Chapter 5

Monica stirred from a deep, dreamless sleep as the first rays of morning sunlight crept across the bedroom floor through the window of Andrew's temporary apartment. For a moment, she had forgotten where she was, but it only took another moment to recall what had happened the night before. Andrew was back and she couldn't be happier anywhere else than where she was right now, in his arms again. Monica smiled broadly to herself as she lay on her side with her back still against Andrew's chest, his head resting over her shoulder and his arms gently embracing her petite frame. Whatever happened didn't worry her, for all she knew was that she was more than happy just staying here in his presence.

Feeling his dear friend stir softly beside him, Andrew awoke now as well, though he still didn't move from his current position, as both he and Monica were content just staying where they were…forever. Andrew smiled as he felt her body warmth and presence against him and wasted no time in reaching over her side and taking her hand in one of his own. How he loved her. Neither of them could believe they were actually together again, and not only that, but their friendship had just burst out of it's shell like a seed and blossomed into something so much more beautiful. Something neither of them ever expected.

"Good morning." Andrew whispered into Monica's ear before kissing the bare skin on her neck and shoulder twice and she smiled a little more broadly, feeling as though she was going to melt beneath his tender touch. "Good morning." She replied in a voice barely above a whisper, though it seemed fairly loud in the near silence of the morning. Andrew sighed contentedly as he returned his head to rest against the side of Monica's as they lay there together. It was now that Monica finally felt what she had been waiting for all those years. Protection. Safety. Confidence…Love. She no longer felt alone as she had for so long. That feeling was gone now, and had been abruptly replaced with such affection and happiness that it finally allowed her to relax in her dear Andrew's arms. She could finally just close her eyes and be content, not worrying about where he was or if he was ever coming back, or if there was some demon or something right outside waiting for her, knowing that Andrew wouldn't be there to protect her. But he was now and she wished this moment could last a lifetime.

"Can we just stay here forever?" Monica whispered dreamily as she felt Andrew bend his head a little to kiss her temple lovingly. He then sighed for what must have been the thousandth time that morning and squeezed her hand meaningfully. "That was the plan." He replied in that same voice barely audible and yet so gentle, that Monica couldn't imagine how she had ever gone without it for so long. Her pretty features still not losing that delicate little smile, Monica squeezed his hand in return and reviewed last night's happenings once more in her mind. "I love you." She whispered after a lengthy, silent moment with such truth reflecting in her soft, Irish lilt that Andrew was sure not to miss it. He felt his heart swell at the words that had been so long awaited to be spoken. He could never even describe the love he felt for her in return. All he could say were those three words as some, miniscule attempt. For it barely expressed a thousandth of what he really felt for her. "I love you too." He murmured so quietly that only Monica could've heard him even if there were others in that room.

It was then that Monica realized what had truly happened the night before, although she was far too calm and content to start panicking. She simply laughed a small, quiet chuckle and shook her head in disbelief as she contemplated the consequences of all this. "We are in so much trouble." She laughed quietly to them both as she still lay there, but that was when Andrew reached over with his free hand, cupping the side of her face with it and turning her head to look up at him. His expression was a content one as well as he spoke softly. "You know what?" He smiled playfully down at her, as their faces were mere millimeters away from each other now. Monica searched his face with her own bright eyes for some sign of the answer, but as she did so, it only caused the smile to grow on the Angel of Death's face. "I don't care." He breathed honestly as he inched his lips down ever closer to hers, eventually meeting them with his own and lightly caressing them in one, sweet, meaningful kiss.

They pulled away after a long moment of pure bliss and Monica smiled up at him still, her eyes so bright and full of life once more that it melted Andrew's heart as he met them with his own and realized, for the first time in five years, they were both genuinely happy, and that was enough for them both for now.

Monica then returned her head to rest back on the pillow, facing the other way again as she continued to ponder the outcome of everything. That was another thing Andrew loved about Monica. She was always faithful to her heart and always tried to avoid doing anything wrong if she could. Years ago, Andrew would have said that was one of her flaws, but it was now that he realized he simply loved every little thing about her, no matter what it was. He just loved her, plain and simple. But what she said next finally got the wheels turning in his head once more, as they seemed to have stopped after everything that had happened.

"You know Tess is going to kill us." She reminded softly as she stared straight ahead at practically nothing, clearly attempting to picture the look on her supervisor's face when they told her. But it was then that Andrew's comforting voice returned into her thoughts and acted like a brick wall, keeping her safe from any possible dangers on the other side. "Well…perhaps, but maybe she doesn't have to know until we're ready to tell her." He suggested gently as he draped his free arm a little more tightly around his angel girl as if protecting her. Monica smiled at his words and silently agreed with a miniscule nod. It was just like Andrew to say something like that. And she knew she didn't care what he said. She would always love him anyway. As long as he was Andrew…

…Back at the house, Eliza was pacing like none of them had ever seen. Where she got that from, they'll never know, but she was definitely growing more concerned for her mother by the second, and it wouldn't be long before she began to panic. Tess had been trying her hardest to reassure both Eliza and Gloria all night long, but as much as she hated to admit it, she was becoming worried as well. After all, it was possible she could've been told wrong and it was Satan up to his tricks again just to catch Monica alone in the dark. That seemed about just as possible as Andrew actually returning. And so, after this concept came to her a little while ago, Tess had said nothing for about a good two hours. She figured that if Monica didn't show up soon, she'd better tell the others about her suspicions, but for now there was no need in worrying them needlessly when she wasn't sure yet, and so, she kept quiet and watched Eliza pace the length of the room. She had started doing such a thing when she was about ten, and they had told her to sit down and calm herself then, but after a while, they discovered it was best just to let her walk it off.

