"Why do they call this city the City of Angels?" Monica asked in her thick Irish accent and a wide-eyed look. Tess smiled at her ‘Angel-girl’ as she called her. She was so young as an angel sometimes was, Tess thought, but she was her responsibility and Tess wouldn’t have changed that assignment for anything. She loved her ‘Angel-girl’ and as she looked at the optimistic angelic face staring back at her, she felt a touch of sadness for what the City of Angels held in store for her young friend.

"People put names on things to help them feel closer to power," Tess replied softly. "Power is a dangerous thing, it can tempt the best of souls." Monica looked at her mentor and teacher intently. "You see, baby, Los Angeles is a beautiful city with many people who have kind, loving hearts. Unfortunately this city also has many who have lost their way. It has many angels…and a lot of darkness hidden deep down." She leaned forward a bit, touching Monica’s hand. "Look here, Angel-girl you stay close to your heart and leave the rest to the Creator." Tess stared at Monica with a look that scared her for a moment. In this next moment, Tess was brushing the conversation aside and smiling. "So are you ready, baby?"

"Ready for what?" Monica asked, confused. Tess didn’t answer but turned toward the window and looked outside. Monica followed her stare revealing Andrew, the Angel of Death to Monica and a good friend over the past years. He had helped her out on more than one occassion. He was a tall angel, over six feet with sandy blond hair that almost touched his shoulders, a beautiful smile that gave comfort to everyone who had the honor of it being received, and he possessed the most striking eyes, bluish green and filled with love. Andrew was standing outside on the corner, looking down the street away from the diner.

Monica wasn’t certain how to feel about Andrew’s involvement. Often he came when Death was near, not always, but enough that Monica always felt a little remorse, along with happiness in seeing him.

"Andrew’s involved in this assignment?" Monica questioned. Tess turned to her.

"Yes, baby, but he’s got his own assignment and you need to focus on your own. Do you understand?" Tess looked at Monica scolding her for a hundred assignments where her own feelings took over what she knew was the right thing to do, but, Monica reasoned with herself, she was much better now. She had spent years as a CaseWorker for the Almighty and she had learned a lot since those first assignments.

"So I can not know Andrew’s assignment?" She questioned Tess, but her attention was back at the window as Monica saw a bright light and a new angel appear on the other side of the street from Andrew. "Who’s she?" Monica asked softly. Tess’s eyes remained focused on the two angels in the street as they went towards each other. "Andrew knows her?" Monica questioned softly, but Tess said nothing to indicate what was happening.

Andrew met the new angel in the middle of the street. There was a silent moment, as if, no one breathed, not even Tess. Then Monica watched in amazement as Andrew placed his arms around the new angel’s waist, picking her up slightly. The new angel smiled at him, he smiled back, leaning down softly kissing her. A beam of golden light poured down onto the dark street and illuminated the angels as Monica had never seen before. Her breath caught in her throat and Tess smiled. The light seemed to encompassed Andrew and his companion as they broke the kiss and looked into the sky. His companion smiled and laughed a bit. Suddenly, she threw her arms around Andrew’s neck, hugging him tightly. Monica could she his smile fill his soft face and he spun his companion around once and then set her down. After a few more moments with the two friends staring at his each other, Andrew turned toward the diner and nodded at Tess. Tess nodded back. Andrew took his companion’s hand and walked towards Monica and Tess.

"Soul mates," Monica said, amazement was apparent in her voice, but a smile crossed her lips. "I have heard of it, but, oh Tess," she said, her voice taking on a dreamy quality. "I have never seen it. How beautiful."

"Yes, baby. That it is."

"A perfect union created in God’s love. Two souls made only for the other." She smiled again, lost in her own thought of what it would be like to have a soul mate. She had never dared to ask Tess about it before. Quickly, her mind started to think about Andrew and the new angel. Why hadn’t he told her before? Surely, having a soulmate must make you want to shout from the mountain top and sing God’s praises. Monica opened her mouth to ask Tess about a million questions about this, but Tess looked at her sharply.

"Hush now, angel-girl. You can ask questions later. We all have important work to do." Tess stood up, Monica followed as Andrew and his companion approached them. Andrew smiled at Tess; she squeezed his hand and smiled back at him.

"Let me look at you, sweetie," Tess said, excitedly towards the new angel. "It has been too long," Tess smiled and hugged her comfortily. The new angel smiled back at Tess, taking in her embrace.

"Tess, it is so good to see you," she said, pulling back from the hug and smiling towards Tess. Andrew looked at Monica and smiled a 'hello' to her. Monica returned the smile. She felt different about Andrew suddenly and she watched his eyes focus back on the angel in front of them. Monica took a moment to look at her, she was shorter than Andrew, almost by a foot. She possessed a petite frame and very red hair that reached her back. Hair she was trying to pull back with a tie, but Andrew’s hand fell onto hers as it fumbled to fix the tie that didn’t want to stay. He kissed her hand and shook his head at her.

