Thank you Conejo-Sama for editing the chapter : )

Thank you LunaReader for beta reading the chapter : D, you're amazing 3 and your reactions are always so great 3, thank you SillyMarzipan for beta reading the first half : )

This chapter is dedicated to SillyMarzipan, for being amazing in my life, for drawing the full demon Adam piece and to hopefully give feed them some good Lute and Adam content hahaha

This chapter took me a while to write since I've been rather busy with things : c. I also wanted to make this chapter good for you all. I decided there will be three parts for Lute's collection of past scenes, so this is the second part while the prior chapter was the first one. Next chapter will be the third one before we jump back to the present in heaven : o

Before Reading

Like the prior times I included music, I added a number * (...) based on how long you got to wait before reading the next portion of the scene (they represent the lines in the lyrics). Enjoy those lyrics!. * In the last, last scene, last part of the music there is no more (...) cause that load of paragraphs is meant to be read while the music/lyrics plays. Hopefully it's not so confusing v,v. Couldn't include all the lyrics cause of copyright rules :

The following song is the one I'm using to the second to last scene, i used the super deluxe version

Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses

I did change one word in the lyrics for a certain reason : )

Chapter 27

For the past five days, ever since Lute started her lessons, they met up late in the evenings at his place. She wasn't improving as fast as she wanted, but Adam's beautiful golden eyes and smile made the humiliating sounds she plucked out from the chords worth the struggle.

Lute wanted to practice the guitar for as long as she could; she even had the desire to wake up and play until she passed out or skip sleep if she had to; she really wanted to impress Adam by improving her playing. Unfortunately, her duties kept her busy.

She also yearned to play a song with Adam, rocking out as they did that one night in his basement, but with actual guitars this time. Truthfully, she hadn't fallen in love with rock and roll just to impress him. She deeply enjoyed it. The music's tone, volume, and lyrics resonated with her heart and soul. There were times she felt the urge to select a song from Adam's albums and sing along loudly. Yet, she never did, believing she didn't have a great singing voice like Adam.

That morning, Lute shot out of the building where she and her sisters lived and flew across the area. She quickly made a stop and stood before a statue of the elder angel, Michael, the first angel ever created by the All-Creator, the being from whom Lute and the rest of the angel class warriors originated.

She stared at the statue of Michael, depicted in a combative position, his six large wings spread out behind him, and his entire body covered in armor and chain mail. Sometimes, she wondered what he looked like behind that helm of his. Did she or her sisters bear any resemblance to him? Probably not. Unlike Emily, Lute didn't derive from a whole feather from Michael, but just a tiny fragment of it. That's why she and her sisters didn't have three pairs of wings, nor did she have any magical abilities. She had never even met Michael. She wasn't special; none of her sisters were. They were just made to defend Heaven from any dangers and eliminate any threats. Their sole purpose was to obey. And of course, Lute accepted that role, even though it made her feel hollow inside.

Though… her chest fluttered warmly when she thought of Adam's bright smile, of the one soul that seemed to treat her differently. She recalled how their legs would brush against one another during every guitar lesson, and how his hands laid on hers as he guided her fingers.

What if… she can be more than just a warrior?

Her wings bristled for a second at the question, and she mentally slapped herself.

What was wrong with her? She should know better than to entertain such nonsensical desires.

"666—I mean, Lute—shouldn't you be running some drills with your team?" someone said from behind her, causing her to tense up. She turned to see Wisteria, a warrior-class angel made from a batch a century before her own. Wisteria was a favorite among the Seraphim, named by Sera after passing her trials. Slightly taller than Lute, she had layered, tousled hair and served as one of Wimdor's lieutenants.

"Today is my day off," Lute replied.

"Ah, then I apologize for assuming," Wisteria said, offering her a smile. "I, too, have the day off, and since we're both free, would you like to join me? I'm meeting with Barb to train up in the Limi mountains."

Before Lute could consider it, her halo glowed. Adam was trying to connect with her. "Excuse me for a moment," she said, turning her back to Wisteria as she mentally connected with Adam.

"Hey, Danger Tits! I know it's your day off, but wanna hang out?" Adam's usual energetic tone crackled through.

Lute blinked, not expecting the question. Hanging out with him was normal lately, but never on their days off.

"Where are you?" she asked.

"At the gates! New human is arriving soon, so I gotta give the grand welcome as usual."

"I'll be there then."

"So, that's a yes to hanging out?"

"Of course, sir."

"Hell yeah!" he cheered like a child. "And it's Adam. Drop the 'sir' today, got it?"

"No can do, sir." She ended the call before he could reply, a smile tugging at her lips as she pictured Adam's pout. The smile disappeared, replaced by a neutral line as she faced her older sister. "Apologies, Wisteria," she said. "My captain needs me, so I must decline your offer."

