Trivia Question: From the movie, what object really doesn't fit in John Constantine's bathroom?

Winner gets a cookie.

All in All Chapter 6

By

Aamon

The last thing either of them expected, at three in the morning, was a call from Papa Midnight. Both of them being habitual night people, it wasn't all that difficult to get out of bed, though neither really wanted to leave each other's embrace.

"What do you suppose he wants?" Angela asked, glancing at the package still wrapped in silk on the counter.

"With him, who knows," he said, following her eyes. "Might as well bring it. I'd rather find out what it is before we open it."

"You and I both," she said as he opened the door for her. She grinned inwardly.

He caught her thoughts. "I'll be trained yet?" he said with an amused expression. "You know, the whole collar thing was never my gig. But I'd be willing to try anything," he said, wiggling his eyebrows."

"Down boy," she said with a crooked smirk.

Midnight's was busy as usual. Greenish-yellow and red eyes followed them as they walked through the noisy lounge. A faint rumble of growls followed in their wake as the demonic half-breeds contemplated what they would like to do to the two exorcists who denied them dominance on Earth. Yet the looks of the Angelic half-breeds were no friendlier. Perhaps they were blamed for Gabriel's fall, who knew?

The padded door, with its mismatched patch of darker leather, opened at their approach. The interior of Midnight's office was darker than it usually was, but Midnight looked exactly the same sitting behind his desk, a half finished meal before him and a cigar in his hand.

"Congratulations you two. It's always comforting seeing two souls come together, just the way they should," he said, motioning for them to come in. As they did John saw a familiar figure sitting in the corner of the room.

"Chaz…" he said as his one time apprentice stood up and walked over to them.

"Nice to see you again John," Chaz said with a grin, his eyes glowing faintly. Angela enveloped him in a hug.

"Come down for our wedding?" she asked him.

"Something like that," he said, and motioned them to some chairs. John took the chance to take his hand and shake it firmly.

"I missed you Chaz," John said, just now realizing how much he had missed his former apprentice.

"Me too John," he said. "Did you know there's no Chinese food in Heaven?"

"Time to sin again," John said glumly. Angela grabbed the front of his shirt and pulled him to his seat. Chaz watched with a look of pure delight.

"Left you in good hands at least," he said, taking a seat.

John sat, and pulled out the package. "Care to tell me what it is before I open it?"

Midnight smiled. "Part of the surprise is opening it to find out."

"We already had part of the surprise," Angela said glumly.

"My apologies," Midnight inclined his head. "It is a pair of rings, simple gold band, with markings on the inside band. They function somewhat like the Trinity Amulet, but do not inhibit the wearer's powers. I thought they would make good wedding rings."

"Balance out the window?" John asked, already knowing the answer.

"For the time being. Mammon is not taking his defeat idly, and his example has encouraged others. Even two powerful exorcists are not enough right now to deport all who are defying the balance," Midnight said, and looked to Chaz. John and Angela also turned toward him.

"There's a civil war in Hell," Chaz said simply.

"About damned time," John said with a wide smile.

Midnight shook his head. "This is not a good thing John. Satan plays by the rules, Mammon does not. He is flouting God's power worse than his father ever did. The bad news is that there are other ways to cross over, and he's looking for them. If he finds them there will be no way to stop him. Angels cannot cross over because of the vows they took."

"Half-breeds branded by Mammon are turning up everywhere. They're doing more than influence," Chaz said. "Somehow he's gained the power to weaken the boundary between the planes, but only for demons he brands and not himself. The weaker the demon, the easier it is for them to get through."

"It's Balthazar all over again," Angela said. John nodded in agreement.

"And let me guess," he turned to Chaz. "Both sides want the Spear?"

"Bingo," Chaz said. "The Spear can be used by Satan or Mammon to kill the other. That demon was sent to get you Angela, not you John."

"Because I hid the Spear," she said to herself.

"And that isn't all," Chaz said. "Jesus had a daughter with Mary Magdalene, and the bloodline survived, giving rise to psychics and those with the Gift of Sight. The both of you have such strong links because you both have the blood of God in you, and you're both distantly related."

"Hell of a thing to say to two people who are going to be married," John said. Midnight gruffly laughed, but managed to keep his smirk mostly hidden. "So what do we do?"

"Guard the Spear. At the moment it isn't in the best of places," Chaz said, looking to Midnight. John frowned at Angela.

"You gave it to Midnight?"

"He is neutral," she said. "And who would ever figure that I'd give it to him?"

Damn near anyone.

Well you didn't figure it out.

Yeah, but I should have.

Midnight cleared his throat. "May we get in on this conversation?"

"Fight," John turned to Midnight. "It's a fight. Conversation is for after the make up sex."

"John!" Angela growled.

Chaz cleared his throat, hoping to forestall the rest of this argument before it got out of hand, or before these two had to find a quiet room somewhere. "It was safe enough here till now. Mammon doesn't have the power to affect this plane directly without the added power of God. Satan does. The Spear could tip the balance in his favor."

"And why would he need the help?" John asked, wondering why Satan couldn't just flick his tongue and make his son go away. After all, he had come up here to claim him. It showed that he at least had more power than his son.

"Because most of Hell is behind Mammon," Midnight said. "Mammon isn't the only impatient one. Just about every lower demon is siding with Mammon."

"And it gets worse," Chaz said. "The Angels in Heaven are starting to argue as well. There are quite a few of them who agree with Gabriel's sentiments about man. Though they aren't prepared to go as far as Gabriel, they're starting to resent the presence of humans in their plane."

"And what does God think about all of this?" John asked Chaz straight.

Chaz shrugged. "I don't know. Being a half-breed doesn't mean I get that kind of privilege. All I can tell you is what I was told. So far the Balance hasn't been effected too greatly, but it will be. God hasn't done anything yet."

"And won't," John said. "He plays by the rules too."

"He has to John. God cannot contradict himself," Midnight said. "That is why he sent his son. That is why the bloodlines continue. That is why there are those like you and Angela." He said, mainly for Angela's benefit.

"That is why I'm waiting to hear what we have to do," John said.

Midnight and Chaz both grinned, and Chaz reached over and took the package, opening it and withdrawing the small box with the two rings. He handed them to Midnight, who stood and motioned for John and Angela to stand as well.

The same thought occurred to the both at the same time. "We have to get married now?"

"It would make things easier," Midnight said. "And both of you safer. You two are the most powerful in the world. United, you will be even more powerful."

"I haven't even introduced John to my mother yet," Angela said to herself.

John smirked. "Might be a blessing."

"I still have the gun John."

"The cuffs too?" he asked with an almost eager expression.

Chaz cleared his throat. "Guys, please. This is your wedding."

"Are you the ring bearer or the flower girl?" John asked Chaz, noting the sparkly hair. What was it about Angelic half-breeds that made them look like border lined tarts, circa 1970's?

Midnight snapped his fingers, and the room brightened, revealing more incantations than John had ever seen in one place.

"Precautions. Nothing can interfere with this," Midnight explained, and raised his hands, chanting something in Latin softly enough that John couldn't quite make out what he was saying.

This was not how I thought it would be, Angela thought.

We can have a full wedding later on.

I know, but it isn't quite the same.

Personally he was wondering what else the rings were going to do. The link he had with Angela was already very strong. What would happen to that link? Would it strengthen? Or would they share even more? They already had a part of each other's soul. How much more could there be?

Sorry again for the long hiatus, but life gets in the way sometimes. I also just didn't have any good ideas, and I'd rather wait for those ideas than write crap.

Aamon