"You are beautiful just the way you are," he whipered softly. Monica almost lost her own thoughts. His voice...she thought, his voice was so sweet, so soft. She had never heard it like that before. He was always pleasant, always comforting, but it was different, more sweet, more sincere somehow.

She smiled a bit up at him and turned to Tess and Monica, "I am so sorry about the..." she looked down at herself, "attire. It looked much better when I first started out my place tonight, but then I met up with a de...." Tess looked over at Andrew, who immediately turned to Monica, cutting off his companion’s next words.

"Monica, I would like you to meet Camille." Andrew announced as Camille looked up at him quickly and then went forward smiling at Monica.

"Cami’s fine," she said, looking over at Andrew. "It’s easier here and all," she said back to Monica.

"It is a beautiful name," Monica quickly said. "Camille has been the name of many of God’s children throughout history….Actually quite a few martyrs if I recall," she quickly added. Andrew smiled to himself and caught Cami’s eye, she smiled back. A secret held between their eyes and Monica was in complete awe at their comfortable looks towards each other.

"Yep, that’s me, Monica." Cami quickly said, leaning towards the startled Monica. Before Monica knew what happened, Cami had kissed her gently on the cheek. "I am honored to meet you. I will always be amazed at how many angels I still have not met over the centuries," she said, moving slightly back towards Andrew behind her. He softly place his hand on her waist.

"Actually angels are created everyday as new souls enter the world and it is not possible to meet all…" Tess looked towards Monica, causing Monica to stop in mid-sentence.

"She knows that," Tess said, softly and smiled at Monica before turning back to Andrew and Cami.

"I wish this meeting was to be pleasant, sweetie, but we all know what you’re up against," Cami and Andrew briefly nodded and looked at each other, holding an intense gaze. Monica looked from Andrew and Cami to Tess, completely confused she didn’t even know what her assignment was and they looked all ready to go.

"Tess, what am I…" Monica started.

"I wish I could stay," Tess said, taking Cami’s hand. "You take care of yourself, sweetie," she smiled at Cami, who nodded at Tess. Tess took a breath and turned toward Monica, taking her hand. "And you, angel-girl, you listen well to Andrew, you here."

"You’re leaving?" Monica said, looking lost at Tess. Tess smiled, patting Monica’s hand she was holding.

"You’ll be fine, girl. You just remember what I told you. Stay close to your heart…"

"And leave the rest for God." Monica finished, smiling. "I’ll remember."

"Alright, angel boy, I leave her in your hands," Tess said, turning toward Andrew, he nodded. She quickly turned to Cami, "and I leave him in yours." Cami smiled, Tess disappeared, leaving a questioning Monica behind.

"Monica, I know you need to understand what your purpose is here and I wish I could tell you, but right now I need to go," Cami looked up at him followed by Monica looking at him. He was leaving, too, Monica thought. He looked down at Cami and took her hand. "I’ll be back soon." Again, Monica saw something flash between their eyes, like an unknown word or thought. She stared at them, until Andrew’s expression changed and work took over.

"Cami, could you bring Monica to a safe place for the moment," Andrew said back in his usual voice. Cami nodded. He turned away. She gently touched his arm, he turned back to her. "Be careful. Wouldn’t want to have look for another soul mate?" Cami said, casually and softly towards him. Andrew smiled at her, touching her face and lingering there for a moment. Then he walked away, disappearing in the night. Monica was overtaken by the love in the room, by this new angel and by the unknown circumstances of why she was here.

"Now let’s see…" Cami started, breaking Monica yet again out of her own thoughts and took her hand. They walked out of the diner and onto the dark streets. Cami let go of her hand and stopped looking at her. Monica thought she had done something wrong and suddenly got the feeling that Cami was thinking about her. "I would guess...." she paused for a moment and looked Monica up and down, "Case Worker."

"Yes," Monica smiled. "A new Case Worker, only a few years," Monica added.

"Yea, Tess trains a lot of the new ones." She said, turning and smiling towards Monica. There was certain something in her smile that caught Monica’s attention. She wasn’t sure what it was, but it was captivating. She was intriguing, Monica thought. Monica took a moment to look at her the attire she had apologized for earlier. She was wearing black jeans, white blouse and a simple but pretty brown jacket. All of which were ripped a one place or another. Cami watched Monica, staring at her.

"Long story," Cami said, looking over her ripped jacket. "My job is a bit tough on the clothes." She smiled and continued walking.