Wisteria's eyes flickered with a hint of something, but her face remained neutral. "Of course. Duty comes first."

With a curt nod, Lute extended her wings and took off, ignoring Wisteria's gaze following her.

After flying across Heaven, she spotted Adam and Emily at the gates as they opened for a young man. The new "winner's" green eyes widened in awe at the sight of the grand city of Heaven, with Saint Peter guiding him warmly.

"Welcome to Heaven, Daniel!" Adam and Emily chorused. Adam added flair by summoning his golden guitar and strumming loud chords, causing their area to shake a bit. Emily chuckled, Saint Peter yelped, and the newcomer froze.

Lute snickered before landing next to Adam.

"Adam, now that's what I call an exhilarating welcome," Emily said with a giggle.

Adam grinned, then both turned to the newcomer, who was still frozen, looking rather disturbed by Adam.

"Hi, my name's Emily!" Emily introduced herself, shaking his hand enthusiastically. The newcomer eased up a bit, looking confused. "We're so glad you've joined us. You're going to love Heaven!"

Daniel's brows furrowed. "If this is Heaven, then why is there a demon here?" he asked, pointing at Adam.

Lute glared at him, her blood boiling at the accusation, while Adam snorted in amusement.

"Oh, no, he's no demon," Emily assured Daniel. "That's Adam, the first man and the first human to set foot in Heaven."

"Looks like a demon to me…" Daniel looked Adam up and down condescendingly.

"That's just a mask he wears," Saint Peter explained patiently.

"It's not just a mask; it's his look," Lute retorted, offended. Adam, Emily, and Saint Peter turned to her, surprised she argued with Saint Peter. Her glare returned to Daniel. "And you better respect him if you know what's good for you."

The others were silent before Adam burst out laughing, ruffling Lute's hair. "Hahaha, that's my number one girl! Best sense of humor in all of Heaven," he said, smiling proudly at her.

She almost told him she wasn't joking; she would literally pound on Daniel if he ever disrespected Adam again. But as Adam continued to affectionately ruffle her hair, her anger gradually subsided.

Emily was staring at Lute rather curiously, her gaze lingering a bit too long for Lute's comfort.

"Oh, look at the time! Lute and I got things to do," Adam said, grabbing Lute by the arm and pulling her along as he stepped away. "Emily, you got the rest of the tour handled, right? Awesome, you're the best! See ya!" He flew off, still holding her arm.

Emily didn't seem to mind and waved them off with a curious smile.

Adam brought Lute to a quaint city corner restaurant. They sat down at a table by the window.

"Geez, babe, you can't go threatening people like that," he said, amused.

"No one has the right to mistake you for a filthy demon," she seethed in annoyance, her hands turning into tight fists. "And that bastard had the audacity to look down at you like you were nothing more than goddamn dirt. I had to say something."

Adam chuckled, leaning back in his chair casually. He didn't seem to be taking the situation as seriously as she was, which she wasn't sure if that should annoy her or not.

"The dumbass'll learn to love me eventually, like everyone else does. It's whatever. But I'll admit, the bastard had some nerve." He looked up as a waiter approached them, placing a glass of water for each of them. "She'll have the jambalaya, and I'll take the spicy one."

"Sure thing." The waiter smiled. "Anything else to drink besides water?"

"Two lemonades."

"Coming right up." The waiter walked off.

Lute crossed her arms over her chest with a frown.

"Oh, hey there, Everlean! Fancy seeing you here again." Adam grinned as a middle-aged woman walked over to them with a smile and a plastic bag in her hand.

"Well now, Adam, I reckon I oughta say the same thing," he said warmly. "Back again for the jambalaya, huh? Don't you ever get tired of it?" She turned to Lute curiously. "And who's this sweet young lady you got with you?"

"Ah, this here is Lute." He beamed with pride, and Lute made sure to sit up straighter than she already was. "She's my top girl and the strongest of the warriors in Heaven."

Lute felt her chest warm up from his words. She then stood up stiffly and extended her hand to the woman. "Nice to meet you, Miss Everlean."

Everlean took Lute's hand kindly. "Oh, the pleasure's mine, sweetie. Hope he hasn't given you too much trouble," she said with a playful wink.

"Not at all. He's perfect, never does anything wrong," Lute said automatically, causing Adam to blink in surprise.

Everlean chuckled. "Oh, honey, he sure is. But you make sure to remind him to slow down a bit now and then," she said, gently placing a hand on Adam's shoulder. "This here's his Heaven too, and he oughta enjoy it just like the rest of us."

"Lute, this lady is the reason why this place rocks," Adam told Lute, motioning to Everlean.

