A/N: Okay, so this is the second chapter I put up today so please make sure that you read chapter 14 before you read this one, just so you're not confused. And sorry if the formatting on this chapter is kind of weird, I actually wrote this for my Creative Writing class (it was okay because it doesn't reference anything to Supernatural so it didn't count of fanfiction XD) and it had to be double spaced in in MLA format and shit like that. But I absolutely love this chapter and I really hope that you guys do too!

Also this whole chapter is a flash black that Exarp is having. Just so you don't get confused.

Chapter 15

If I Die Young

"I used to steal things," he said, his feet absentmindedly swinging, not even touching the ground from his seat on the swing. "Not because I wanted to but because I could. It was so easy. I was fast and if anyone thought I did something bad I would just give 'em this face," the young boy stuck out his bottom lip and widened his eyes. That face could make anyone melt into a puddle of lovey goo.

"You know it's wrong to steal things, Benjamin Clearwater," Exarp said, though a smile was still on his face as he pictured the six year old stealing things.

"Don't call me that! Call me Ben!" he said, crossing his arms and pouting.

"Okay, okay," Exarp said, starting to swing a little in this seat too. "I think that's enough for today. I'll see you later Benja-, I mean Ben."

"Aw, you have to go already?" Ben asked, that pout reappearing on his face.

"Sorry buddy," Exarp said, feeling a little bad about having to leave.

"Will you come back tomorrow?" he asked.

"Of course," Exarp said and tousled Ben's long brown hair making the boy giggle.

Exarp stood up from his seat on the swing and in a small gust of wind he disappeared. He reappeared in a small garden, the flowers vibrant in color and always in season. There was a small white bench towards the end of the garden, standing out in the field of flowing green grass. Sitting on the bench was a man with a brown hair and bright blue eyes. He smiled at him and motioned for Exarp to come and sit next to him. Exarp did what he was told.

They sat in silence for a bit, taking in everything. Exarp's mind couldn't help but drift back to Ben, his heart sinking a little. Benjamin Clearwater died at six years old by drowning in a lake. He hated seeing kids come up here, to Heaven, having no idea what had happened to them and that they wouldn't see their loved ones for a long time. But that was why Exarp was there. He was an Angel, an Angel who consulted the dead. He helped them get through their death and heartbreak. But Ben had no idea yet that he was dead. Exarp hadn't had the nerve to tell him. The Angel sighed and brought his thoughts back to him and the other Angel sitting next to him.

"Why did you call me here, Brap?" Exarp asked.

"I've got a message for you," Brap said, his British accent somewhat faint but still noticeable.

"What, is Gabriel on vacation?" Exarp let out a small laugh, picturing the messenger of God on Earth for a vacation.

"Well, it's not really a message, it's more of a rumor," Brap said. Exarp sighed. He hated when Angels gossiped. "Rumor around the cloud is that The Powers want to recruit you."

Exarp's eyes widened as his friend told him that. The Powers were an elite group of Angels that fight evil down on Earth. There were only two of them now, Oro and Luna, and Exarp had heard that they needed a third. He just never guessed that it would be him. "Well, it's just a rumor. We don't know for sure," Exarp said, brushing his floppy blond hair out of his eyes.

"But what if it's true? You will join them, won't you?" Brap asked. Exarp was silent for a few moments. The truth was... he didn't really want to join The Powers. He liked his job now and he didn't want to leave any of his patients, especially Ben.

"Would you?" Exarp asked, turning the question on his friend.

"Of course I would, don't be stupid. But why would they want the Angel of Metal on their team?" Brap said, his features softening a little.

"Come on, Brap, you're awesome and you would be a great addition to the team," Exarp said. But before Brap could respond a small ringing noise went off in Exarp's head. He was getting a call from one of his patients. Dexter Morris to be exact. "I'm sorry old friend, but I must be on my way," he said, standing up.

"If it's Dexter tell him to sod off," Brap said with a playful smile.

Exarp didn't say anything; he just smiled and vanished in a gust of wind.