"I was a wee bit curious as to the assignment you were working on that would leave your clothes in such a state," Monica asked.

"It’s better you don’t know, believe me. Andrew’s cleaning up the mess." She said, looking over at Monica with slight disappointment.

Monica nodded and looked down sadly. "I am sorry. I do not like to lose my assignments. Tess tells me that not every person can be saved if they don’t want to be saved."

"You got to let them follow their path and help them find God’s love,"Cami said, smiling. "Good ol’ Tess,"Cami stopped walking and sat down on the bench next to a bank. Monica followed her.

"You were a CaseWorker with Tess?" Monica said, becoming more and more intrigued about this angel. She’d met many angels on her travels with Tess, but there was something different about Cami, she had so much energy it seemed, glowing about her was a sense of love and compassion. It was beautiful and Monica couldn’t help but be curious and wanted to know all about Cami and what her job was. It was always nice to meet a fellow caseworker. Andrew worked in a different realm, in a way. His message and purpose was always clear, it seemed to Monica and always sad in a way, but Cami glowed with the light of heaven in a way new to Monica. Even in the dull street light that showered on her face, Cami held a brighter inner light Monica was drawn to.

"No, but I did learn from the best," she smiled quickly at Monica. "Tess I met later, but we worked together sometimes...a long time ago," Cami stared out in to the night, as if thinking back on memories. Then quickly stood up. "Come on, Monica, we can’t sit around talking all night, like Andrew can, we’ll be late." Cami grabbed her hand and they continued on their walk. Monica felt a laugh escape as she thought about Cami’s comment.

"Sit around talking?" Monica questioned as they picked up their pace and rounded a corner. "I’m not certain that’s what Andrew calls it." She smiled again as she thought about what Andrew’s look what have been if he had been here to hear the comment.

"I love him, but let’s face it, he’s got it easy sometimes, being who he is and all," she replied back. "No one ever is lost to him." Monica kept up the pace with Cami, but her mind wandered from the streets. There was something about the way Cami had said that last statement that made her think they weren’t talking about the same angel. Or at least not the Angel of Death, Monica knew.

Monica was about to question it, when Cami stopped quickly and backed up against a stone wall of a building behind them. Monica looked around at her surrounding. This place held very little of the light and glowing warmth of God’s love and Monica felt coldness seep into her soul, a coldness that seemed to engulf her.

* * * * * * * * * * * *

The man standing across from Andrew laughed, "oh and what exactly can you do about it? Ask him to accept God’s love? We have his soul now and you know it, so, move aside, Andrew." He looked at Andrew, causing Andrew to feel a chill go through his soul. "Unless you want to join us. We’ll have a lot more fun, Andrew." The man’s mouth turned into an evil grin. "You do remember what fun is, don’t you?"

"Ryan, let go of him. Bobby is not yours…he can still be saved." Andrew leaned down over Bobby. He held his hand and spoke softly. "Bobby, you need to listen to me. You have been tempted by a dark force and I need you to look at me." Bobby’s eyes opened quickly and head started to turn toward Andrew. Ryan went down on his knees speaking in Bobby’s ear and squeezing his hand hard.

"Oh, no you don’t goodness and light," Ryan said, looking at Andrew. "Listen to me, Bobby, you’re going to where you will be appreciated. Not lumped in with all the others, where your true talents can’t shine. I’m taking you to paradise, where everyday you will be appreciated, loved for what you truly are." Bobby’s eyes were on Andrew’s again. Ryan leaned down even closer, "Listen to me, he wants to take you to a place where everyone is thought of equally, no one stands out. You’ll just be one of thousands with no purpose where you are controlled forever. You don’t want that, Bobby, not you. You’re better than that." Andrew watched Ryan for a moment. His friend for so long and now a worker of the dark…a demon, in all senses of the word. How could he turn from the light? It was a question Andrew had asked since the first day Ryan fell. It was a question that never seemed to have an answer.

"I don’t know what to do," Bobby’s soul pleaded in Andrew’s spirit. A light encompassed him and spread over Andrew, illuminated the street around them. Ryan jumped up quickly moving away from the light. "God loves you, Bobby and he wants you to come home. He knows you, he knows you made mistakes," Andrew’s eyes held compassion that made tears fall from Bobby’s eyes. "Bobby, he knows about Angela. He knows how much you loved her and how lost you were when she was gone from this world. He knows you found solace in darkness and you walked a dark path for years, but it’s finished now."

"I didn’t want to hurt her, I wanted to die myself instead of hurting my little girl, please, please tell God I am sorry," Bobby said crying.

"He knows, Bobby, he’s always known what was in your heart," Andrew said softly. "It’s time now." Bobby nodded and Andrew gently touched his hand. A brilliant golden light stood in front of Bobby and Andrew.

