Hey guys! Thank you for being patient, here is a nice long chapter as a reward! More to follow! Please review and let me know what you think of where the story is going! xoxox
As they gathered around the hummer, Alex looked up to Michael and Gabriella, "So, what now?"
Michael looked uncertain and turned his steady gaze to Gabriella, who smiled softly at both of them. With an elegant shrug of her shoulder she spoke, "Well, now, we take apart Gabriel's army and remove his resources. You can't win a war without an army."
Both men stared at her with looks of mixed confusion and incredulity. Alex raised his hand, "Uh not to put a damper on the badass parade you have going on over there, but how are the three of us going to do that?"
Gabriella laughed at his characteristic skepticism and smiled at him, "Alright, so, the plan is that we will start exorcising the 8balls, and sending the dogs of heaven back to heaven."
Alex's jaw dropped open, "You have got to be kidding! Gabby, I can't exorcise 8balls, we've tried!" Michael spoke up, "It's true love, we've tried, and even my powers aren't enough to keep the vessel alive after the 8ball is vacated."
Gabriella nodded as they spoke, "I know. But there are other resources that we need to utilize." Both men stared at her in confusion, waiting for her to explain. She sighed, "With my powers we can send the dogs back to heaven, and I assure you there they will stay. Because the order of the world has been thrown off by their continued presence here on earth, it itches to return to normal."
Michael shifted his shoulders and spread his wings to cover them as snow began to fall again, "We still have the problem of how to successfully exorcise the 8balls."
Gabriella smiled, "For that, we need to get in the car and drive." She ducked out from under his wings and snaked the keys out of his pocket before heading to the driver's side and sliding in. The men quickly followed suit, not wanting to spend any longer in the snow than they had to.
As she started up the hummer and drove it away from the clearing, Alex asked from the back, "So where are we going?" Gabriella glanced at him in the rearview mirror, "To the largest group of free people. To the Camp. There are allies there."
She glanced over at Michael and then back to Alex and saw how exhausted they were, and smiled softly at them, "Get some rest boys. We'll be there eventually."
Alex fell asleep immediately, snoring softly in the back. Michael sat quietly in the front, reflecting on the passing scenery and grappling with the many emotions he was dealing with at having Gabriella back.
Finally he broke the silence and asked her softly, "What did you think of Heaven?" Gabriella glanced over at him in surprise, "You mean what did I think of paradise?" She laughed, "It was beautiful, just what my human self always imagined it to be." She grew serious and reached out for his hand, and Michael quickly twined their fingers together.
"But without you and everyone else it was barren, empty and haunted. A lonely place." She sighed softly, staring down the road as the snow continued to fall.
Michael thought for a moment and then spoke softly, "I always loved Heaven. The peace, the order. But after my time here on Earth, where everything is so alive, and wild, I don't think I could ever go back."
Gabriella squeezed his hand gently, "Wherever you are is where I want to be." They shared a brief, tender smile before Gabriella turned her attention back to the icy roads. "Get some sleep Michael, you look exhausted" she whispered.
He made a noise of agreement, shifting in his seat to get more comfortable, and a few minutes later, was sound asleep, still holding Gabriella's hand.
Gabriella drove for hours, the daylight slowly fading, until finally, they were in a small town just outside Albany, NY. Both Alex and Michael had been asleep for hours, not having slept fully and deeply for weeks. Their bodies demanded sleep and food, and Gabriella knew that they would need to stop soon for food and rest for the night.
She drove slowly through the small town, using her powers to sense for 8balls, and to sense for a safe place. Eventually she felt a tug, leading her to turn left, then right, then left again, and then to stop in front of a slightly rundown bed and breakfast.
She concentrated and could sense that this place was meant for them. It has supplies and a gas water heater. Raising her brow, she grinned, the men would be excited to know they could take hot showers, albeit quick ones.
She pulled the hummer into the driveway, pulling behind the house. She shook Michael and Alex awake gently, snickering softly at their sleepy protestations, they sounded so much like little boys!
