A/N: Totally not Christmastime, but why not hear more about Mary and the angels? This is for Steampunk Timelord, because I couldn't bear to make a timelord cry.

Chapter 2

"The child grows strong and quickly," Michael commented as he and the other two guardians followed their charge through the marketplace.

Raphael studied Mary's form with the keen eye of a healer. He was happy to confirm his brother's statement. The child was strong, and so was his mother. Though she had appeared young and frail when they first looked upon her, she had quickly taken to her task with a willing and joyful heart. Three months in and her body had already begun to change, clear youthful angles slowly shaping into graceful curves.

Raphael looked up at the surrounding crowds and saw more than one expression of disdain directed at Mary. "Be on guard; there are enemies here," he said.

Just as Raphael finished speaking a woman in the crowd suddenly pointed a gnarly finger at their charge. The three archangels watched in horror as a demon appeared from nowhere and placed its claws on the older woman's shoulders.

"Sinner!" the woman shrieked. Mary backed away, trying to appear smaller. Michael rushed forward and dispatched the demon with one swing of his sword while the other two archangels quickly pulled in closer to Mary. More demons began to appear that were previously hidden in the crowd, twenty, then thirty of them. Though individually weak, the demons could form great throngs capable of taking down archangels under the right circumstances.

"We cannot hold them off and protect her at the same time," Raphael spoke urgently to Michael.

"Gabriel. Who else is nearby?" Michael asked the messenger.

"Just Ariel and Samuel," Gabriel responded.

"Samuel is inexperienced, and Ariel is a healer, not a warrior. They will not be enough," Raphael warned.

Several people in the crowd began to pick up stones.

"They will have to do," Michael said, "Call to them, now!" He put him hands on Mary's shoulders and leaned down to whisper in her ear. "Run, Mary!"

Mary broke out of her terror-induced paralysis and turned to run, but the crowd was quickly closing in. As many as five demons were hanging on to each human, planting thoughts of hatred and intolerance into their minds.

Meanwhile, Gabriel cried out to Samuel and Ariel for their aid. The two angels were there almost immediately, swords out and flashing. The demons left the men and women and fell upon the newcomers. Mary saw the handfuls of stones lowering, and she took her chance to run. She held her clothing off of her feet with one hand and held her other arm protectively over her midsection. Her guardians went with her, one on either side and one behind her. Soon, the crowds were far behind them, and Mary stopped to catch her breath.

"Is she all right? Did they hurt her?" Michael asked with worry.

"Be quiet," Raphael ordered as he checked over the young maiden. Another tense moment, and then, "She is fine. Not one stone dared to bruise her."

"We have Samuel and Ariel to thank for that. If they had not been there to distract the demons—"

"Shh! I am trying to hear!" Gabriel interrupted Michael in a hushed but forceful tone.

Michael crossed his arms, more than a little annoyed that his lower-ranking siblings had shushed him twice in one minute. "What is it now?" he whispered back, trying to control his temper.

Gabriel's look of concentration turned to worry. "Samuel is crying for help. The demons were too many for them. Ariel is hurt." He turned back to his brothers. "They need you. Both of you."

Michael nodded. "Stay with-"

"I'll stay with Mary," Gabriel interrupted, again. "Just go, now!"

Michael stifled a growl of frustration and turned to see that Raphael was already gone.

The crowd of demons was still there when Michael arrived, all facing inward toward something on the ground. Samuel was outside the crowd trying to fight his way in, but the demons regarded him as a minor annoyance, ignoring him almost entirely. Michael's sword was instantly out, cutting down five enemies with each swing. His efforts nearly doubled when he heard a familiar voice scream in pain.

Raphael did not fight, but instead pushed his way in, aided by his slender frame and his desperation to find his student. He began to see feathers all around him—white glossy feathers tipped with blood. Several of the demons had tufts of them clenched in their claws, which they showed to each other with gloating faces. Raphael's fears were confirmed when he made it to the center of the crowd. No less than five demons were holding Ariel down as several others ripped handfuls of feathers from his bloodied wings. One of them grinned at Raphael, showing off the bits of white feather in his black teeth. With a cry of rage, Raphael threw himself over Ariel, protecting him from further harm.

The demons reached out to grab at Raphael's wings, but found their claws on fire. Their screams of indignation were cut short by Michael's sword as the head archangel finished them off. He and Samuel worked quickly, and the rest of the demons were soon slain. With the battle finally won, they approached their wounded brother.

Ariel was lying on his side, both of his hands in Raphael's firm grip. His cheeks were stained with tears and blood, but his eyes were open and lucid.

"I must see to your wings," Raphael was saying, quietly.

"Is there anything we can do?" Michael asked, still panting from the exertion of battle.

Raphael looked back at him sharply. His eyes held a fierce protectiveness, but Michael saw right through it to the panic within.

"Just give us space. He is too crowded," he answered.

"No, I want them close," Ariel spoke up, hoarsely, "I...I am afraid."

"There is nothing to fear," Michael said, sitting down beside him. He quickly took in the sight of Ariel's wings. Almost half of his feathers had been torn out, leaving the frames tattered and bloody. Samuel also sat down by their fallen brother, remaining very still and silent. Raphael was careful to ignore him completely.

"Are they broken?" Michael asked, quietly. Raphael shook his head.

"Believe me, they tried. The wings are badly strained, but it seems the demons gave up and decided to take his feathers instead." He pulled his right hand out of Ariel's grip and placed it on one injured wing. The renewed pain caused fresh tears to spring in Ariel's eyes.

"Please stop," he said, trying to pull away from his brother and teacher.

"I must heal your wings. It will not take long," Raphael tried to reason with the injured angel while Michael and Samuel watched, anxious and helpless. Raphael pulled his other hand free and placed both of them on the bloodied wings. Ariel tensed and cried out, but Raphael's face remained stoic.

"Shh, be calm," he murmured. "You are a healer, Ariel. Focus on healing."

Ariel closed his eyes and gradually relaxed under his teacher's hands. Soft, sleek feathers began to grow where they had been torn out minutes before. Raphael let go of the rapidly healing wings and heaved a deep sigh of relief.

"He will be fine." Raphael looked at Samuel for the first time since Ariel had been hurt. "What happened? Why did you leave him alone?" The fear in his eyes had been replaced with anger.

"I-I tried to stop them, but there were too many-" Samuel began.

"Do not blame Samuel," Michael interrupted. "He did his best."

Raphael stood up. "Take care of him," he ordered. Samuel nodded.

"I will."

Raphael flew quickly away, and Michael had to rush to catch up with him. He reached out and grabbed the healer's arm, forcing him to stop.

"I know you are angry with me," Michael stated.

"You are not the one who tore the feathers from my student's wings," Raphael said, dismissively.

"And neither is Samuel," Michael reminded. "Let us stop blaming ourselves and focus on the true enemy. Ariel was hurt because we could not fight demons and defend Mary at the same time. She needs better protection than we can offer. She needs her husband."

"We are agreed. But we have a problem. Joseph has not spoken with her since she returned from her visit to Elizabeth. It seems his aim is to divorce her without publicly disgracing her," Raphael commented, though there was a clear note of disdain in his voice.

"Then we have no choice. One of us will need to explain the situation," said Michael. "I will send Gabriel to visit Joseph this very night."

"No," Raphael objected, the memory of his bleeding brother still fresh on his mind. "Joseph needs to know what is at stake. He needs to know what his apathy has caused. I will go."

A/N: Thanks for reading!

-Samuel