"It is beautiful," were the last words the world would hear from Bobby. He reached out to the heavenly light and his spirit took flight arising from his lifeless body and starting his ascension into the glory of God’s love.

An agonizing scream ripped through the silent darkness. Andrew ignored Ryan as he led Bobby to the father’s hands. Suddenly, Andrew felt the cold hand on Bobby as Ryan attempted to pull him back. Andrew was amazed he would take the chance. Going toward the light was extremely dangerous for demons, they may lose their own dark souls. For a brief moment, Andrew thought perhaps Ryan wanted the light again, but that was soon forgotten as Ryan tried to pull at Andrew’s grip on Bobby’s hand. If a soul fell now, Andrew knew it would be lost forever, but it was crazy no one, not even demons had dared to touch a soul met by God’s grace…at least not in a very long time, Andrew thought. He wanted to push Ryan away, but letting go of Bobby right now could be just as dangerous.

"Cut it out, Ryan," Andrew heard from behind him as Cami kicked Ryan’s hand away and pushed him back to earth. They both fell on the wet ground, Monica stood motionless in the place Cami had told her to stay. But she watched with amazement. Both Ryan and Cami got up and faced each other.

"Hey, darling, I knew you’d have to come back and see me," Ryan said, smiling. "Knew you couldn’t let me win away another soul from that pathetic excuse for a soul mate of yours." Ryan moved a step toward the light again and was met with a quick sweep under his feet, landing Ryan on the ground.

"How stupid is it to go into the light, Ryan?" Cami said, pushing her foot down on Ryan’s chest. "Let’s see…" the light flowed over Cami as she looked down at Ryan. He pushed off her foot hard and squirmed out from underneath her, cowering away from her. "Very stupid, I’d say." Ryan stood up, his eyes went black and he smiled toward Cami, a threatening smile.

He raised his hand, Monica held back a scream, as a dark lightening bolt came charging toward Cami. She stood up straighter and closed her eyes. Within moments, Andrew was standing in front of it as the bolt melted away. Ryan looked at him quickly and started toward Cami again. His expression turned dark and his eyes glowed with a red light. Monica shielded her eyes from him, the coldness ran through her. She closed her eyes for a moment holding closely to God. When she looked toward Cami she saw Andrew pulling Ryan back and Ryan screamed. Andrew threw him across the alleyway. He landed against a wall. Quickly he rose again, standing up to the angels. He moved swiftly like an agile cat, passing Monica without notice. A coldness swept through her entire spirit and she shielded her eyes from him.

"We don’t have time for this," Andrew said looking at Cami.

"Doesn’t look like we have a choice?" Cami replied back. Andrew moved towards Ryan. Ryan’s eyes held a red fire in them that encompassed his entire body. Andrew’s light around him grew and soon it moved towards Ryan’s own tormented spirit. Monica opened her eyes quickly as she saw Andrew pushing Ryan against a far wall.

"Leave, Demon," he said in a low, threatening tone, Monica had never heard from him before.

"You can’t take me back and you know it," Ryan said laughing, but the light from Andrew was already blinding his spirit, he squirmed away quickly under his grasp and cowered back. "See you soon, Prince," Ryan said, laughing once more and then disappearing in a dark encircling smoke.

After a few moments, Monica felt the coldness leave and a strong feeling of love overcame her. She took the love in willingly, closing her eyes. When she opened them, she saw Cami and Andrew standing facing each other, the light was gone, but the feeling of love remained strong. Cami reached her hand up blowing a kiss into the night sky. Andrew placed a kiss on her cheek and smiled. She held his hand as they walked towards Monica. Andrew’s softness seemed to encompass her as he looked concerned.

"Monica…" Andrew started, and then his expression changed as he looked toward Cami. Cami knew that look…not at all pleased with my actions, Cami said to herself.

"What was I supposed to do? Leave her all alone on these streets?" Cami said, smiling and gently touching his cheek as she passed him moving toward Monica.

Andrew was not amused, but the touch did electrify his senses. He smiled quietly to himself. It amazed him how much he could miss her when they were apart. Moment by moment was the only living he had gotten used to since last time they were together. Cami gave him back his sense of spontaneity, his sense of excitement, in short, she gave him part himself. And Andrew, for his own part, loved that feeling and could not imagine it gone again.

"Are you alright?" She said, taking Monica’s hand. "I am sorry you had to see that. Truly. I know how cold it feels." Monica looked at her and could feel the warmth in her eyes, her hand, her smile. She must never have felt the coldness that ripped through my heart, Monica said to herself.