Everlean chuckled. "Oh, you're always such a sweet talker. All I did was give the owner my old family recipes. But I'm mighty pleased y'all enjoyin' the food so much." She squeezed his shoulder affectionately, making Adam smile at her fondly, which in turn caused Lute to smile. She enjoyed how others truly respected Adam, unlike Daniel.

"Well, I reckon I best leave y'all to your supper now. Don't wanna be a nuisance no more than I already am," Evelean said. "I do hope you enjoy your meal. Y'all take care, ya hear?"

"We will. See ya!" Adam waved as the woman left. He turned to Lute with a grin. "Awww, you think I'm perfect?"

"I don't think so. I know it," Lute replied matter-of-factly as she sat back down. "You were the first human in Heaven, after all."

"Yeah, first man created, first one to die."

"Doesn't matter. No other human joined for a thousand years after you."

"Wait, what?" Adam frowned, brows furrowing in confusion.

"I said, no other human joined Heaven for a thousand years after you came," she clarified. Adam stared blankly at her, a rare sight for someone usually so expressive.

He remained silent for a long moment, making Lute uneasy until the server arrived with their food, snapping Adam back to reality. Grinning, he looked at the plates, licked his lips, then glanced at her.

"You should try mine first," he said, nudging his plate over to her.

Lute took the spoon while her mind was trying to make sense of Adam's strange response to her comment. She wondered if she should ask if she had stepped out of line earlier, but something in her warned her against it. So instead, she did as Adam instructed and scooped up a generous portion of the jambalaya, bringing the spicy mixture of rice, sausage, shrimp, and vegetables into her mouth.

It tasted delicious and smokey. Her eyes widened slightly when the spiciness hit her tongue, catching her completely off guard; she had never had spicy food before. As her cheeks flushed and she felt the heat spreading in her mouth, she did her best to maintain her composure.

"So, what do you think?" Adam asked her with a knowing look.

"It's good," Lute forced the words out tensely despite the heat.

"You sure it ain't too spicy for ya?" Adam teased.

Lute stared at him before she took a quick sip of her water. When that didn't help, she gulped the glass down, causing Adam to laugh loudly before he stuffed his mouth with a huge spoonful of the spicy jambalaya, barely affected at all.

After breakfast, they headed to Adam's mansion to meet with others who were planning for the New Year's Eve party.

Adam introduced Lute to Lepin, his band members, and his manager, Annie. Claire, the event coordinator and the woman he frequently slept with, was also present.

Adam fetched popsicles from the freezer and handed them out in the living room. Annie and Claire stayed in the kitchen, taking a break from everyone else.

Lute had the urge to follow Adam, as she felt uncomfortable around Claire. But she stayed, standing in the corner, her arms behind her back.

"So, Lute, how's Adam as your captain? Is he doing alright?" Annie asked.

Lute glanced at the two women and replied, "He's doing fine."

"I'm glad to hear that. I imagine not performing concerts lately has been tough on him."

"If it is, he's not showing it," Claire said, peeling an orange. "Then again, he's been busy with certain things and a certain someone. Isn't that right, Lute?" She smiled playfully.

Lute frowned, feeling as though she were being mocked. "I'm not sure what you mean."

"He talks about you a lot, you know."

"He does?"

"That he does," Annie agreed, chuckling.

"Oh yes, he's always raving about how awesome you are," Claire said. "He says you're the strongest of all the warrior angels, calls you his 'bad' bitch—in the best way, of course."

"He really enjoys your company," Annie added, eying Lute up and down. "We hardly see him anymore because he'd rather spend time with you."

A faint flutter of pleasure emerged in Lute's chest, but she quickly pushed it aside, keeping her face neutral.

"I'm glad to hear that," Lute said. "It means I'm doing my job as his lieutenant."

Annie and Claire fell silent from her comment, both observing her for a moment before Adam barged into the kitchen, downing a popsicle before he threw it in the garbage can.

"You ladies talking about me?" he joked.

"Always," Claire smiled coyly, poking at his belly. For some reason, this caused something dark to churn in Lute's chest.

"Oh man, you should've seen Lute's face when she tried that spicy jambalaya from Gumbo's," Adam said. "She was tryin' to play it cool while chuggin' water like there's no tomorrow. Fuckin' adorable!"

Annie and Claire turned their gazes back to Lute, eyes twinkling in amusement. Lute's face flushed as she shot Adam a glare.

"You mean more adorable than usual?" Claire teased Adam.

"Pft, of course," Adam said naturally, grinning over at Lute fondly. She looked away in embarrassment and tried not to panic; he somehow had the ability to make her feel strange.

After spending around an hour at his mansion, Adam led Lute to his beach house, a small house on a secluded island that was a stark contrast to his flashy lifestyle.