"I'm telling you, something's wrong. My mom does not stay out all night!" Eliza exclaimed in an anxious tone as she reached the opposite wall for what must have been the billionth time and turned to stride back toward them yet again. Gloria then opened her mouth to say something in agreement, causing Tess to rethink about how much time she should wait before telling them her possibility, but that was then the relieving sound of the front door opening and slamming shut again caught their attention and they were sure this time that it had to be Monica. They were right and their suspicions were confirmed as none other than Monica rounded the hall corner hand-in-hand…with Andrew!

Eliza's young face lit up like a candle throughout a darkened room as she stared her mother up and down with utter relief. "Mom!" She cried gleefully as she took it upon herself to leap and clear the coffee table, which seemed to be the only thing in her way of reaching her mother. She then raced the remaining, small distance to where Monica stood and embraced her caringly, and so tightly that, for a moment, Monica thought she might never breathe again. She returned the hug momentarily and glanced over Eliza's shoulder at the others, nodding a hello and a friendly smile. But it was incredibly easy to tell that there was definitely something different about that smile. It was brighter. It was happier. It was…genuine. For they had gotten used to the forced smiles over the years but that just proved that this one was real. They could tell as clearly as they could tell the difference between black and white.

Of course, that was obviously not the part they were focusing on at the moment, for Gloria was first to rush over to where Andrew was standing and embrace him excitedly. Andrew laughed out loud at the young angel's antics and returned the embrace gladly, for he had missed Gloria as well. But when Gloria finally pulled away, he noted her dark eyes glistening with the threat of joyful tears and hugged her one more brief time, tightly before releasing her again and turning over to Tess. She too bore glassy tears in her gaze as she finally laid eyes on her angel boy for the first time in five years and it was quite clear about how much she had missed him. Andrew took the first step toward her and embraced his old supervisor lovingly, as he too, began to feel unexpected tears tighten in his throat. He couldn't believe he had ever gone five years without these girls. But he was back now and he had no intensions of leaving ever again.

When Tess finally pulled away, there were two, single streams of tears flowing from her dark eyes, though she was still struggling to contain herself a great deal. Andrew then turned back to ward Monica, who stood next to Eliza purposefully, the young teen looking him up and down as if trying to place him somewhere in her memory. But Andrew already knew who she was. It was more than obvious. With her red-gold hair only a fraction lighter than Monica's and her deep, honey-brown eyes, she was a spitting image of her mother, even more so than she had been five years ago.

Moving over to where she was standing, Andrew gently positioned the palm of his hand on the side of her face and stared down at her unblinkingly. She was growing up, and her mature featured stared back at him with such familiarity to her mother's that Andrew suddenly felt more like a father to her than anything else. He suddenly recalled the night she was born and his heart swelled at the recollection of that beautiful little baby he had held in his arms while Monica was asleep. She was still a beautiful little baby and Andrew saw no difference. She was still just as beautiful as she had been that day thirteen years ago. "You are looking more and more like your mother all the time." He told her gently as he still didn't break eye contact with her. Eliza stared back at him confidently until it came to her. That was where she had seen him before! Andrew! She did remember!

With a small smile, Eliza recalled that hansom stranger who had comforted her when her parents, Abby and Mike passed away. He had been so kind and loving and now she had no trouble trusting him whatsoever. "Thanks." She smiled after sneaking a brief glance over at her mother, assuming that had been a compliment. It was then that she realized Andrew must be an angel as well and she figured perhaps he would be interested in knowing about her assignment.

"I'm gonna be a caseworker soon." She stated proudly to the Angel of Death as she returned her attention to him and Andrew raised his eyebrows in obvious interest, inspiring Eliza to continue. "I have my first assignment already. All I gotta do is finish it." She went on, but she never got a chance to explain, for that was when Monica suddenly glanced up at the clock on the wall and gasped as she recalled Eliza's assignment, beginning to shoo her out the door. "Which reminds me young lady, you're late for school. How are you supposed to help that teacher of yours if you don't even show up?" She demanded with a loving but tough smile as she snatched Eliza's backpack off of the armchair in the corner, handed it to her and motioned toward the front door. Eliza sighed irritably at her mother's antics and quickly waved goodbye to everyone before disappearing out onto the porch.

With a small laugh and a shake of her head, Monica returned her attention to Andrew and explained everything for her daughter. "Yeah, see, her assignment's her grade eight teacher. He's an alcoholic and I guess she's supposed to show him that things could be better. So far, I think she's doing okay, but it's rough. She has to do it all on her own. I've been trying to help her in any way I can, but basically, it's all her." Monica explained with a bit of a concerned expression as she glanced out he front window momentarily and caught sight of her daughter's slowly shrinking figure heading down the sidewalk.

But Andrew only smiled and draped a comforting arm across Monica's shoulders. "Ah, don't worry. If she's anything like you, she'll be just fine."

Coming soon: Chapter 6