Chapter 5 I am so excited for this chapter, mainly because I have finally used one of my favourite characters from the show (although I technically love all of them) ;) Enjoy my fellow writers and readers.

Meanwhile Celeste was walking through the silent woods. Her heart was heavy. She had never felt so rejected in her entire life. Well there had been others, who had caused her much pain but she had attempted to supress those hurtful memories. Easier said than done. She had no idea where she was heading or what she was going to do with her life now that she had lost her purpose and family.

Rustling, a bushy shrub caught her attention. Tensing Celeste crouched down preparing to transform into Huntress at the first hint of danger. Something leaped over the bush and charged straight towards her. Soaring into the air she used her powerful wings to avoid whatever was out to get her.

"No fair toots! You know I don't have wings," a voice called to her from the darkness.

Instantly she recognised that voice. The first time she heard its reassuring tone it had felt as if she had known it forever. Floating down Celeste strode forwards with confidence.

"Shadow?" she softly called, as he emerged into the light, joy surged through her heart.

Repeating his name she ran towards him and they embraced in a powerful, crushing hug. Shadow rested his chin for a second on her head and he whispered,

"I've missed you so much Cel."

"I've missed you too Shadow."

Breaking apart the two reunited friends observed each other. Wondering how the other had been and to gauge if they had been in any fights. Sensing her sadness Shadow felt his heart ache for Celeste. Behind her smile he knew she wanted to break down and release her emotions.

"Come on, we have a lot of catching up to do and I know the perfect place." Shadow grabbed her hand before Celeste snatched it back and gave him a shove.

Laughing Shadow started to lead the way and Celeste followed behind him. She knew exactly where he was taking her. Suddenly, Celeste felt her spine quiver as she heard the frantic flapping of wings. Scanning the skies she noticed the rippling feathers and yelled a warning to Shadow,

"Run!"

Shadow had also sensed it and he growled in annoyance. Of course Celeste was half angel but that had never bothered him. In fact he had been fascinated by it. After all he was the one, who had taught her everything he knew about their kind. Pumping hard Celeste knew that this angel wasn't going to give up without a fight. Skidding to a halt she changed her direction and began sliding down a steep hill.

As she continued to slip down the russet leaves she could only hope that Shadow had been able to get away and that her plan had worked. Turning around she realised to her horror the angel was nowhere to be seen. Conjuring an angel blade she braced herself.

"Come on you coward! I am not afraid of you. Clearly you are. Otherwise you wouldn't have bothered pursuing me and my friend," Celeste called out and venom was evident in her tone.

"Kiddo. Me. A coward? I know I hide behind my illusions but I am definitely not a coward," the angel responded in a jovial tone.

"Uncle Gabe?" Celeste dropped the blade immediately and as she felt arms wrap around her she almost screamed.

"The one and only kiddo," Gabriel smiled as he planted a kiss on top of her forehead.

"Man you're fast, considering you spend most of your time on the ground consuming sweets," Celeste grinned as she turned to give her uncle a proper hug.

"Still the charmer I see," Gabriel teased as his eyes regarded Celeste with an unguarded pride.

"Not to sound rude but what are you doing here?"

"Good question kiddo. I was just swinging by and I sensed that you were also in the area. And I thought we could patch things up," Gabriel shrugged casually although Celeste could detect the worried tone in his voice.

"Look we both said and did some things we didn't mean. There is nothing that needs patching up, but I do need a place to crash," Celeste said as she batted her eyelashes.

Gabriel chuckled, his niece had always been able to wrap him around her little finger; she owned that cliché.

"You made need a place but you're not getting one," Gabriel responded as he began to walk away.

Gabriel turned round expecting Celeste to be laughing or for a witty remark but instead he found his niece crying her eyes out.

"Whoa, whoa. Hey kiddo it's alright. You know I was joking. If you need somewhere to stay you can always come to me. No matter what, you know that," Gabriel said soothingly as he pulled Celeste into a hug.

Gently he rubbed her back until her crying ceased to mere hiccups.

"Come on let's get you home," Gabriel said as he placed one arm around her shoulder before they flew to his 'bachelor pad'.

Everything was just the way it was when she had left. Even the spare bedroom that Gabriel had made especially for her. The walls showed moving images of herds of mustangs galloping under the sunset on the breath-taking, dusty prairies. Looking up she smiled at the reassuring stars against the inky night that every now and again showed shooting stars.

Kneeling down she allowed the cool waves to wash under her hands and laughed as a dolphin poked its head out of the water and squirted her with a jet from its blowhole. Clicking and nodding its head Celeste rubbed its silky smooth skin before telling it to go home. Diving down the dolphin disappeared under her floor boards that depicted the ocean. The dolphin gave a final wave of its tail to say goodbye. As soon as she stood up she was completely dry. The wonder of her uncle's powers were endless.

Collapsing onto the soft bed Celeste allowed her mind to drift back to how she came to be here and what had led her to leave.