Title: Tongues of Men and Angels
Rating: TA for implied?romance.
Summary: Glimpses of grace: the story of one brother and two sisters. Through the grace of God, all things are made new.A series of drabbles. Ish. Gabriel/OC. Ish.
Disclaimer: *obligatory insert*
Epilogue: Seventh Day
(or, A Note of Hope)
God saw all that he had made, and it was very good.
Genesis 1:31
It was summer.
In the desert, it might have been hard to tell, but here the world was teeming with life. The sky was colored rose and aqua and lime, and the earth was spotted with small flowers and sweet mosses. The air was cool and breezy, and it tasted of melted snow and ocean salt. A killdeer fluttered its wings convincingly, decided they were no threat, and gave up the charade to run back to its spotted nest. Out past the glittering bay, a pod of whales breached. Their music filled the air, low and humming.
"Oh," said Bethany. "Oh."
Gabriel stood behind her and she leaned back against him. Her hand sought his; the Alaskan breeze flirted with her striped scarf and the burnt-caramel banner of her hair.
"You find it lovely?" Gabriel prompted. "It is all you hoped?"
Her smile, endearingly lopsided and warm, slanted up at him. He sucked in a breath at the poignancy of it, the gift of it.
"Much more than that," she told him, and he felt his heart swell. Every day, it seemed, he was surprised anew by the capacity for expansion that his Father had crafted into it. "I love you, Gabriel," she said softly, and he let his free hand linger over the curve of her hip, reveling in the warmth of her, the nearness, the pleasure of her presence.
"As I love you," he said, and in his heart he heard Joy's dry and teasing voice, the voice of a beautiful and haunted girl who had seen the truth long before either of them had possessed the courage to look for it:
Not quite as you love me, Gabe.
"What about you, Gabriel?" Bethany asked, her voice as light as the wind, and as teasing. "Is it lovely? Is it everything you hoped?"
He looked down at the crown of her head—pressed his mouth reverently into her hair as though it were a prayer. All he could see was her.
"It is good," he said softly. "It is very good."
"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord,
"plans to help you and not to harm you,
plans to give you hope and a future."
Jeremiah 29:11
fin.
Word Count: 343
Completed: June 11th, 2011
I promised I would end this piece on "a note of hope," and for those of you who haven't noticed, that is—in fact—the alternate title to this epilogue. **** The "Seventh Day" is, of course, the Sabbath; that is, it is the day after Creation was finished, and God saw that it was very good (a variation on the previous verses, where it was "only" good) , and so He rested. This Seventh Day is about the culmination of Creation; it is about restfulness; it is about goodness—and it is also about a pair of lovers, precious to God, enjoying the gift of a beautiful garden once more. [c. Genesis 1-2]
It has been a strange and unexpectedly beautiful ride, and I am deeply and profoundly grateful to you all for joining me in it. I hope it had brought you as much enjoyment to read it as it has brought me to write it.
To all readers, even the silent lurking ones, thank you for your time and support. Even knowing you're there, thanks to the story stats, is gratifying and encouraging.
To reviewers at large: you have honestly made this journey so much more intimate that I ever expected it to be. Your kind and often unbelievably thoughtful comments left me speechless with wonder many times, and encouraged and inspired me to write not just with an enjoyment of words and characters, but from an honest heart as well.
There are a few people I would like to thank individually, in alphabetical order. I wish I could do this for everyone whose encouragement has moved me, but that might take longer than the story itself. Nevertheless:
General Zargon, for joining me in a different fandom and getting to know my new characters, and for admitting that you have come to love at least one of them. Also for putting away the pancake launcher. :)
Greenwood Elf, for actually taking the time to explore my own story in spite of your busy-ness and the time you have spent crafting your own beautiful fanfiction. It's an honor. :)
Saichick, for constant kindnesses and encouragement. I am so glad you stumbled across this fic!
Lamminator—for drooling with me over Gabe—and for tattoo-talk! :)
Maladicta, for many kind and generous reviews, including (but not limited to) the private message which I think of as "The Infamous and Inspiring 40-Chapter Review," in which you listed your favorite lines for each of the first forty installments of this fanfiction. It was beautiful and kind and thoughtful and, I'm sure, time-consuming; I have saved it to my harddrive and use it to inspire me when I am worried that I am not phrasing things properly. It was so incredibly moving to read, and I am still touched when I think of it. And for crying at Joy's death. And also, of course, for inspiring a certain delicious chapter involving a half-naked and slightly-drenched Gabe…
Moshey. I wanted to respond to the beautiful and kind review you left me, but your private messaging system is turned off. So here, I will thank you for your kindness, and for your continued persistence in reading a non-Audrey Legion fanfiction. I'm so glad the characters managed to somehow capture you, as so touched that you stayed with us. (Also, I did try to include as many nods to Audrey as I could reasonably do here—she is, I think, the one human who haunts him most from Armageddon). This story was supposed to unfold, like a flower, and it sounds like it was successful for you, and I am so grateful and glad that you took the time to tell me so. "Little miracles of love"—such high praise. Thank you, thank you.
Nothing New In This World: for warm sunrays from Southern France, and for a few incredibly-enjoyable exchanges of thoughts and kindnesses. I hope all is well with you and am keeping you in my heart.
Red Molly, for intense conversations about writing and a reassurance that "moments" are what makes a beautiful story and a beautiful relationship (between characters, yes, but also between characters and readers, or readers and authors). Her writing is beautiful, and her words of praise are an honor to receive.
ROGUEFURY…oh my, old friend. :) How very dear you are to me. Thank you so much for being such a kind, faithful companion in all these little adventures, and for encouraging me constantly, and for—in this case—inspiring the entire backstory of Gabriel and his two brothers, his split from Michael, and his reasons for veering into a lifetime of strict obedience and killing his own heart. I credit it all to you, my friend.
Tracey 137, for reviewing nearly every single chapter and offering very personal, intimate commentary. I think you were the first person to say that this story lifted your heart, and it was such a beautiful and comforting thing to hear—so much so that it lifted my heart as well. It is good to know that this story has done everything I intended, and more.
ToxicRainfall, for also reviewing almost every single chapter of this story, for always offering specific examples of what pulled your heartstrings, for leaving beautifully detailed and inspiring comments, and for becoming a friend with whom I can exchange personal, non-fanfiction-related thoughts (and a love for Kevin Durand). Also, for considering Bethany a "true heroine"—you are a true heroine too, dearheart.
Twolf2208, for sharing your own scars. I am so glad you stumbled across this story and hope you continued to enjoy it.
Virginia Wolfe, for an incredibly thoughtful and heartfelt review. Wow. Reading your comments just lightened my heart and reassured me that I was accomplishing what I hoped to with this piece. Sometimes it's difficult because I write so much of it before I ever begin posting, and so by the time I am "wrapping up," I've read every chapter five-thousand times and am no longer sure if it communicates what I hope it does. Your review tells me I have accomplished my goals, and I deeply appreciate it—not to mention how kind and encouraging it is. Thank you so much.
Wolf Huntress, thank you for your near-constant encouragers and kindnesses.
The Wicked That Mourns Just, for good wishes during Holy Wee,, and for appreciating the poignancy that comes with brevity. :)