Hey guys, so i know it's been a bit without an update, and I'm sorry. I've had a bit of a block with this, and I just needed some space to let it flow. So now that it's good again, I think another 5 chapters and we will reach the conclusion! :O lol thank you all so so much for sticking with me, and i hope you enjoy this chapter! Please review! xoxoxo
The next day dawned snowy, bitterly cold and grey. Rolling over to look out the window, Gabriella groaned softly and pulled the blanket tighter up against her chin. She smiled when she felt Michael's arm grip her waist and pull her back against him.
"Come here, I'll keep you warm" he murmured, his voice velvety soft with sleep. Gabriella ran her fingers up his finely muscled forearm and sighed, "I wish we could stay here all day."
Michael pressed a kiss to the nape of her neck, "Why can't we? The others are helping the survivors and the Camp find more resources. That should take most of the morning, and it's only a few hours to Erie from here. We can take some time to rest."
Gabriella grinned and rolled over in his arms, staring up into his beautiful blue eyes. "Well, if you think we have the time, then who am I to argue?" she teased. Michael smirked and brushed a kiss across the tip of her nose before drawing her closer, both of them reveling in the simplicity of a morning spent in peace.
Both had fallen back to sleep and a few hours had passed when Alex finally ventured to their room, curious to see if they were getting on the road soon. It was only a few hours past daybreak, not much later than their normal rising time, but for his two friends, it was unusual for them to dally.
He smirked, hesitating outside their closed door, wondering if he was going to interrupt something intimate. Leaning in he listened for a moment and then raised a brow. Silence? Grinning, he eased the door open, his grin growing when he found both angels still abed, curled together and fast asleep.
Alex debated whether he should make a noise and rouse them, and then thought better of it. He would go catch another hour of sleep himself, since it was such a rare commodity these days.
Heading out to the living room where their bags were packed and ready to go, Alex flopped down on the couch and pulled a worn blanket over him. After a few moments he reached into his jacket pocket and pulled his only picture of Claire.
Smiling softly, he ran his thumb over her face, "I love you Claire" he whispered. He missed her so much, and he could only hope that Gabriel wasn't attacking Vega. Gabriella would tell him, he was sure. But Gabriel's minions might attack, and Gabriella couldn't track them all, all at once.
Slowly his mind calmed and her face was the only thing before him as he fell asleep. Not enough sleep later, Alex woke to a poking sensation in his side. Opening his eyes he realized he was in fact being poked by Gabriella who was crouching beside him.
"Rise and shine!" she sing-songed with a smile. Alex grinned at her sleepily and rubbed a hand over his face, "Hey…time to get going?"
Nodding, Gabriella stood and held her hand out, "Yea, I'm driving since you and Flyboy are sleepy." Grabbing her hand, Alex pulled himself up and shook his head, "I'm not that tired, just gimme a minute."
Gabriella nudged his shoulder with hers, "Hey, no worries. I'm rested up, and you guys can nap a bit. It's two hours to Erie, and the others are already on their way. We need to get going and make good time, so I'm the best person to drive."
Giving her an annoyed look Alex leaned down and grabbed their packs before heading out to the car. Shrugging, Gabriella went back to the bedroom to find Michael pulling on a thick sweater from his bag.
"Just a minute, I didn't want to freeze in the car again, or have you expend energy to create an energy ball for us."
Rolling her eyes, Gabriella tossed him his jacket, "What is it with you men today? I'm more than capable of driving, and producing an energy ball to heat the car…at the same time by the way."
Michael looked up at her with a wary expression, "I didn't mean to imply that you weren't capable. I only meant that I am more than able to put another layer on to stay warm. We needn't rely on your power, especially when we may need it unexpectedly."
Gabriella sighed, mollified. "Very well. If you're sufficiently bundled against the cold, let's get going."
After getting on what was left of the highway, Gabriella glanced in the back of the hummer and grinned when she saw that Alex was asleep again. Looking over to Michael she found his countenance sleepy as well, though he appeared to be fighting it.
-He's so adorable when he's sleepy!-she thought to herself. It seemed unreal to think of a time, just months ago, when she hadn't been in love with him. Or rather, hadn't been ready to love him. Now, he was her everything.