"It’s always like that the first time, Monica," Cami said, answering her question. "You can always feel the coldness, but I like the warmth of the light myself." She threw a smile towards Andrew. "Much better…" she leaned back toward Monica, "and it lasts forever. Can’t beat that deal. And I should know these guys have offered me everything. Power, greed, money, appreciation for my talents," she said, half-mocking Ryan as she continued. "But you can’t offer me the one thing I need." Andrew walked alongside Cami. She looked up at him, he smiled at her, shaking his head a bit. He took her hand and Monica was starting to understand something about this terrible night, about that demon and about Andrew’s soulmate.

"You’re a Defender." Monica said, causing Cami to look at her.

"Yes."

"I’ve never seen a Defender before," Monica said, completely amazed and intrigued. Andrew knew that look well and before Monica overpowered them with too many questions, he took a step forward.

"Monica, it’s time for your assignment," Andrew said, this time causing Monica to look up at him. Cami moved slightly ahead of them as they started walking out of the alleyway.

"Zia says hi," Cami threw from ahead of them. Andrew shook his head again. Monica thought he was annoyed, but his eyes sparkled and she knew he enjoyed Cami’s company and her comments.

"Thank you," Andrew said back to her.

"Who’s Zia? " Monica asked.

"A friend of ours," he answered simply.

"She fights the dark ones, doesn’t she?" Monica said, quietly.

"Cami fights against evils that are unseen in the world," Andrew said, looking toward Cami. "It takes the strength and faith of a hundred angels, sometimes a thousand." His look told Monica the rest.

"You were one," she stated, Andrew nodded.

"Cami and I worked together for a long time, until I was recruited to another assignment," Andrew answered quickly, indicating that was end of the conversation.

"How’s David?" Cami said, turning around, but continued walking.

"Fine, Cami." He answered. She smiled back at him and faced forward again.

"Who’s David?" Monica questioned.

"Zia’s soulmate," he answered.

"Another pair of soulmates?" Monica was amazed to know of more. "I knew that it exists, but I’ve never seen it before," Monica looked up at Andrew as they walked. "Why doesn’t she still work with you? I didn’t know that soul mates could be separated."

"He had a grander plan for us, but we are never separated." Andrew smiled. "She’s always here," he said, putting his hand on his heart. "And I hold her in my soul everyday. We’re never truly apart." Monica nodded towards him and smiled.

"Did you tell her?" Cami said, nonchalantly from in front of them.

"Cami...." he started to say something, Cami obviously didn’t want to hear.

"Just asking," she replied quickly. "Now that I know every angel doesn’t know then I thought I would get it out of the way for you." She smiled. "I mean, it was bad enough how upset Zia was that I hadn’t told her."

"Thank you, Cami," Andrew said under his breath, but she heard it and so did Monica.

"You’re welcome, honey," she smiled at him and continued walking.

"Tell me what?" Monica asked.

"I am..." Andrew’s voice suddenly stopped. Cami stopped walking in front of them.

"I think there’s others that know your in town," Cami said, softly. Andrew turned to Monica, quickly.

"Monica" Andrew started, his voice taking on a very serious tone, "I wish I had more time to go over this assignment with you. It isn’t going to be easy, but it’s something He wants you to do. Do you understand?" Monica looked confused.

"And obviously he has other plans for us," Cami said, quietly. Andrew shot her a look.

"Monica, just remember no matter what you are never alone." He touched her hand. "Always remember that," he leaned down and for the first time since she had known him, he kissed her hand. One moment she was in the street looking at Andrew and then next she appeared in a moderate restaurant in the middle of dinner rush.

"Hey, can I get some service over here!" A man yelled to Monica. She turned toward him and realized she was a waitress.

"I’m so sorry. I’m a bit confused," she said, smiling at the man as she walked to his table.

"No kidding." The man started his order. Monica quietly wondered if this man was her assignment. It was unlike Tess to leave her alone completely, but she let that thought go, she must have a good reason. I just have to find it, she said to herself.

E E E E

"It’s always good to take a Defender," Frankel said, his voice husky and threatening. He moved one more step towards her. Lifting his hand to slap her across the face. Cami raised her hand to block it. He laughed and went in for another blow. She kicked him in the right leg, another kick landed on his shin and another quick one hit his upper thigh. He winced over in pain for a moment. Then looked up at her, smiling.

"Your mistake, little Princess," Frankel said, "the last one you’ll ever make." Seven demons came out of the shadows in front of Cami, seven more filed in behind her and soon she was surrounded. "Let me introduce you to my companions," Frankel said, smiling at Cami.

Cami moved a step back as the group advanced on her. "Actually, I think I’d like to introduce you to my companion," she said, moving one more step back. She hit against one of the demons behind her. The demon jumped away from her light and into Andrew standing behind him. The demon jumped around quickly and moved away, shielding his eyes.