"Five more minutes, huh?" she gently mocked when Alex tried to shove her hand away and ignore her. "So I suppose you don't want a hot shower, hot meal and a warm bed?" she asked with a grin. At this, Alex sat up quickly and eyed her with a disgruntled expression, "You better not be playing with me Gabby."
She laughed, "Come on bro! See if I am!" She leapt from the hummer and went to the trunk to grab their gear, laughing as she heard both Michael and Alex swear as the cold air invaded the warm interior of the vehicle.
Walking to the back door, she called over her shoulder, "Come on sleepyheads! Last one in the house makes dinner!" She reached a hand into her boot and pulled out a lock pick, easily undoing the back door and left it open for the men to follow.
She made her way from the back entryway into the kitchen and moved into the dining room, setting the bags she had grabbed down onto the table. She walked back into the kitchen and opened the door to the pantry, smiling when she found it full of dried and canned goods.
Coming out of the pantry she backed up quickly, almost running into Alex, who grinned at her, "Guess you aren't much more graceful just because you're an angel." Gabriella stuck her tongue out at him and laughed when he flipped her off as he walked into the dining room to drop off his bags.
"Where's Michael?" she called, peering out the window, not seeing him. "He went to scout quick. Said he would be back and make dinner."Alex said, walking into the kitchen.
"Come on, let's check this place out, yea?" he said with a grin.
Gabriella nodded and followed him as they explored the main level. There was a bedroom down the hall from the living room with a single bathroom attached, and on the second level three bedrooms and bathrooms. They made their way up to the third floor, where there was a small one bedroom and bathroom at the top of a winding staircase.
Alex peered around the room, "I'll take the nest; put as much space between us as I can. I have no desire to hear you reunion." Gabriella laughed and wrinkled her nose at him before punching him in the shoulder, "Shut up asshole."
Shaking her head, she made her way downstairs to the main level and found Michael was back, unpacking their things in the bedroom, having already shook out the bed sheets and dusted the room. She walked up behind him and wrapped her arms around him, hugging him tightly, "Thank you, that was sweet of you."
Michael turned his head and smiled down at her, "Well you did all the hard work the last few times we stayed somewhere, and I figured I should pick up the slack." Smiling up at him Gabriella pulled away and walked into the bathroom, "I'm going to check the water, see if the water heater is working."
She turned the cold water tap and was rewarded with water that was bone achingly cold. The hot water tap only yielded more cold water.
Walking out of the bathroom she wiped her hands on her jeans, "I'm going to go look for the hot water heater and see if I can get it to work. Can you get dinner started?"
Michael nodded and smiled sweetly at her before darting across the room to place a gentle kiss on her lips. Gabriella smiled against his lips and pulled away, grinning broadly at his pout.
She wandered back to the mudroom through which they had entered and found the door to the basement. She summoned up a ball of light, letting it float beside her as she descended the steps.
She quickly found the water heater, and knelt in front of it. She could see that the pilot light was out and decided to check the gas tank. She laid a hand on the side and sensed. After a moment she grinned, practically full!
She turned back to the water heater and pressed the button to start the stream of gas, using her powers to light the pilot light. She sat for a few minutes, watching it burn, satisfied that it was safe, and would stay lit.
She headed back upstairs, extinguishing the light, and made her way into the kitchen where Alex and Michael were making dinner.
She hopped up onto the counter and grinned at the men, "Good news gentlemen, we have hot water!"
Alex grinned at her, "Hey, what other tricks can you do?"
She laughed, "Not sure yet, but I know it's powerful stuff, so watch yourself bro." She grinned and wiggled her fingers at him, pretending to do magic, laughing when he picked up a cutting board as a shield.
She sat on the counter, laughing and chatting with her men, enjoying herself for the first time in a long time.
Eventually they moved into the dining room, enjoying their dinner, and some whiskey that Alex had found in the pantry. They all laughed over a story that Michael had just told of Jeep, Alex's father, trying to teach a young Alex how to say "Jeep" and instead, it coming out "Beep". Apparently Alex had called his father "Beep" for a good six months before he finally switched to Dad.