"I didn't see any other houses around," she said.

"That's 'cause no one's allowed to come here 'cept for me," Adam said, unlocking the door. "Well, 'cept maybe a seraph or two. It's my go-to spot to spend some time alone." He gave her a tour; the place had two bedrooms, a kitchen, a bathroom, and a small living room. "Built this place myself. Pretty sweet, huh?" He grinned at her. "Consider yourself lucky, babe; you're the only person I've ever brought here."

Lute felt extreme pride to hear that he hadn't brought anyone to the beach house. That meant Claire or any other woman hadn't been there, either.

She watched as his halo flared up, signaling a call from someone. But Adam yanked it off and chucked it onto the sofa like it was nothing, leaving Lute to stare in shock. Angels were supposed to always wear their halos to stay connected with Heaven.

He ripped off his mask next, tossing it beside the halo, and faced her with tired eyes.

"So, I'm gonna sound hella lame, but I'm takin' a nap," he confessed, rubbing his eyes. "Didn't sleep at all last night. So, can ya wake me in an hour? I swear we'll do something cool after. Meanwhile, check out my collection here." He motioned to a box by the record player. "They're pretty new compared to the stuff back at my mansion."

Lute went over to the collection and rummaged through before pulling out a record. "Linkin Park?"

"Yeah, they're a new band. They released that album last year," he said, heading to one of the bedrooms. "Crank the music as much as you want. I'm not a light sleeper."

Lute set the record aside and followed him to a bare-bones room comprised of only a bed, some posters, and random boxes. The place was devoid of personality in comparison to his main home. Truth be told, she found the place strange, especially since there was no one else on the island. She thought Adam enjoyed constant company.

She watched Adam flopped onto the king-sized bed, sighing in relief. He shifted, hugging a giant pillow to his chest. He always held one whenever she barged into his room to wake him up. Either that or he'd have some girl in his arms. He laid there for a long moment before he squirmed, clearly restless, then he peeked at her with one eye.

"Uh, you seriously just gonna stand there and watch me sleep?" he asked. "I mean, I get it, I'm nice to look at, but that's a little creepy. Unless… you wanna snuggle up with me." He waggled his eyebrows mischievously.

Lute stared at him, not giving him a response. His words caused her to tense up a bit, but only because she didn't expect him to say such things to her.

"Well, what ya waiting for, babe? Come over here. Don't be shyyyyy."

She hesitated, but something made her move forward until she was standing right beside the bed.

Adam blinked, caught off guard. "Whoa, hey, I was just fuckin' with you."

Lute felt her chest tighten at his words, though she wasn't sure why. She didn't want to end up like the other naked women from his prior nights. Yet, she didn't like feeling rejected by him. "So, you don't want me joining you?"

Adam's eyes widened, panic flashing across his face. "Of course I do!" he said right away. "I mean, only if you want to!"

Lute's gaze held his for a long time as she felt rather conflicted. It was obvious to her that Adam enjoyed having someone in bed while he slept. But… she was just a fighter, not really someone to do things in bed with. Then again, she wanted to make him happy, and her stomach twisted at the thought of Claire lying with Adam instead. So, without hesitation, she slipped into bed beside him.

Adam looked stunned. Then, he awkwardly and rather quickly tossed the pillow he was hugging aside and hesitantly wrapped his arms around her, pulling her close to his chest. Lute allowed him to hold her. At first, she was stiff, but then she slowly relaxed and rested her head on his chest as they simply laid there, not ripping each other's clothes off. A warmth unlike anything she'd ever felt radiated from him.

As she lied there, she thought about how no one had ever held her before, and it felt so nice… She couldn't imagine being in anyone else's arms but Adam's. She snuggled in closer, her arms resting on his soft abdomen, as she felt Adam curl around her, his wing draped protectively over her body. She glanced up to see him close his eyes, a gentle smile on his face—a smile she swore she hadn't seen when he shared a bed with anyone else

He rested his chin on her head before he took a deep breath and exhaled rather peacefully. "This feels nice…" Adam mumbled quietly.

She mentally agreed with him. Being wrapped in his arms was better compared to her passing her last trials to become a full-fledged warrior.

They didn't exchange any more words after. She, too, closed her eyes and listened to his heartbeat beating softly. She wasn't going to wake him up anytime soon; she wanted to be selfish and enjoy being wrapped in his arms as much as she could.

"Wildhair, you shouldn't have dyed your hair at the very last minute," Rebel scolded while Wildhair towel-dried her hair.

"I didn't have time earlier!" Wildhair began brushing her damp pink hair quickly. "And there's no way I was going to go to my first party with my roots showing."

"We're very late now," Terminator said monotonously, standing by the door.

