Danny took a breath and stepped down in front of the gates. If anywhere, Jasmine would be here. She always loved to welcome the new souls to their paradise until they were moved into the cycle again. It had been so long since he had been back, though, and he was starting to feel it.

"Daniel?" Ah, he had been right. "Daniel, it is you!" A flutter of wings and long red hair and Jasmine was wrapped around him. He smiled, hugging her back.

"Jasmine, I have a question for you, one of great importance." The arms around him tightened for a moment before Jasmine pulled back, small frown on her face.

"What is it? Is something wrong?"

"It may be. Do you recall why it was Vladimir took such interest in my wellbeing?"

"Vladimir?" Jasmine blinked, looking startled at the question. "Oh, well, that's because you always asked for him, wasn't it? He said you two grew close after… Well. He told us he agreed to look after you where you said you didn't want to be alone."

"Asked for him? I disliked nothing more than to constantly have Vladimir over wing no matter where I went."

"You- What?" Jasmine frowned, looking like she was trying to solve a puzzle. "That's what he told everyone, though, but it seems that's not how you felt about the situation. I take it your constant moving wasn't your doing, either?"

Danny shook his head. "Some of it was, yes, but just earlier today, Vladimir came to me, telling me it was time to move again."

"You've only been there a short few years, though, last I was aware. Why would…" Jasmine trailed off, looking to his wings before looking like she was close to tears and smiling. Why was she smiling? "Oh, Daniel… You finally found them again, didn't you?"

"I- Yes, I did, but that's not important. He hadn't known that. He had just told me this area was unfit."

"Did he give a reason why?" Jasmine looked like she wasn't enjoying this conversation, her wings fluffing up and on end. "How long has he lied to us…"

"Before he learned I had found them, he told me it was because other areas needed my attention, but once he realized it, he implied he wanted to move me solely to protect me from temptation. I…" Danny showed her his wings properly.

"You're already falling," Jasmine said softly, staring at the wings which were no longer glowing like they used to. "Did they remember you, Danny? Randall and Andrew?"

He smiled at her. "They said they never forgot, and that just as I've been searching for them, they've been searching for me. They were actually the ones to approach me."

"Then I hope you're happy," Jasmine said softly and sincerely, laughing after a moment. "I see that look in your eyes, Daniel, and while I'm devastated to know you are falling, I know that being with them is the best. For all of you."

"Thank you, Jasmine. I value that greatly." Danny sighed, shaking his head. "But… Vladimir has placed insidious thoughts in my mind. I do wonder their true intentions, whether they remain so pure."

"What demons are they, Daniel?" Jasmine asked, looking to be fully in her 'problem solving' mode. "And how did they react in the first twenty-four hours upon seeing you?"

"Incubi. Lust demons. And… They didn't much act lustful towards me. I have seen them lustful towards one another, but…" Danny took a deep breath. "I did imply offering myself. I asked what energy they would receive from an angel, and… And they had said no. That if such a thing were to happen it were to be for love, and not lust, or for the sake of receiving energy."

"Oh, Danny…" Oh. It had been a long time since Jasmine called him that. "They never stopped loving you even for a moment. What could Vladimir ever say to make you doubt how they felt about you?"

"I am in no pain."

"That is a bit odd, I suppose, but I don't see how that would make you doubt your choice."

"Just… I feel no pain, is falling not to be punishment for our trespasses against the father? Am I not to be punished for constantly putting them over my duty?"

"It is punishment, but somethings I think it might be freedom." Jasmine cupped Danny's cheek, giving him another watery smile. "I've seen many of our kind fall, Danny, and I knew that some of them would be far happier down below than they ever would be here."

"You believe this to be true of me as well?" There was a long silence where Jasmine looked to be searching for the right words.

"I saw Randall when he was beginning to Fall," Jasmine finally said, voice quiet. "He asked me to keep it quiet and said he wanted to spend his last days with the two of you. He wanted to see you smile. I don't think feelings like those would ever fade. And I've seen how you returned those looks."

Smiling brightly, Danny hugged her close. "Thank you, Jasmine. This won't change anything between the two of us. I know you truly did care for the best for me."