They all fell silent, smiling softly to themselves, each reflecting on their pasts. Finally Alex looked up to Gabriella, "So, now are you going to tell us where we are going and how we are going to manage these exorcisms?"
Gabriella nodded and took a sip of her whiskey, "We are going to New York City. The Camp is there." Michael shifted in his seat, and stared at her, doubt on his face, "Why would they be there? The east coast was bombed out in the wars."
Gabriella nodded, "Years ago. Clearly, as we've made our journey, we have seen that parts are still habitable. Or usable." She waved a hand dismissively, "Anyway, I believe that there are four more archangels in the Camp." She locked eyes with Michael, "The final four."
Michael's jaw hardened, "Why should we go to them now? They haven't come forward before."
Gabriella reached a hand out to his resting on the table, "Because, they wanted to remain neutral. There were angels in Vega who did the same. We have to try Michael. And with me on your side, trust me, they'll help us."
Michael sat, silent, stony faced for a long while and then nodded. Gabriella turned to Alex, "With their help, we will be able to exorcise the 8balls and send them back to Heaven." Alex nodded, "Ok, I trust you."
Gabriella smiled at him and watched as he poured another large pour of whiskey before heading upstairs to his room, calling over his shoulder, "Night guys."
Gabriella grabbed the whiskey and splashed a little more in her glass, holding it out to Michael, offer him some. He nodded and she poured him some before standing, "I'm going to go take a hot bath. You should join me."
Michael watched as she walked out of the dining room, her hips swaying, and cursed softly. He snatched up the bottle of whiskey and followed her to their room, locking the door behind him. He could hear the sound of the water filling the tub and smelled the soft scent of lavender.
Gabriella came out of the bathroom in one of her button down shirts, her long dark hair loose, and felt his breath catch as she advanced on him. She smiled sweetly at him as she pushed off his jacket, and pushed him down onto the bed, kneeling in front of him to remove his boots.
She glanced up at him through her lashes, giving him a sultry look, and he felt a flash of desire pulse through him. She stood and held out her hand, pulling him to his feet.
She gently pulled his shirt off, knowing he had cuts and bruises he had been ignoring. She frowned softly when she saw the cut across his chest that Gabriel had given him, and the numerous dark bruises from their fight.
She leaned in and placed a soft kiss on his chest before busying her hands with his pants, pushing them down until Michael stepped out of them, and was completely nude in front of her.
She said nothing, simply taking his hand, leading him to the bathtub, motioning for him to get in.
Gabriella waited until he was in the hot water, his eyes half closed with delight at finally being warm and comfortable.
She saw his gaze lock onto her body as she unbuttoned her shirt and slid it from her body, dropping it onto the ground.
She stood for a moment, letting him stare, letting him see that she was whole, healed, and then climbed into the large Jacuzzi style tub, groaning softly with pleasure as the hot water enveloped her body.
She laid back, her head nestling in under Michael's chin, the water coming up to her collarbones, smiling when Michael's arms wrapped around her.
They lay that way for a while, enjoying the warmth and the sensation of being in each other's arms.
Michael broke the silence, "When you died….when your body disappeared….I thought I might go insane."
Gabriella's heart constricted, "I'm sorry. I didn't have any control over that. I wish it hadn't had to happen like that."
Michael made a humming noise of assent and placed a soft kiss to her temple, "I'm just happy I got you back."
Gabriella smiled and turned her face up, staring into his beautiful blue eyes, "I am too."
Michael closed the small gap between their lips and kissed her, winding his fingers through her hair, pulling her deeper into the kiss, leaving her feeling like he was kissing the air out of her. Gabriella pulled away, breathing heavily, and ran a hand over his face and through his hair.
She leaned over the side of the tub and grabbed the wash cloth, wetting it in the tub before wiping off Michael's face gently. She worked her way down his neck to his chest, then his arms, taking care to clean off his wounds.
She glanced up at him and saw he was staring at her through half lidded eyes with a burning intensity.