Glancing over, she saw that he was now asleep, his normally stern face relaxed. She remembered the first time she had seen him, when she had gone before the Senate to ask for more supplies for the clinic. They had needed more because of the overflow from the hospital and for the V ones and twos that couldn't afford treatment at the hospital.
She had only been 23 at the time, having only been practicing medicine in Vega for a few years. She remembered standing before the Senate, trembling fingers locked behind her back, and staring each of them in the face.
She had insisted they give the necessary amount of supplies, or people, their people would suffer and die. And how would the people of Vega feel when they found out that their Senate had denied the clinic their requisition?
She smiled now, recalling the tight lips and frowns her bold words and implications of blackmail against the Senate had caused. She remembered the angel Michael raising a brow at her words, their eyes locking, and her heart racing. She had maintained her composure, but had been terrified she would be taken for punishment.
But when she went back to the clinic that evening, she found that they had received double what they had asked for. Now she knew it was because Michael had found her boldness intriguing and had told the Senate to give her double, to buy goodwill.
And they had; with the extra supplies, word had spread and more people than ever came to receive treatment. With the extra preventative and palliative care they received, the next year was calmer than the previous two.
Smiling, Gabriella turned her attention back to the present and to the drive ahead of her. The roads were slightly snowy, and the wind was beginning to blow. Gripping the wheel tighter, she set her focus on the road and hoped the weather would get no worse.
A few hours later, Gabriella turned the hummer into a church parking lot and shut it off, breathing out her tension. The last few hours had been bad driving. The snow had continued to fall and the wind had buffeted the hummer the whole time.
The men had of course stayed asleep the whole time.
Reaching out, Gabriella shook Michael, "Hey, Flyboy, time to wake up." With a very un-angel like snort, he woke, and looked around sleepily. Laughing softly, she turned and found Alex already awake. He gave her a smile, "We expecting company soon?"
"Yea, I think they'll be here soon. Raphael hasn't said anything yet." Gabriella reached out with her mind, feeling for Raphael until she felt him and asked silently-Raphael, we are here, can you find us?
His reply was almost immediate-Yes sister. We are only ten minutes away. We will see you soon.
"Ten minutes away. We should move inside." Gabriella exited the car and headed into the church which had seen far better days. Standing at the altar, she summoned a ball of heat and light and expanded it so that it gave off brilliant heat and light, hanging five feet above their heads.
Soon, the sound of wing beats filled the air, and the other four archangels dropped through a hole in the roof to land softly near them. Embracing the angels swiftly, Gabriella gave them warm smiles, "So brothers. Now that we have worked together once, I think we know that our method of fighting Gabriel works. Now what?"
Raphael moved to the altar and waved his hand, summoning up the image of Vega. "The city is besieged by Gabriel's minions. He sends them after the Chosen One's heir. We must liberate those possessed by the dogs of Heaven, and protect the heir."
Gabriella and Alex were staring at Raphael, flummoxed. "The Chosen One's heir? Raphael….you must be mistaken…I was unable to have children as a human, and never had any….and Alex and Claire, they were careful."
Alex nodded, "There's no way." Raphael gave him a sardonic look, "There is always a way human. You are the Chosen One. And she carries your heir. The dogs wish to take it and use it against you. Force you to side with Gabriel. We must protect her until the child is born, and then protect them both."
Alex's face had drained of color, and Gabriella placed a gentle hand on his shoulder. She looked to Raphael, "It took us months to journey here. It would take that long again to get back."
He nodded, "For now we must exorcise those groups we come across as we journey back. But we must return. There is no other option."
Alex looked up at Raphael, "Damn right there is no other option. That's my child, and I won't give Gabriel my child. Jeep wouldn't give me up, and I'll die before I give my child up." Raphael nodded brusquely, "I pray it doesn't come to that Chosen One. We will all sacrifice what is necessary to restore the balance of Heaven and Earth."
Gabriella looked around the small group gathered there, just seven of them, all ready to die to save humanity and Heaven, and felt the heavy hand of fate lingering over them. They would fight, and some might die, but they only had one option; win. For if Gabriel won, hell on Earth would reign.