"As you should," Jasmine laughed, hugging Danny just as close. "Just continue to do your best and help those who you can. That's all I can ask of you."

"I will. Thank you for everything." She was right… He was making the best choice for all involved.

Danny spent a few more hours chatting with Jasmine before he returned to where he knew Andrew and Randy were waiting for him. He was careful to duck into an alleyway and hide his wings before walking up to the house, biting his lip before giving a little knock to the door. It opened only a few seconds later, Josh beaming.

"Hi! I saw you through the peephole. I'm Josh, in case you forgot. Dad and Pops said you had to go do something, but they've been worrying and fretting and Dad's mass baking, so, uh, if you could maybe do something about that, that would be great."

Danny smiled at him and nodded. "I was talking with an old friend." Josh squinted a little, looking him over before nodding and opening the door more.

"Like I said, Dad's in the kitchen. I think we're actually going to get sick of cookies if he keeps going like this." Moving past Josh, Danny walked towards the kitchen and noticed that even the girls - who had been playfully arguing - drew silent as he stood in the doorway.

"Hey, Dad," the middle one, Stacy, finally said. "Danny's back." Danny watched Andrew and Randy's heads both shoot up as one, the two of them looking at him.

Danny smiled, giving a little shrug. "I did say I would be." There was hardly a moment before the two were wrapped around him, Andrew snuggled closely and purring and Randy nuzzling at the back of his neck with little murmured words of adoration. "Did you really think I would leave just like that?"

"They've been panicking all day," Josh sighed, passing them to get into the kitchen and stealing some cookies as quickly as he could. "They missed you, looks like."

"I told you I would come back, no matter what."

"We can still worry," Randy said quietly enough that only they would hear. "We heard everything Vladimir said."

"We were worried," Andrew said simply before snapping up. "Joshua, those are for after dinner!" Josh looked up at Andrew, two cookies in each hand and one in his mouth as he tried to give a garbled answer, crumbs spitting out pitifully.

"I can give you five seconds," Randy said after a moment, Danny watching as Joshua bolted for the stairs the same time Randy lunged for Andrew to keep him pinned. Danny peeked around the corner.

"What's upstairs," he asked absently. He had only just realized he'd only seen the main two rooms of the house.

"Our bedroom and a study," Randy laughed, holding the struggling Andrew down. "Josh usually hides in the study to work or just try to read what Andrew's writing- Oh, we also have two little libraries down here!"

Danny beamed, glancing at Andrew. "Can I see?"

"I- Of course- He really shouldn't be eating that many cookies!"

"You know he probably took a couple to dole out to Stacy and Annie," Randy said, gesturing to where the girls were already racing up after their brother.

"They're going to ruin their dinner," Andrew complained, not fighting as Randy led him and Danny down towards a hallway past the stairs. "Honestly, those kids." Danny did peer up the stairs once more before Randy opened the door in one of the hallways-

"Oh." He looked around and felt his heart swell. He could see an entire shelf filled with works written solely by Andrew, and there was a desk where he seemed to do a majority of his writing, notes upon notes stacked there, and a beanbag chair where he could so easily imagine Randy lounging as Andrew wrote and wrote away as though he knew nothing else. They had managed to create for themselves a life so filling even without the father, without Danny, without Heaven, and he could tell now that they couldn't be happier.

"It's not the greatest," Randy said quietly, leaning against the doorway with a small smile, "But it's home and it's ours."

"It's perfect." Danny turned to them, feeling as though his cheeks may split as he only drew them into another tight hug. The two were quick to hug him back, Andrew kissing at his cheek.

"I'm glad you think so. It's… a good home if you want to stay."

Pulling away, he looked at them properly. "Would there be enough room?"

"We have a spare room upstairs if you want or you could always stay in our room," Randy said easily, looking to Andrew, who pulled Danny into a soft kiss.

"And Danny, there's always been enough room for you here."

"Thank you."

Andrew studied Danny for a moment where he had near locked himself in the library to read a bunch of Andrew's old books. Finally walking over, he knelt down and poked Danny's shoulders. "Can you take out your wings, mon cher?"

