shoulders. "Well... I learned a lot in the brief time I spent in Hell. That is definitely NOT a place I want to return to, and I'm going to do everything in my power to assist God in this new battle."

"And you want my Faith to stop this...woman?" asked Bethany, as Bartleby crawled next to her.

"It's her mission," he said, simply, as he cradled her head in his hands. "Only Faith can stop this woman from ruining all that God has created. This is a dark time for humanity, and Faith is the lone beacon of light that can save your people. AND your world."

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TBC

Alex