Seeee? I told you guys I'd try to finish this story! Every other Fanfiction update of mine will be for this story, so keep your eyes trained.

As always, Enjoy(:

MPOV

Considering my sopping state after I got out of the bathtub, Fang and I had to put our next order of business on hold. After I was wrapped firmly inside Fang's jacket, the heater in the car was cranked up and we drove in a peaceful silence towards my home. The lights were all off when we pulled into the cracking driveway; our path up to the door was illuminated by the jaded stars just beginning to peek out from within the twilight sky.

"Where's Ella?" Fang asked as we passed the threshold into the house. Though it was dark inside, it was no trouble for my newly-enhanced eyes to zero-in on the light switch.

"With Iggy or J.J most likely," I said, reaching for the light.

Lightning-fast, his long fingers snaked out and caught my hand mid-air. I peered up at him, the flower of a question blooming on my lips, but he was already answering my thoughts.

"Do we really need to waste the energy?" His lips quirked up in a charming half-smile that made my heart pang.

My damp hair brushed smoothly across the supple skin on my face as I shook my head to and fro. I intertwined our fingers through the grip we already held and started towards the run-down carpet of the small staircase leading to my bedroom. Fang's grip squeezed once before letting go just as the door swung open to the extremely plain beige walls of my bedroom.

"You can wait here while I change," I offered, nudging my head in the direction of the mass of warm chocolate-brown blankets piled on my mattress.

Fang didn't respond as I turned my back to him and began rummaging through my narrow, exposed closet for something dry to wear. In the end, I selected a pair of loose-fitting black sweatpants and my favorite cream pullover. A small, content smile spread across my face as I scampered quickly from the room and locked myself in the claustrophobic bathroom at the end of the hall. There was a feeling of pure warmth spreading its way inside me as I tugged on the comforting sweats. For the first time in a long while, I felt absolutely sure about where my life was heading; because even though Fang and I are still clueless as to what life planned to throw at us in the upcoming weeks, we were positive we'd have each other stitched to our side through it all. That was all the assurance I needed.

Yanking the plush sweater over my damp body felt heavenly, all the little miniscule fibers soaking up the last of the wet chill clinging to my skin. My head popped out from the material and I shook like a wet dog. From beneath the matted bangs hovering above my eyes, I met my exhilarated gaze in the mirror.

Least to say, I hardly recognized the person gawking back at me.

I had grown at least two inches taller, along with the length of my now caramel-highlighted hair curling slightly at my waist. My cheekbones seemed to have been raised, becoming more defined by a rosy, natural rouge that I had no recollection of possessing. When I plopped my hands down on my waist, I couldn't help but notice how much more defined the curve of my waist was. My eyes widened to the size of saucers as my fuller lips parted in shock.

Ripping open the door, I charged frantically down the hall to my room where Fang was lying lazily on the bed, staring fondly up at the ceiling. He was so blissfully oblivious to the storm that was about to hit him.

"What is this?" I demanded.

His eyebrows rising ever-so-slightly, he raised himself up just enough to get a good look at me. "What is what?"

"This!" After a full three-sixty turn, I jabbed a finger in his direction. "Never did you ever say my appearance would change along with the bloom."

"Are you not pleased by your transformation?" he inquired, seeming surprised.

I hesitated, turning to stare at my reflection in the small looking glass I had hanging on my wall. "It's not that I don't like it," I began. It was the truth—despite the shock that it brought with it, the new me was actually quite pretty. No longer would I be average when I walked down the halls; I would snap necks with my new-found beauty. But still….

"Then what is it?"

I gnawed on my plump lower lip, brown eyes scanning over every inch of my new body. "It's just…what was wrong with the old me?" My voice was weaker than I had intended, showcasing my vulnerability.

Emitting a soft, empathetic noise, Fang unfurled to his feet and gathered me into one big bear hug from behind. Sighing, I twisted in his tender grasp and wrapped my arms around his broad, sinewy chest, tugging him tight against me.