"Huh? Oh, sure- Andrew, your writing really is amazing." As he spoke, his wings unfolded. Just as he suspected. They were growing darker.

"I'm glad you think so," Andrew managed, running his fingers through the feathers and combing them down, weak smile on his face. Danny really was falling for them, then. Well… He was over seven hundred years old. This was his choice to make. They couldn't force him, and when Danny got something in his head, it was hard to get it out.

Shifting and nudging Danny over, Andrew sat next to him as soon as he could, still brushing his wings out and debating on whether or not he should 'accidentally' brush over a few of the weak spots he remembered. "You should be proud of your works, Andrew." Danny smiled at him, leaning against him.

"I try to be, but I know I could have done better in some of them," Andrew sighed, mind made up as he brushed a hand against a part of Danny's wings that had always been sensitive. Danny shivered and hummed quietly, his wings relaxing while his hands began to fall. "Does that feel good, Danny?"

"I- Uh- Yes?" Poor thing… He really did need some spoiling. Well, for now, at least, Andrew could help on… helping him.

"I'm glad," Andrew hummed, dancing his fingers across the frame of the wing, rubbing at where it met skin. "You've done so good, Danny, being on your own for so long." There it was… He was beginning to wonder what it would take to truly find Danny's voice, but now that he had found it, it was so lovely.

Moving them around quickly, Andrew smirked when he had Danny on his lap and slumped against his chest, Andrew using the opportunity to slip a hand under Danny's shirt to rub even more deeply, "Do you like that, Danny? Do you like when I tell you how good you are to us? How wonderful you can be?"

"I- Yes? Andrew, what-?" Mm, no. Too coherent. Andrew nudged Danny into a soft little kiss before dragging his nails down Danny's back, just enough that it should cause faint red lines to appear.

"I just want to let you know how proud I am of you for everything you've survived through the last few centuries."

There was a clearing of the throat from the doorway. "Andrew?"

"Randy," Andrew chirped, giving as sweet a smile as he knew how. "Danny looked like he could use a distraction."

"I'm sure he did. Carefully, though, mon douce," Randy warned. "Be gentle." Andrew lightened his touch into rubbing gentle circles against Danny's back, nuzzling and kissing softly at his neck as he only half pouted.

"What… What just happened?" Ah… Perhaps he had experienced a slight lapse in judgment. Perhaps it was the holy energy…

"Sorry, mon cher," Andrew smiled weakly, tucking him closer. "I suppose I might have become a bit carried away in my affections."

"Oh." At least he didn't seem so against it. Still, Randy was right. They ought to keep it slow. It was wonderful Danny's falling seemed slow and painless, but if he were to speed it up, there was no telling if the pain would come or not.

"I was coming in here to tell you two dinner was ready," Randy sighed, seeming more amused than anything as he bent down to steal a kiss from Danny himself, smoothing some stray feathers. "Up for eating?"

"Um- Yes," Danny said, standing unsteadily. "I can eat."

"Good," Randy grinned, grabbing Danny's hand and pulling him along, giving Andrew a look that let him know that Randy needed to talk with him about something important. Andrew frowned, though he nodded and followed the two.

"Beth has the kids?" He didn't hear any arguing, at least.

"She insisted," Randy sighed dramatically. "Although she did offer to let us have them for Friday night and Saturday. She said her sister wanted her to come and visit."

"Oh, they'll love that."

"Josh is going to try and sneak a peek at whatever novel you've been working on," Randy pointed out, giving a grin. "You know how he is."

"That's fine. I'll put the notes under the bed."

"You're so mean," Randy laughed, the sound near a cackle as he dragged Danny into the kitchen. "Come on, Danny, time to eat."

"What are we having?"

"Fettuccine Alfredo," Randy beamed. "I also made some baked rolls to go with it and I tried my hand at some brownies where it's been a while."

"That sounds amazing." Danny was so easily excited, these days. It was adorable. Randy seemed to think so too, because he was nuzzling their cheeks together and cooing over him at once. Danny laughed quietly, shaking his head. "Shouldn't we be eating?"

