The following day after the kiss April spent the whole day at work leaving Michael alone at the house with Toby.

She'd said that Jerry had called her to let her know he needed her at the bar a full work day but Michael knew the truth. He's overheard her talking to Jerry on the phone the night before asking if he could get her the hours.

April was trying to avoid him, but Michael wasn't about to complain.

At breakfast the air had been tense. He and April had barely been able to ask each other to pass the bacon over let alone have a conversation. After all, how could they pretend that something hadn't happened between them the previous night when something did? It wasn't easy.

Even after April had practically scrabbled out of the house she was all Michael could think about. April and the kiss, his first kiss. The kiss that had caused unfamiliar feelings to swell up inside him. The kiss that had began a battle inside him. Head vs. Heart.

Michael's head told him he was right to push April away, that they'd only have had trouble if he hadn't stopped there. His heart however told him otherwise.

He had to find some way to distract himself.

Michael noticed Toby's tennis ball lying by the side of the couch and bent over to pick it up. After studying it for a moment he whistled for Toby and headed outdoors with the pooch on his heels.

When he was sitting on the back porch Michael threw the ball as far as he could and watched as Toby leaped off on three legs to chase after it.

It wasn't long before the dog dropped the green ball back into his hands. There was a layer of slobber covering it.

Michael threw the ball again then wiped his hands on his jeans, drying them.

Toby returned in seconds, panting, and let the ball fall out of his jaws to settle at Michael's feet. When the ex angel didn't make a move to grab the toy Toby rolled onto his side next to him and fell asleep splayed out in the heat.

Michael sighed and ran his hand repeatedly over the dog's stomach.

It wasn't long after that his mind wondered back to April, and her soft touch.

Blasphemy. Angels weren't supposed to think of any woman in such a way. Especially charges.

Michael let out another sigh.

He stood and Toby stirred as Michael opened the door.

"You coming in?" Michael asked the dog.

Toby lowered back down his head and after taking a deep breath closed his eyes once more.

"Guess not."

Michael decided to watch something on the television but really all he did was flip through the channels. He had no interest in anything on it. The only interest he had was in Heaven, Earth, and April. All the things he didn't want to think about at the moment.

Michael was grateful when his eyes became heavy after eating a sandwich for lunch.

He pressed the power button on the remote to turn the TV off then allowed himself to fall asleep on the couch.

When he awoke April was home, sitting at the table and flipping through a newspaper. Michael saw her circle an article with a red marker as he walked over.

April gave him a hesitant, small smile.

"What are you doing?" inquired Michael.

April shrugged. "Just reading. I'm thinking this may be a hunt."

She pointed to the article she'd circled. It was entitled 'Wolf Attacks Young Boy'.

Michael raised an eyebrow. "Werewolf?"

April shook her head. "It's not the correct timing. I'm thinking a black dog."

Michael nodded.

"Jerry laid me off for the next two days," huffed April. "He ordered me to rest. So I figured I'd go hunting."

"Who are you going with?" Michael questioned as casually as he possibly could.

"I always go alone."

Michael's eyes widened. "No you're not."

"Why not?" asked April.

"It's too dangerous."

"I can handle a black dog." April rolled her eyes.

Michael narrowed his eyes. "Have you forgotten about Victor?"

"You just sent him to Hell!" April pointed out the obvious.

"He could get out at anytime, and he doesn't have to leave Hell to send others after you. I'm coming with you."

April chewed her lip. "Fine then. I'll go get you a handgun."

"I'd rather take a dagger," said Michael.

"Only silver bullets kill black dogs," April stated.

Michael frowned. "I don't know how to shoot."

"You can't shoot! Are you serious?"

April was shocked. How was it possible for a hunter to not know how to use a gun?

"I'm used to hunting demons," Michael defended himself. "I never needed the knowledge because bullets don't kill them…and holy water is a better distraction."

"Okay then." April put one of her hands on her hip, and the other she combed her hair with. "Tomorrow I'll show you the basics of shooting and we can research more into the case. Then Sunday we hunt."

Michael nodded once.

April returned the gesture and headed upstairs leaving Michael alone to cling to a new hope that had just risen within him.

Maybe, just maybe, they could go back to the way it was before.