"Nothing was wrong with you," he murmured into a mass of my caramelized curls. "You were more beautiful than a full moon on a clear, summer's night. But this is the appearance of an Archangel, which is what you are now."

I laughed shortly and got on my tip-toes to place my lips at his ear. "That was so cheesy."

Arms tightening around my waist, he groaned. "Gabrielle, Gabrielle, what will I do with you?"

My mouth opened for a witty comeback, but all thoughts immediately flew out the window as Fang's lips found mine. I moaned against his mouth, my head tilting to the side of its own accord in order to deepen the kiss. Within seconds my fingers became entangled in his dark locks as I rose slowly to the tips of my toes. Even with the extra two inches my new body provided me, Fang still towered over me.

Much too soon for my liking, Fang pulled back, both of us breathing heavily. I couldn't help the disappointed look that shadowed over for my face for a second, and though I was ashamed of it the instant it appeared, I loved sweet, lingering peck on the lips it earned me.

"We have many years to continue our love, but only a few hours to draw out our plan," he breathed.

I sighed, but couldn't help but agree with him. It was imperative that we sorted out our next course of action as soon as possible. As it stood right now, we were simply sitting ducks for the moment when Michael would sneak up on us and take our lives yet again.

I had just gotten Metatron back; I wasn't ready to leave him so soon.

Taking Fang's hand, I lead him dutifully over to the bed where we sat cross-legged across from each other. For a long, stretching moment we both just gazed at each other. Neither of us seemed to know where to start. From what I gathered from my new-found memories, though, was one important piece of information.

"We need to find the others," I commented solemnly.

Fang's brows knitted together. "You mean the other Archangels?" I nodded. "It could take months for us to track them all down, though."

"I know, I know, but think about it: every time we are apart, we are most vulnerable," I explained. "The Archangels were created together, so that we could conquer together."

He began to bob his head slowly, realization beginning to dawn on him. "We were never made to be apart from each other."

"Precisely."

"But how do we even begin to find them?"

I allowed for a heavy breath to expel from my lips. "Well, how did we usually find them?"

Fang shrugged. "I'm not quite sure there's an answer to pinpoint on. We all just sort of came together and knew. But for the past couple lives…." He shook his head. "I haven't been able to sense them."

Fear stroked through me. "You don't think they're truly dead, do you?"

"No. Ever since you cast Michael down, he has been unable to perform the ritual that sends us back to our original plane."

"Then how come we can't sense them?" I questioned.

"I have no idea, unless…," he trailed off, starring directly into my eyes.

"Unless what?"

"There's a small possibility we may be becoming disconnected from Our Lady."

"What?" I demanded, chest constricting.

Fang squeezed my hand. "Don't freak out. It merely becomes harder for her to keep tabs on us each time we die. We have passed through this earth so many times, I do not blame her for accidentally letting us slip under her radar for a second."

I gulped, fidgeting with the hem of my pullover. "So how do we get back on her radar?"

"There is a ritual I'm aware of that can call her towards us," he started slowly.

"Let's do it, then. Immediately." I started to rise, but Fang's strong grasp held me in place.

"Max, it's not that simple. Not only is it going to be extremely hard to pry the ritual out of the one I know who has it, but it's only supposed to be used for extreme cases."

"Is this not an extreme case, Fang?" I asked seriously. "If we can get Our Lady to help us uncover the identities of the other Archangels, then this cycle will end. She can accept her children back home."

We gazed at each other for a long period of time. Finally, I noticed Fang's shoulders slump as he relented against my will.

"Fine. Let's go meet my mother."

"Your mother?" I inquired, bewildered. "Shouldn't we be conversing with the one who knows the ritual?"

"She is the one who knows the ritual."

I apologize for the shortness, but this was more of a filler chapter than anything. More action to come later!
R&R(:

*Shiver*