"Boss Man says to never show up at a party on time," Crash said, lounging on her bed. "So, we're all good."

Lute was sitting on her bed, wearing the black dress she got weeks ago, while Fury helped with her eyeliner. Typically, she did it herself, but she found herself messing it up for some reason to the point Fury offered to fix it up. Like Wildhair, it was everyone's first party, and Lute wanted to look her best for Adam.

"No lipstick." Lute smacked away Fury's hand holding the lipstick.

"Come on, Lute. This red would look amazing on you," Fury said.

"Black would be cooler," Crash said.

"Yeah, go with black!" Wildhair agreed excitedly.

Fury frowned but swapped to black lipstick and applied it to Lute.

"Told you it's cooler." Crash grinned as Lute checked herself in a mirror Fury handed her.

Vaggie walked in and paused, staring at Lute with an unreadable expression.

Fury turned, noticing Vaggie's uniform. "You better not be wearing that to the party."

Adam had taken everyone except Vaggie, who wanted to stay at home, shopping last week and dressed them up in casual rock star attire. Everyone loved their outfits and were excited to show up at the party with their new looks.

"I'm not going," Vaggie replied, making everyone look at her as if she had just said the most shocking thing ever.

"Seriously?" Wildhair blinked. "Why not?"

"Because I don't want to."

"Aww, come on, Vaggie. It's gonna be fun! Boss Man's band is playing. There's gonna be tons of food and dancing. And who knows if we'll ever get invited to something like this again?"

"She's right," Rebel said. "No one ever invites angels like us to any events. This could be a once in a lifetime experience."

"You gotta go!" Wildhair insisted.

Vaggie crossed her arms and sighed. "I have zero interest in spending the night around a pompous, misogynistic man-child who's just going to treat us like his entertainment monkeys."

The room fell dead silent. Lute stood, glaring at her.

Rebel frowned. "Watch your mouth, Vaggie. You may not like him, but he's our superior and deserves our utmost respect."

"Oh, sure, 'cause Adam's the shining example of a responsible leader, right?" Vaggie's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I'm telling you now, things aren't going to go down like you expect at this party. You shouldn't trust him so much."

Lute's fists clenched, her anger rising. "Bitch, you don't know him."

"And you do?"

"More than you, that's for sure," Crash said, sitting up on her bed.

"Alright, girls, let's drop it," Fury said, stepping between Lute and Vaggie. "Don't need any of us getting into a fight and ruining our outfits. If Vaggie doesn't want to go, she doesn't have to. Let's just let her be."

"Yeah, she'd just bring the vibe down anyway," Crash said with a smirk.

Vaggie and Lute exchanged intense glares before Vaggie stormed out.

After everyone eventually finished getting ready, they walked out of the building.

"Whoa, what is this?" Barb asked as she and Wisteria approached them.

Wisteria observed them silently, her gaze lingering on Lute's dress. Lute tensed; she felt self-conscious about how much of her chest was exposed to the older warriors, but of course, maintained a stoic expression on her face.

"Our Captain invited us to his New Year's Eve bash!" Wildhair grinned.

"Did he, now?" Wisteria arched an eyebrow.

"And you're actually going?" Barb looked surprised.

"Well, of course, why wouldn't we?" Crash shrugged.

Wisteria and Barb exchanged glances.

"Would you like to come?" Wildhair offered. "Our captain wouldn't mind if you tagged along."

Barb seemed to consider the idea, her eyes shining bright with excitement, but Wisteria cut in, "We're rather busy."

"We could stop by for a bit," Barb suggested, a hopeful note in her voice, but Wisteria shot her a look, immediately causing her to bow her head in silence.

Wisteria glanced down at Lute. "Maybe next time. But do enjoy yourselves, rookies. Your captain needs you, after all," she said before walking past the group, Barb following suit with a look of disappointment.

Lute and her sisters flew through the sky. As they approached Adam's mansion, they could hear the song "T.N.T." by AC/DC resonating through the air. Adam's three-acre backyard was lit up with bright, colorful lights, and a large crowd had gathered.

They landed in front of the mansion, where a virtuous being stood by the entrance, checking a list on his phone. After confirming their names, he gestured them inside with a nod. Lute's stomach churned as she stepped into the mansion. It was musky from the crowd inside, and unlike her previous visits, the place was packed. The dim lighting revealed people holding juice or smoothies from a popular franchise. Lute and her sisters folded their wings tightly to navigate through the throng without disturbing the human souls, though they still walked with purpose.

They made their way outside to the backyard, and they were surprised at how the area transformed into a dazzling festival of lights and activity. Long tables stretched with countless appetizers of different varieties. A massive, crystal-clear pool stood at the center, reflecting the riot of colors from the surrounding light displays. People were swimming, laughing, and tossing beach balls through the air. Above them, a towering ice sculpture with the year 2002 hung, not melting.