"I can dote on you at the same time," Randy complained, pushing Danny towards the table. "Go sit down, then, and Andy can help me carry the plates out."

Andrew nodded. "I'll get us some drinks as well." As soon as Danny was just out of hearing range, Randy was ducking down and lowering his voice.

"I'm not sure which sin he's going to fall for."

"I know what you're thinking. But I believe it will be lust."

"That's the thing, I've felt that from him, but the last few days I've felt Gluttony, Pride, and even Greed. It's like he's cycling through all the sins."

"All the sins? Randy, you're acting as though he's the next coming of Lucifer."

"Don't be ridiculous," Randy snorted. "If anyone was the next coming of Lucifer, it would be Josh, and you know it. No, I just… he's bouncing between them all so fast, I don't know which is going to stick."

"I am surprised he isn't falling faster," Andrew commented. After everything, it seemed like his falling was slow going.

"I'm surprised he isn't feeling pain. Vladimir was right in his surprise. This… isn't quite normal."

"No, but… That doesn't have to be bad," he reassured Randy, smiling at him.

"I guess not, but I'm still going to be worries," Randy sighed, gathering their plates. "His wings are getting darker."

"I did see that. Nothing to be done. He won't repent, you know that."

"No, he won't. The little stubborn thing hasn't changed a bit," Randy snorted, handing Andrew one of the plates. "He and Josh are going to be best friends and I have no doubt he's going to smother the girls with affection."

"Exactly. The kids already love him, Danny is finally here with us again, and we're not leaving him. What is there to worry about?"

"I'm… still a bit worried about Vladimir, honestly," Randy said softly. "I didn't like the way he was controlling that conversation, and I liked his feelings even less."

"What reason do we have to worry about him? Danny's made his choice." Andrew ran a hand through Randy's hair. "We're all going to be fine."

"Right." Randy took a breath, giving a smile after a moment. "Now, let's go spoil our little angel, hm?"

Andrew returned the expression. "Let's."

Hours later and long after night had fallen it was very late - very early? - and Andrew sat on the stairs that led out to the backyard as he looked up at the sky. It was faint, but every so often he could make out Danny, high against the sky and flying like it was the most natural thing in the world. It was going to be hard for him to lose that. Ever since the day he was born, he loved flying. Randy had once suggested that he loved anything that put him closer to home, but Andrew had always known the truth. He loved the freedom of it. The feeling that it was just him and the sky. That what he had missed most.

Andrew had made peace with the loss of his wings, but he knew that Danny was going to take a long time to get over this once they left. They would help him, though, just as they had helped each other. Finally Danny was descending, lowering himself gently to land in front of Andrew.

"Have fun?" Andrew asked, smiling softly at the flushed cheeks and wind-tousled hair. It looked good on him. He'd look better though fucked soundlessly into their bed, hair a wild mess against their sheets and that flush spreading down- Fuck. Andrew was starting to run low on energy, already. Shit, Danny looked like he was waiting for a response. "Sorry, mon cher, I became a bit distracted."

"By what?" He had to know. He had to know what he was doing, he'd read the Dark Secrets saga, there was no way he didn't know what he was doing!

"Just a few stray thoughts," Andrew smiled weakly, looking at the small, innocent smile he was being given, wings fluffed up and cheek still flushed, and, really there were so many other ways to get flushed cheeks, ruffled wings, and a smile like that.

"Hey, Andrew, looks like Josh left his pencils again. Can you take them over to him?" Startling at Randy's voice, Andrew got up at once, pressing his half filled cup of hot chocolate into Danny's hands.

"Of course! He's probably still awake, knowing him," Andrew laughed, accepting the pencils from Randy and giving him a smile even weaker than what he gave Danny.

Randy just gave him a knowing look. "And maybe you need to have a talk with him?" Ah, it was that bad, was it? Andrew felt like he should have had a little bit longer…

"He has been doing poorly in some classes," Andrew sighed, patting at Randy's chest as he hid behind a perfect smile. "I'll probably be gone for a small while, but I'll be back soon."

"Take however long you need."

"Sorry," Andrew said quietly as he could, kissing Randy's cheek. "Love you."