The Angel reappeared on a beach. Golden sand stretched as far as the eye could see and the deep blue water lapped the shore, the sunset almost crystallizing the water. In Heaven everyone had their own little spot where they could rest in peace for eternity. It could be there favorite place or a fond memory. Dexter's was the beach. Exarp wasn't sure which beach it was but it sure was beautiful.

Exarp walked up to Dexter, his black hair all over the place and his leg bouncing up and down nervously as he sat on a beach chair. The Angel made another chair appear next to him and took a seat. "What's the problem now, Dexter?" Exarp asked, the question coming across as more annoyed than worried.

"I-It's my wife, I never taught her how to do the taxes right and that I had an extra bank account and if she doesn't do it right-," Dexter stopped his rambling to put his head in his hands.

Exarp sighed. Dexter had been in Heaven a month now, having died in a car accident, and every day he called Exarp with a new problem. Dexter was a nice guy but he was extremely paranoid.

"Listen, I'm going to tell you what I tell you every day. Every thing's going to be fine. Your wife is doing fine and so is your son. You're in Heaven now, enjoy the sights! Relive your greatest hits!" Exarp said, hoping for the thousandth time that it would get through to him.

"M-Maybe," he stuttered, lifting his head a tad. "Exarp, you think I could see my dog? He passed away a year ago but I didn't know if he would be here."

Exarp nodded, happy that Dexter was finally starting to get better. The Angel snapped his fingers and a second later a dog, white and shaggy, appeared next to Dexter. He smiled and started petting the dog, amusement in his eyes.

"Thanks," he said, smiling for the first time since he arrived in Heaven.

"No problem," Exarp said, getting up from his seat.

"Will you still come tomorrow?" Dexter asked.

Exarp nodded. "Promise," he said.

Exarp was just about to disappear, maybe to meet up with Brap again, when the scenery around him changed without warning. Instead of the beach he was now standing in a nice manicured lawn, a boy frozen in mid run, a kite following close behind him. How did he get there?

"Greetings, Exarp." The Angel spun around to see two people, Angels, standing in front of him. One was tall and bulky with long red curls that fell to his shoulders. The other was a woman with long, flowing silver hair and cool blue eyes that seemed to pierce through the awkward silence between them. He knew who they were instantly. They were The Powers.

"Oro, Luna," he said, bowing his head in respect.

"We assume that you have already heard the rumors," Oro said.

"Yes, and the answer's no," Exarp said, crossing his arms over his chest.

The other two Angels seemed surprised by his sudden answer and bluntness. Most Angels would be honored to join The Powers. But Exarp wasn't most Angels.

"But why?" Luna asked.

"I like my job now. I wouldn't leave it for the world," Exarp said, a proud smile growing on his face.

"Counseling dead humans? You find joy in doing that?" Oro asked, his eyebrows frowning together, anger radiating off of him.

"Yes, in fact I do," Exarp said.

There was silence between the other two Angels as they looked at each other, not knowing what to do. "But you're the Angel of Air. You would fit with us perfectly. Oro is the Angel of Fire and I'm the Angel of the Moon. Together we would be more powerful than ever," Luna pointed out.

"Sorry, but no," Exarp said and didn't feel like being there anymore. He turned to walk away when a thought occurred to him. Without turning around he said, "If you still want another addition to your team try asking Brap. I'm sure he would accept your kind offer." And with that he disappeared, leaving the two Angels stunned and disappointed.

Exarp reappeared back at the garden. Brap was still there, flipping a gold coin in the air like he always did when he was bored. Brap seemed to notice the somewhat troubled look on his friends face and asked, "What's wrong?"

Exarp just smiled and said, "I just, uh, turned down The Powers offer."

Brap gaped at him. "You did what?"

"Don't worry, it has a happy ending. I recommended you for the job," Exarp said and saw Brap's open mouth turn into a smile.

"Always so full of surprises," Brap said and patted his friends back. "Thank you."