To one side of the backyard, a magician performed tricks with his hat, pulling out a rabbit and drawing gasps and applause from an audience, while a fire juggler tossed flaming sticks high into the air. In another corner, acrobats were performing stunts on a raised platform, flipping and twisting through hoops suspended above the ground. At the very back of the yard, a large stage was set up like a mini stadium with instruments, where Lepin stood with Adam's band mates.

It was at this moment Lute couldn't believe she was there with her sisters. Never in her dreams did she ever think such excitement would surround her. It all felt surreal.

She spotted Adam by the massive pool, wearing a horned mask. It was all black except for his eyes and mouth which were gold just like the horns. He wore a black robe with golden accents. He was leaning against the glass wall, laughing loudly. Claire stood beside him, close enough to make Lute narrow her eyes, while the music continued playing loudly on the background.

"Cause I'm T.N.T

I'm dynamite

T.N.T.

And I'll win the fight

T.N.T."

She walked over to Adam and his group, her sisters too captivated by the entertainers around them to follow. Once she stood before the small group, Adam noticed her, his eyes widening and his mouth hanging open. He stood up, glancing at her up and down.

"Holy shit…Lute…" he let out, lost in words.

She wasn't sure why he was so surprised since he was the one to help her pick out the dress.

"Sorry for being late, sir," Lute said. Adam continued to stare at her before he snapped back to reality, then grinned widely and threw an arm around her shoulders, pulling her close.

"This babe is Lute, the girl I was telling ya about. Isn't she fucking hot?" he said jubilantly. Lute stood there calmly, even though her chest was swelling with warmth at the compliment. So, it seemed Claire and Annie weren't lying to her earlier that month.

The people he introduced her either owned the venues he had performed at in the past or hooked him up with the entertainment for the party.

"You look lovely in that dress," Claire complimented kindly.

"Finally, we get to meet the first man's lieutenant in the flesh," one guy with glasses, Igor, said with a smile. "And I got to admit, you two look rather lovely together."

Lute blinked at the man's words and felt Adam bring her closer to him. "And don't you forget that," Adam teased.

"I never talked to a warrior class angel before," another woman by the name Megan said, looking at Lute curiously. "Is it true that you're made from Michael's feathers?"

"Just a fragment of one," Lute responded.

"That's pretty interesting."

"And here I thought you were clones of one another since you all look the same," another guy, Eric, said.

Lute frowned at the comment; she and all her sisters looked different.

Adam excused them and showed Lute over to the table filled with food, where Crash and Terminator were already eating away the chicken wings.

"Yo, Boss Man!" Crash greeted. "This party is freaking awesome!"

"Thanks, Crash. I see you loving those wings."

"They're the best thing I ever had in my life!" Crash said before stuffing the whole chicken wing into her mouth, including the bone.

Adam looked at her in disbelief. "Uh, Crash, girl. You ain't supposed to eat the fuckin' bone."

Crash blinked. "I'm not?" she asked just as Terminator also stuffed her mouth with a whole chicken leg.

Adam quickly went over to both of them, grabbed a chicken wing, and taught them how to eat one properly, while Lute found many of the appetizers she had fallen in love with during her latest food outing with Adam. She grabbed a date wrapped with bacon and took a bite out of it, enjoying the taste just like the first time she had weeks ago.

After Crash and Terminator learned the proper way to eat the chicken wings and legs, Adam returned to Lute, who was stuffing her mouth with another date.

"Glad you could make it." Adam smiled fondly. "Thought you weren't gonna show up. By the way, you look amazing tonight, the hottest one here. I mean, ain't gonna lie, you usually look great."

Lute wanted to hide her face behind her hands. Instead, she stared at him with a serious gaze. "Thanks, sir," she said. "You look great, too."

"Come on, Lute. Can't you call me Adam, at least for tonight?"

Lute paused for a moment, noticing Adam looking at her rather pleadingly before his halo glowed brightly.

"Oh, shit! Looks like it's finally show time!" Adam grinned.

Lute later found herself standing close to the stage with her sisters.

Her sisters were cheering for Adam as he stood at the center of the stage, materializing his golden guitar before them all. Lute stood there, watching intently. She was excited to see Adam perform music live with his band at last; she had only seen his performances through recordings in his basement theater room or just him playing a solo piece for her.

Lepin stood by, holding a bass guitar himself. Supposedly, it was his first time playing with the band. He looked rather nervous, but he smiled at the crowd as Adam grabbed the mic.