"How you doing, Nathan?" Andrew said, in his calming voice. Nathan shrinked away. Frankel hissed in front of him and walked to Nathan, kicking him down.

"You are pathetic, Nathan, not worthy of your master. He would not be pleased with you," Frankel said, pulling Nathan up to his feet. "And neither am I," he added raising his hand to bring it down on Nathan’s hand.

"There, I’m going to have to disagree," Andrew said, blocking Frankel’s blow. Frankel turned to face him and smiled.

"You going fight me, Andrew?" Frankel moved a step to the left preparing for a battle. Andrew shook his head at him.

"I have a problem with violence," Andrew said as he moved one step closer to Frankel. The light was overwhelming Frankel, but he stood his ground against it. In front of Andrew he could see Cami in the middle of five demons, she was fighting, but they were slowly advancing upon her. He stopped moving and looked at Frankel for a moment, "you see, I’m very good at it," he reached out and grabbed Frankel’s hand. The demon screamed from the pain of the light, "I just don’t like to use it."

"Let me go! You cannot bring me back!" Frankel screamed as the light made him sqrium under Andrew’s grip.

"No, you need to call off your demons," Andrew said in a very demanding tone. Frankel stopped squriming and looked at him. "It was not a request."

"Anyone call for some Defenders," a bright-eyed short brown haired angel said from behind Andrew. Andrew and Frankel turned to look at her. The demons fighting Cami stopped and looked at her. Fifty Defenders stood to the side of her all looking at the demons. Andrew smiled towards her.

Within moments, the Angel Defenders and the Demons engaged in a battle. Andrew moved off to the side with Frankel screaming in pain and yelling commands at the crowd. By the next moment, the demons ran away leaving Frankel up against Andrew, Cami, the brown eyed angel and fifty very angry Defenders.

"We protect our own," Frankel said. "We will find you, Defender," he nodded to the brown haired angel and then looked towards Cami. "And don’t think I’ll forget about my plans for you." Frankel closed his eyes.

"Hey!" Andrew said, letting go of the grip he held on Frankel’s. Frankel laughed and ran away.

"We’ll meet again," he yelled down the street as he disappeared in a glowing red light.

Cami went to Andrew quickly, "Are you alright?" she said, looking down at his hand, smoke rose from it.

"Yea, I just didn’t expect that kind of power from a lower demon," Andrew said, holding his hand. "The little...." he didn’t finish his thought, but both Cami and the brown haired angel held back a smile.

The brown haired angel walked up to Andrew and Cami. "It’s allright, Andrew, I still think you’re the coolest angel this side of heaven," she smiled at him. He looked at her and smiled back.

"Thanks, Zia," he said, reaching out and hugging her.

"I couldn’t leave a poor defenseless," Andrew broke the hug and looked at her, "Defender all alone," she said, smiling towards Cami.

"That’s true," Andrew said, joking. Cami lightly hit him on the arm.

"Who got hurt and who didn’t," Cami said. Andrew reached down to her shirt and pulled back the material off her shoulder slightly to reveal a gash across it.

"Look’s like the poor Defender got hurt," Andrew smiled and kissed her quickly.

"Hey," Zia jumped in as they parted, "something happening?"

"Why would you think that?" Andrew said, taking Cami’s hand and walking down the street. "I’ll bandage that at the house," he said, quietly to Cami. She smiled.

"Always taking care of me."

"It’s my favorite thing to do," he said, smiling at her.

"So, what’s going on?" Zia asked from behind them.

"With what?" Andrew answered back, casually.

"Come on, you’re here, you’re a..." Zia caught up with Andrew walking beside him.

"I have a case, it involves a case worker and I thought I’d spend some time with Cami and my friends," Andrew said. "That’s it."

"Honestly?" Zia questioned.

"No," Andrew looked at her, "I’m lying." He smiled at her. Zia looked at him and stopped walking. Andrew laughed, "calm down Zia, no hell coming to earth or sentinels rising from the flames." Zia breathed and followed after them.

"Unless of course, I wasn’t told about something,"Andrew turned for a moment and looked at her. "You never can be sure when dealing with hell." He shruged his shoulders and continued walking with Cami.

Zia stood in the street, looking after them.

A few streets later, Andrew and Cami stood in front of a warehouse. Cami looked over her shoulder.

"I guess Zia isn’t coming home," Cami said.

"David’s coming home instead," Andrew answered.

"Really?" Andrew nodded. "That’s great. She’s been very edgy lately."

"Lately?" Andrew questioned. Then smiled at Cami. "I’m just kidding. What no sense of humor today, poor defenseless..."

His words were cut off by Cami reaching up and placing a kiss on his lips.

"I missed you," she said, softly. He touched her face, gently.