"Anything for a friend," Exarp said then heard the familiar ringing in his head. Ben was calling him. It was strange because Ben never called him. He was always occupied by the playground and the new toys that would materialize every now and then. He nodded at Brap, who was beaming with happiness, and disappeared back to the playground. Ben was slumped on the swing, his head hung down and his feet barley swinging. Exarp walked up to him and kneeled down so he could meet him at eye level. "What's wrong buddy?" he asked.

Ben looked up at him; his brown eyes filled with tears, and said, "I miss my Mommy and Daddy. I wanna go home now."

Exarp frowned. He had to tell him now. His heart started to feel heavy in his chest and his throat started closing to the size of a pinhole. Exarp always had a plan when it came to kids. He would let them play in there little Heaven, let them get used to it and then tell them. But now he started to think he was just building them up and then crashing them down.

"Ben, I have to tell you something," Exarp said, placing his hands on the young boy's shoulders. "What's the last thing you remember?" That's it; just let him put the pieces together. Ben always liked puzzles.

Ben was silent for a few moments, trying to recall his death. "I was in the lake behind my house," he said, his voice sounded choppy as if he was trying to hold back the sob that lay dormant in his throat. "My sister Emma had gotten cut on a branch and had to go inside. I was alone for a few minutes. I was kicking underwater and-and my foot got caught on something. I went underwater and then I was here, like magic!"

Exarp nodded and decided to move onto the next question he prepared. "Do you remember what your parents told you when your Grandma died?"

"They said she was in a better place," Ben said and gripped the chains that held up the swing harder.

"Well," Exarp started, feeling the words being caught in his throat again. He had to push to get them out. "Welcome to the better place."

Ben was silent for a few minutes. Exarp could almost see the gears turning in his head, working its way through the things the Angel had told him.

"Am I dead?" he finally asked. Exarp wished he hadn't been such a smart little kid. He nodded, not having the strength to get the words out anymore. Ben, sniffling, lunged at the Angel, wrapping his arms around Exarp. He buried his head into the crook of his neck. Exarp felt tears start to stain his green stripped shirt and the Angel rubbed the young boys back in comfort.

"Are you dead too?" Ben asked between sobs.

"No. I'm an Angel," he said softly, feeling like if he talked to loud he would break the child.

"Cool," he said and Exarp felt a smile tugged the corners of Ben's lips, as if trying to find something to be happy about again.

After what seemed like an eternity Exarp pulled the plastered Ben off him. The Angel smiled weakly and wiped some of the tears off Ben's face. "Will I ever see Mommy and Daddy and Emma again?" he asked.

"Yes, eventually. But you'll have to wait a while. You can stay with your Grandma until then," Exarp said and nodded over towards a bright light. It was a door between Ben's Heaven and his Grandmothers.

"Will you still visit me?" he asked.

"Of course buddy."

Ben nodded and hugged Exarp one more time before running into the light doorway. Exarp smiled, happy that he took it well. Other kids would cry for days. But Ben was a strong kid.

Exarp returned to the garden. Brap was sat on the bench again, flipping his gold coin with gusto and a smile stretched across his face.

"You look happy," Exarp pointed out as he sat down next to his friend.

"The Powers just offered me the job," Brap said as he caught the coin in his hand and put it in his pocket.

"That's great," Exarp said, feeling the weight of sadness come off of him a little now that Brap had some good news.

"But I still don't get it. Why did you turn them down? Angels don't turn down jobs they have been asked to do. We have to do it," Brap said.

"I did it not because I wanted to but because I could," Exarp said, recalling what Ben had said to him earlier that day. "No one makes us do anything. We can do what makes us happy."

"Those are wise words my friend," Brap said, letting that realization sink in.

"Well, a wise person once said them. Now you have to promise me one thing, Brap," Exarp said, leaning back more against the bench.

"And what's that?" he asked.

"Don't get killed." They both laughed, for some reason finding that funny. Exarp wasn't sure if it was that they wouldn't see each other as much or that Ben knew of his death or that Dexter was finally starting to get over his paranoia; but Exarp knew that everything was going to change.