"How's my favorite crowd doing tonight?!" His voice boomed through the acres of land. Cheers and applause erupted among the crowd. "Just as I promised, we're gonna rock out tonight, just like we always do every New Year's Eve! Now, let's fucking go!"

Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses

Sound flared from Adam's guitar as his fingers strummed through the strings, the music cutting through the air. Lute's heart brightened with excitement from the powerful music.

"This song is called 'Sweet Child O' Mine' by Guns N' Roses," Adam said just as Lepin joined in with his bass guitar, followed by the drummer. His head nodded along with Adam's, fingers dancing over the strings in perfect harmony.

"And this song is dedicated to a very special someone in the audience tonight," Adam announced. His words caused a wave of surprise and excitement to surge through the crowd, but they remained hushed, listening to the music. Lute's heart pounded against her chest, her cheeks flushing when Adam gave her a playful wink and a cheeky grin. Her sisters turned to her with teasing looks, but Lute did her best to ignore them as she focused on Adam. He closed his eyes for a moment, leaning into the microphone before beginning to sing:

She's got a smile that it seems to me

Reminds me of childhood memories

Where everything was as fresh as the bright blue skyyyy…

… x 7

… mine…"

Lute listened intently to every word Adam sang, his voice clear and full of passion. Soft waves of his golden energy pulsed through the crowd, enclosing her. It felt as though he was gently tugging at her soul, more powerful than of the first time he had played a song for her and her sisters in the forest months ago.

She's got eyes of the yellowist skies

As if they thought of rain

I'd hate to look into those eyes

And see an ounce of pain

… x 8

mine …"

Amidst the music, Lute found herself confused as she thought about the words he was supposedly singing to her. Then again, she wasn't sure if the lyrics were only meant for her, but she liked to imagine they were. She wanted to believe she brought Adam some sort of happiness and warmth, perhaps holding a special place in his heart.

At least in the past months, he seemed so happy to watch movies, listen to music, eat at restaurants—among other things—with her.

Adam opened his eyes and locked his gaze with hers, grinning tenderly. A rush of warmth filled Lute's chest at the sight.

"Ooh- …..

x 7

… mine…"

Lute's heart raced as Adam's fingers made his guitar cry with emotion, the intensity causing the ground to tremble slightly as he launched into his solo. His golden wings expanded magnificently; the feathers softly glowing as he took up a wide stance. Leaning back, his fingers moved flawlessly across the strings.

A faint smile played on Lute's lips as Adam's energy continued to wrap around her, as if his arms were around her once more. For a moment, she believed they were both back at his beach house, lying together in his bed.

Adam drew his wings in, swaying from side to side, fingers quickening as the solo intensified. More powerful waves of golden essence surged from him, washing over the crowd. Some cheered, others closed their eyes to soak in the heartfelt emotions. Lute was mesmerized by how effortlessly he made the soaring melody look so natural, filled with raw energy.

Beside him, Lepin mirrored Adam's feet movements, his bass providing a steady pulse while the drums continued to add a layer to Adam's flair.

"That's our fuckin' boss!" Wildhair yelled proudly, throwing her hands up in the air with classic rock 'n' roll signs. "Hell yah!"

The rest of Lute's sisters chimed in with their own enthusiastic shouts of support.

The second rhythmic guitarist stepped up to the mic, adding his vocals to back up Adam's.

"Where ….

x 9 …

…whoa!"

Adam closed his eyes, leaning closer to the microphone. His voice cut through the increasingly loud music, his guitar erupting loudly and fast once more, the band matching his passion. Cheers from the crowd intensified, many throwing rock 'n' roll signs like Wildhair had. With a bright smile filled with adoration, Lute summoned the courage to throw her own rock 'n' roll sign up into the sky as Adam immersed himself in the melody.

Adam slowly opened his eyes, glancing over at her as if singing directly to her. Lute gazed at him with immense happiness as he sang the last lyric and played his last notes on his guitar just as the song came to a powerful conclusion before the audience erupted into thunderous applause once more.

Adam and his band finished the three songs he had planned for the event. Lute found him at the back of the stage with Claire trying to calm him down while Annie was communicating with someone through her glowing halo.

"What the actual fuck, Claire! What do you mean the fireworks are gone?!" he demanded irately, his fingers gripping his guitar tightly.

Lute frowned and quickly approached the scene. "Sir, what's going on?"

For a moment, Adam glared down at her before realizing it was her. His anger seemed to mellow out slightly, replaced with a disappointed irritation.

"The fireworks…" he grumbled. "For some fuckin' reason, we don't have 'em anymore. Someone fuckin' stole them."

Lute was shocked to hear the news. She was ready to gather her sisters and hunt down the thieves.

How dare anyone try to ruin Adam's night?