Gabriella swallowed hard, and continued to work her way down, her strong fingers gently massing his thighs, eliciting a low moan from Michael. She saw his eyes slide shut and took the opportunity to abandon the washcloth, grasping his semi-erect penis with one hand, the other trailing up his chest to tweak his nipples gently.
Michael bucked his hips into her hand with a hiss of breath, and Gabriella pushed gently at his chest, forcing him back against the wall of the tub as she began to pump her hand up and down his length, squeezing in just the way she knew he liked.
She leaned in and placed a light kiss to his neck, sucking softly as her hand continued to move. She nipped at his neck, sucking and kissing, grinning softly when she heard him moan louder. She felt him grow harder in her hand, and knew he was close, but she also knew with his angelic strength he had the stamina to last.
She leaned up and captured his mouth with hers, kissing him deeply as she pumped him hard with her hand, his hips jerking up to meet her movements, moans coming from deep in his chest.
Gabriella felt him stiffen and shudder in her hand as he came, his breath gasping against her ear, her name like a whispered prayer.
Michael lay still for long moments and then with a large splash of water, scooped Gabriella up in his arms, and carried her to their bed.
He laid her down on the bed, her damp hair spreading like a halo around her head. He leaned down and kissed her, his hand trailing up from her hip to her breast.
Gabriella shivered as Michael kissed her, deeply, passionately, while his hand cupped her breast, his callused thumb brushing her nipple, teasing it into a stiff peak. She moaned into his kiss and arched her back, aching to be closer.
Michael's finger's trailed lower, skimming her hips, and then grasped her thigh, pulling it apart before his fingers brushed across her entrance, warm and wet.
His mouth moved from hers down to her breast, nipping lightly. Just as he sucked on her nipple, he thrust two fingers inside her, eliciting a moan from her.
His thumb swirled against her clit, making her gasp, and thrust her hips against his fingers, which were busy curling inside her, finding her gspot.
Gabriella's fingers dug into Michael's shoulders, her lungs feeling like she was sprinting, her body feeling like it was on fire. As Michael pressed harder down on her clit, brushed his fingers against her gspot, and brushed his mouth all over her body, she could feel her own climax building.
She writhed against him, moaning his name, until finally; Michael leaned up and whispered in her ear, "Come for me my angel. Only me." At his words, she shuddered, her orgasm arching her back off the bed, her hands fisting in the blankets.
Michael gave her just one moment and then slid his fingers from her, grasping her hips tightly, and slid into her with a groan which Gabriella echoed, whimpering his name.
Michael pulled almost all the way out, and then pushed back into her slowly, setting a torturous pace. Still reeling from her last orgasm, Gabriella felt each thrust deeply, and moved her hips against Michael, trying to fulfill the aching need in her.
Michael grasped her hips tightly and flipped them so that Gabriella was on top, letting her set the pace now. Gabriella's head tilted back as Michael slid into her deeper, a low whimper escaping her.
Michael watched as she began to move, her hands moving restlessly over her body, her hands squeezing and tweaking her breasts. He kept his hands on her waist, wanting to watch her.
Gabriella moved faster, harder, moaning loudly at the sensation of Michael hitting her inside, his hips punching up to meet hers, low grunts escaping him.
His right hand left her hip and came to her clit, circling it, pushing her closer to her orgasm. Gabriella braced her hands on Michael's chest, her head falling forward as she increased her pace, her long hair whispering across his skin.
Michael pressed harder and faster on her clit and with a few more thrusts of his hips; Gabriella came, calling his name. Michael continued to thrust into her, prolonging her orgasm, until moments later, he felt his world fall apart with his orgasm, Gabriella's name on his lips.
Gabriella collapsed onto his chest, trembling and breathing heavily. Michael rolled and slid from inside her, wrapping a blanket around them.
Michael ran a hand over her face, brushing her damp hair out of her eyes. "I love you Gabriella" he whispered. She smiled at him and whispered back, "I love you too Michael."
Her eyes slid shut, and soon her breathing steadied with sleep. Michael watched her sleep for a few minutes and soon began to drift to sleep, a small smile on his lips.