He received a kiss in return from Randy. "I love you too."

Right. Andrew tucked the pencils away and left through the front door, taking a few deep breaths to try and clear his mind. He didn't even feel that low on energy, he just felt restless. It had to be the holy energy.

Glancing to the Waters' house, Andrew hummed as he pulled out his phone and clicked on the contact 'Brat #1'. 'Have you changed personalities and gone to sleep on time for once?' His response was a bunch of laughter emojis. Only a few moments passed before the front door was opening, Josh peeking out from it to look at Andrew.

"Dad, hey, what's up?" Josh didn't even look the least bit tired, Andrew trying not to laugh at the fact that this kid really was too much like him.

"I was wondering if you'd want to go into town where I need to pick a few things up. I'd rather you actually do something productive that might tire you out rather than ruining your eyes on your phone."

Josh frowned, looking at him. "Sure, but… Is this you trying to give me some talk about something?"

"Depends," Andrew raised an eyebrow, giving a bit of a grin, now. "Is there something we need to talk about?"

He scoffed at Andrew, "No."

"Mm. Is this about school, Jake, or Danny?"

"Uh, none of them? There's nothing to talk about, Dad, chill."

Andrew shook his head, trying not to laugh as he ruffled Josh's hair, "Well, if there ever is something to talk about, I'm always here to talk to and nothing you say can make me think any different of you. Unless you're failing your classes. Then we'll be having a very long talk."

"I'm not failing any classes." The two got into the car, and Andrew had just put the key in the ignition- "So if there was something to talk about…"

"Then I'll listen and help however I can." Andrew paused, looking at Josh for a moment. "Although if it does involve Jake, I ask that you don't let your mother know anything we talk about until you're eighteen."

"It's uh… Kinda about Jake. I guess. In a way." This couldn't be… He knew Josh was a teenager and had been getting those kinds of feelings, but he still seemed so young - and with Jake?

"Would you like to talk about it more?" Andrew needed to know what he was cutting off Jake this time, after all.

Josh rubbed at the back of his head. "Well… You and Pops have uh… been around." Oh, boy. This was going to be a very long talk, then.

Randy took Andrew's old place on the stairs, looking up at Danny and giving a grin. "Late night flying, then?"

Danny gave him a nod and a smile. "That's okay, right?"

"Just as long as you don't start too many rumors," Randy laughed, the amusement fading after a moment as he looked at wings that were tinged with gray. "Danny… you know what will happen to your wings, right?"

He watched Danny's wings droop as he looked back at them. "I know. That's why I'm flying. One more time."

"I'm sorry," Randy finally said, closing his eyes as he leaned back against the porch steps. "Not for how I feel or how you feel, but I'm sorry this is part of the price to pay."

"I know. But a choice between my wings and Heaven or you two is no choice."

"You say the sweetest things," Randy teased, holding his arms out. "Come here. I'm now forced to hug you." Between one moment and the next, Danny was falling into his arms, and there it was again. Randy felt a swell of pride, but still yet swirling underneath was a dark lust. Randy tucked him close, rubbing at Danny's back. No wonder Andrew had felt it all so strongly.

"You push yourself too much," Randy sighed, feeling the tense muscles in the back - especially around the wings. There was the sweet, darling crooning Randy had so loved about their little angel. He could easily see how Andrew could get wrapped up in all of this.

Randy settled back against the stairs and calmly rubbed Danny's back, trying to stay calm himself - he, at least, wasn't as low on energy as Andrew seemed to be at the moment. Danny was tempting, though. It had to be something to do with his energy. It had to be, because normally they both were much better about holding themselves back. Maybe it was just the fact that a virgin angel - a literal angel - was offering himself to them entirely.

It wasn't just that Randy wanted to go slow because this was all new for Danny, but he worried that if either of them gave in then Danny's fall would be as fast and violent as their own had been. Randy could feel the itch no doubt the same as Andrew had. The need to pin Danny down and lavish him with attention, to turn him into a wreck that had eyes only for them- Ah. Definitely Danny's energy. They would need to be more careful of that. If this went on much longer, then they may accidentally find themselves in a frenzy, and that rarely ever went well.