Suddenly, his halo flashed brightly. He pulled away from them all, his eyes glazing over as he seemed to engage in a mental conversation. His brow furrowed in frustration as he argued telepathically.

Lute watched him just when Lepin walked over to them quietly. Adam's voice suddenly rose in a burst of swearing before his halo dimmed to its usual glow. He turned to the group again, his face a mask of anger.

"Vineat took the fireworks. Says my old neighbor's pets were too terrified last year, didn't want 'em scared again." Adam's teeth clenched indignantly. "What the hell? I lived in these lands first! Does that old hag know who the fuck I am?!"

"Yeah, that's not fair." Lepin frowned. "We've been planning this for weeks. Maybe I can find a way to block out all the sound for your neighbor."

Claire looked hopefully at the young Seraphim. "Can you really do that?"

"I'm not sure, but I can try."

Adam ran his hands down his face, looking visibly irritated. "Then who the fuck is going to make the sky dark?" He looked over at Lute, his expression thwarted. "Damn it, Lute. I really wanted you to see the fireworks for the first time. I was gonna go all out. I swear I was."

"I know you were," Lute said, offering him a sympathetic smile. She was irritated with Vineat for bringing the vibe down for Adam. But there was nothing they could do. "It's alright, sir. There's always next year."

Adam stared at her quietly, his fingers gripping his guitar more tightly. Suddenly, he looked down at his instrument before something dawned on him before he grinned. "Everyone, head out to the front of the stage, now!"

Everyone blinked bemusedly.

"Did I fuckin' stutter? C'mon, what the fuck you waitin' for? We ain't got all night. Hurry up and go! And Lepin, make sure the sky's black as my robe."

Before Lute could walk off, Adam grabbed her arm.

"You're coming with me. I don't want to miss a second when you see the greatest light show ever."

Lute raised an eyebrow but allowed Adam to drag her up onto the stage. A large screen appeared behind Adam and Lute, counting down the last minutes to the New Year. Lepin was at the far side, using his magic to cause the sky to darken above them. Adam went over to the mic, Lute standing there obediently, her arms behind her back.

"Before this year comes to an end, I wanna thank each and every one of you for being here tonight!" Adam said to the crowd. "Tonight's fireworks are gonna be very special, hope y'all enjoy it. Now, help me count down these last seconds together!"

Adam stepped back from the mic, grinning down at Lute. "Get ready to have your mind blown away."

Eventually, the large screen behind him began to flash the last seconds. The crowd's voices joined in unison, filling the air with anticipation. Lute's sisters, still standing at the front, were excited, mirroring what others were doing, their voices ringing out loud and clear.

"Ten... nine... eight..."

Lute stared up at him in confusion when Adam shot his hands up in rock and roll signs.

"Four... three... two... one..."

As the crowd shouted, "Happy New Year!", golden light erupted from his fingertips, shooting up into the sky like a cascade of stars. The golden light spiraled upward with a smooth whistle before it erupted into a loud boom, making Lute jump in surprise as if the sound vibrated through the ground and up to her chest. Her eyes were wide in awe at seeing the dark sky illuminated by showers of golden sparks.

The crowd gasped in surprise before they erupted in jubilant applause as Adam continued to create magnificent patterns above them with each explosion of his magic. He watched Lute with a grin. The golden lights reflected in her eyes as she stared up at the sky in wonder and joy. Spirals and shimmering streaks continued to dance across the sky, each display more beautiful and unique than the last.

"This is incredible…" Lute whispered, unable to tear her gaze away from the way the lights unfolded like blooming flowers before bursting apart in a dazzling display. She just loved the way Adam's magic whistled before transforming the dark sky with golden sparkles after a thunderous boom. She never thought something so beautiful could come from something so powerful. Each firework made her think of Adam, how he had changed her world, filling it with sparks and welcoming loud noise.

"Told ya fireworks are awesome," Adam said as he continued creating the light show. "Ain't just noise and bright lights after all, huh?"

She looked at him, a smile slowly spreading across her face. She wanted to tell him, of course, it was special–mostly because it came from him. "I guess I was wrong," she said, just like she had been about him the first time they met.

Adam wrapped an arm around Lute's shoulders and pulled her close to him as he sent out a powerful wave of light with his right arm that spread across Heaven, akin to a massive ripple radiating through water.

"Happy New Year, Lute," he said, his voice filled with warmth as he gazed down at her.

"Happy New Year, sir," she replied, her voice filled with gratitude at having him in her life. She scooted closer to him, hopeful to stand by his side as he continued to glow brightly, both in his life and in hers.

Thank you peeps for the support : ), please let me know what ya think of the chapter and music choice. And again if peeps like the story or chap please leave a kudo in archive of our own for this story : D, thank you again!