"So have I, Cami," Andrew said in a low voice.

E E E E

"I told you, Jim, I didn’t take the money. I didn’t cash out the drawer, you did," a man said from behind Monica. The voice was coming from the kitchen of the restaurant.

"Then how come it ain’t there?" Another man said. Monica recognized the voices. It was Jim Green, the restaurant owner and his son, Nicolas. She had been so busy working at the restaurant she hadn’t paid much attention to them. Now, like the shining beam of moonlight coming through the curtain-covered windows, a ray of knowledge beamed into Monica’s soul. This was it, her assignment and she wasn’t paying attention. Tess would not be happy with her. Monica suddenly forgot about her own aches and pain and complaints and listened intently to the conversation that was slowly building into a fight.

"You listen here, boy you return that money or I’ll take care of you myself."

"Jim, I didn’t take it and I don’t care if you believe me." Monica heard the slap and jumped at the sound. Nick stormed out of the kitchen and right into Monica. He stopped and looked at her.

"Sorry," he said walking out the door.

Monica watched him and caught a glint of something green out of the corner of her eye when she looked back to the register she saw the money in question lying under the register. She walked over and took it out as Jim walked out.

"What the hell do you think you’re doing?" He said, walking up to her and grabbing the money out of her hand. "You think you could take some, huh?" He said, harshly staring down Monica.

"No," Monica started. "I saw the money and I knew you were looking for it."

"Likely story." He pushed Monica away. "Stay away from the money. You’re paid to wait on the customers. I’ll take care of this."

"Nick didn’t take the money," Monica said, moving a step closer. "Maybe you owe him an apology." Jim was counting the money. He stopped and looked up at her.

"Who the hell are you, God?" He said, laughing. "Look you’re done for the night." He looked down at the money and threw a twenty-dollar bill on the counter. "That’s your tip, now get out of here." Monica looked at the money and looked back to Jim.

"It wasn’t his fault." She said, softly walking to the door.

"You don’t give up, do you, little girl. You want to be out of a job? Now shut up and leave." He went back to counting. "Oh and be on time tomorrow or I will fire you," he added and take the money with him as he turned to the kitchen doors and went through.

Monica stood for a moment and then slowly turned to head out the door when a man came through the door. Monica recognized him; he was the dark one with Cami and Andrew. She shuddered at his coldness as he past her. She decided it would be better not to talk with him, but he had other plans.

"So you’re Monica and you’ve been sent to stop me," he said, smiling at Monica. Monica turned back to face him.

"God sent me to watch over Nick," Monica answered certain that was her assignment.

"Yea, well, good choice. I don’t think anyone could save Jim at this point thanks to my handywork," he said, pride in his voice. Monica felt sickened by his words.

"Don’t look so down, little angel. Well, good luck, but I have to warn you," he leaned in closer to her and Monica moved back from his coldness tearing through her soul, "no one ever beats me." He said in a sinister tone that frightened Monica. "Just ask your friends," he added. Monica turned and left the restaurant while the dark one laughed behind her.

"But you can try, little Monica. It should be fun at least," he said as he headed back to the kitchen. "Jim, hey buddy, how’s it going?" He said, walking through the door. "Cute new waitress. It’s a shame, she’s bad news."

Jim looked up at him. "What about her? She just started tonight."

"Maybe I shouldn’t say anything," Ryan said, hopping up on the cutting table. "It’s not really my place and I’m probably not seeing right."

"What? What did she do?"

"She stole from you, buddy. Didn’t you notice? She took all the cash and replaced it with fake money." Ryan said. Jim looked in the bag at the money he thought he had just put in there, but all he found was fake paper money. He reached again into the bag and looked up at Ryan.

"That…" he didn’t finish his thought as he stormed out of the kitchen, Ryan jumped off the table and followed him.

"What are you going do?" Ryan asked, trying to hide his smile.

"I’ll kill her!" Jim said as he left the restaurant.

"Whoa! Party time. Bye, bye, little angel," Ryan said, following Jim out of the restaurant. He wanted to see him scare her, precisely Ryan wanted to see the hell scared into her. He knew if she doubted herself, it wouldn’t hurt for him to be there, just in case he could help lead her down the dark path…he smiled to himself.

Jim walked quickly down the street, spotting Monica walking slowly ahead of him.

"Hey!" He shouted at her, Monica turned to see Jim running after her. The dark one was right behind him, mocking her with his smile. A coldness ran through Monica and she fought an urge to run. She knew something bad was in the wind, but she stood her ground.

"Yes," she said to Jim as he come up to her. Ryan stood behind him, smiling the entire time. The moonlight shined darkly on Jim creating a dark beam as he stayed on him.

"Give me my money, girl or I just might have to hurt you." Jim said, angrily.