"How are you doing with all of this, then? I know it's a big change from how it used to be," Randy asked, trying to get his thoughts away from his worries.

Danny wrapped his arms around Randy. "Yeah, it's a big change, but… That doesn't have to be bad."

"And what do you want it to be, sweet one?" Randy kissed at Danny's cheek softly, slowly relaxing at the calm night.

"What do you mean?" Danny pulled away to look at him, tilting his head.

"You say you want to stay with us, but is there anything that makes you uncomfortable? We want you to be happy here, too, Danny."

Danny shook his head. "Nothing that I can think of."

"Let us know if there is something, okay?" Randy kissed at Danny's cheek, pressing him closer. "It doesn't matter if it was something you were comfortable with before, if it ever changes, let us know."

"Okay. I will." Danny cuddled closer to him with a hum. Randy slowly relaxed as he kept up the gentle motions of rubbing at Danny's back, working out sore muscles and long ignored knots and kinks. It was a wonder the angel had so much energy, honestly. At least Danny seemed to be enjoying it. Well… When Danny lost his wings, his muscles wouldn't be nearly so tense as they were now. That was one good thing, he supposed.

"Do you want to go in and get some sleep while we wait for Andrew to get back? He probably won't be much longer." Honestly it was a fifty-fifty chance on whether he went to one of the bars for a quick fling or if he kidnapped Josh to spend some time with him.

"Alright. I don't think I've slept properly for a few days."

"You want to stay in our bed or the guest bed?"

"Would it be alright if I stayed in your bed?"

"More than alright," Randy laughed, standing up and shifting Danny to carry him against his chest. "Put your wings away, for now? I don't want them knocking into anything." Danny nodded against his shoulder, his legs already coming up to wrap around Randy's waist. It would be easy, he was already in perfect position…

Closing his eyes for a moment, Randy centered his mind as best he could as he dragged Danny up the stairs. He was definitely making sure he wore a shirt tonight. And maybe sleeping on the edge of the bed. Danny held onto Randy tighter as they entered the bedroom and why on earth was he taking his wings back out, he was so accident-prone-! Oh. Well, then. Danny had curled his wings around the two of them, closing them into their own world.

Randy was officially and completely doomed when it came to resisting Danny whatsoever because he was so utterly perfect. He almost hoped Andrew didn't come home for a while yet so he could have Danny to himself for a while. Danny pulled back just enough to smile at Randy before he was back to nuzzling at his shoulder, and hell if it wasn't the sweetest thing, and it was so fucking innocent he wanted nothing more than to take that innocence, he'd be so good as one of them.

Taking a steady breath, Randy carefully and slowly played with Danny's hair, trying to keep himself from doing anything stupid. They'd talk about this again after Danny fell, but for now, they just needed to stay calm. Somehow.

It felt like an hour later that Andrew was coming back in, smiling at Randy. "Is he asleep?"

"Seems to be," Randy nodded, Danny still curled up in his arms and tucked underneath his chin. "How are you doing?"

"Better. How are you doing?"

"Not as well as I was," Randy admitted, burying his face in Danny's hair. "He's going to be the end of us."

Andrew chuckled, sitting on the edge of the bed. "I'd noticed. How's he doing?"

"Good, I think. He seems comfortable, at least," Randy chuckled, tail snapping through the air. "Enough to torment me."

"I'd thought I'd noticed that as well."

"I think it has something to do with his energy or Grace. Nothing bad, of course, but troubling for us, the way things are going."

Thinking about it, Andrew helped to detangle Randy from Danny, pulling him up. "Well, hopefully it will bring relief once he falls."

"Or it'll just make it worse," Randy snorted, shaking his head and knowing he felt nothing but fond. "He's so troublesome. Why is he always so troublesome."

"Because he's ours." Andrew held his hands tightly. "Should I provide you a distraction?"

"That could either be the best idea or the worst idea," Randy pointed out, hands gripping Andrew's a little more tightly.

"How about we go downstairs? I think the kitchen counter has gotten lonely."

"You know, I think you might be right."