"What?"

Jim shook his head and then grabbed Monica’s purse.

"What are you doing?" She demanded, trying to get the purse back. But Jim was too fast and turned slightly, opening the purse and pulling out the money. Ryan mocked a surprised look toward Monica and waved his hand at her, mouthing the words ‘bye bye’. Monica looked away from him and back towards Jim.

"I didn’t take that. I told you where to find it at the restaurant," Monica said in defense.

"Of course, she took it. She wanted the money," Ryan whispered in his ear.

"Mr. Green please listen to me. You are being deceived by that man," she said, pointing to Ryan behind him. Ryan mocked pointing to himself, ‘who me?’ he mouthed, smiling at her and shaking his head ‘no’.

Jim looked behind him and turned back to Monica.

"And who would that be?" he said looking at her. "You’re crazy," he said, shoving the purse in her head. "You had better hope all the money’s here. And don’t think about coming back or I’ll have you arrested and that’s being nice believe me." He turned away.

"Mr. Green, I didn’t take that money. You are listening to someone who has turned you away from God." Monica continued. "You know I didn’t take that money. You know I showed you where it was, but now he’s confused you and you believe him."

Jim backed up a step. "Shut up, now get out of here, before I do something about this." His face took on a dark tone and Monica felt a chill go through her. He grabbed Monica’s arm, hard. "You understand," he said, pushing her away with a force that caused Monica to fall. "Now, don’t bother me anymore unless you like being hurt, girl." Jim said and started counting the money as he walked back to the restaurant.

Monica lay on the ground, watching Ryan walking next to Jim, looking back at her. He smiled and blew her a kiss. She felt someone pull her up and looked behind her after she was standing, Ryan stood there. The dark look gone, the smile faded. Concern was on his face.

"Are you alright?" Ryan said as Monica pulled away from his hold.

"Leave me alone." She said, walking away from him.

"You’re good," he said, following her. "Usually they are running by now, back to God. Don’t you want to run, little angel," Ryan said, mockingly. Monica ignored him and keep on walking. "Don’t you want to yell at me? You’re angry because I planted that money on you. I know you didn’t take it, but it was fun wasn’t it? It’s so easy to get mortals angry. Such fun to watch their stupid little minds work." Monica fought the urge to yell, to scream at him. She continued walking, silently holding onto God’s light within her. "Aww, come on Monica, aren’t you mad? It’s okay no one’s hear to listen. You can yell, you can let it out. Come on, you want to…I know you want to. I always wanted to when I was like you."

Monica stopped walking. Ryan smiled. "I know the anger you hide deep down. The frustration, not understanding his plan. Only letting you know what he wants you to know. Come on, you don’t still believe that do you?" He leaned closer to Monica’s ear. "He doesn’t want you to know. He wants to deceive you into believing he knows all, but he doesn’t, Monica. He’s just as lost as you are. Making it up as he goes along. No grand plan. No wondrous mystery. Just a lie. That’s all he is…a big lie. I know, I’ve seen the truth. You can know the truth, too." They was a silence that hung in the air that thickened with each passing moment that Monica stood there. She closed her eyes and continued walking. "You’ll find out…it’s all a lie, little angel. A lie!" Ryan called from where he stood as Monica walked further and further away from his dark words, trying to push them out of her mind…but somehow she couldn’t escape them. They surrounded her mind, her heart. She keep walking thinking only of God and his love and his…and his…her thoughts ended. She felt herself doubt for a moment of a moment, for an endless moment that seemed to last an eternity. She doubted God’s plan.

She walked far away from Ryan and his words. Cutting, cruel words sent through her soul, set to tempt her, she screamed out in her mind. She screamed for her God to comfort her, to reassure her, to feel his love, but only the cold wind of the dark night surrounded her as she continued. A cold wind that threatened her own soul, a darkness that threatened the world and to one angel at that moment, it was a darkness that seemed to encompassed her.

"Stay close to your heart," she heard Tess say in her mind.

"And leave the rest up to God," Monica said, out loud, remembering what Tess had told her right before she left. She smiled up to heaven as a moonbeam cast its light on her. "I understand, Tess," she said softly and continued down the street knowing where she had to go.

E E E E

"Tess thinks she will, I trust her." Andrew said looking around. He turned back to Cami, "you know, my love, they have electric lights now, new in the 20^th Century and all. They even have laser lights and fiber optics." Cami walked up to him, looking up at him with a complete innocence in her eyes.

"Really? I hadn’t heard." Andrew smiled down at her and placed his hands on her shoulders. She winced back a bit from her hurt shoulder.

"Let me look at it," he said, looking over the wound and leading her into the bathroom down a hall.

"So, why are you here?" She asked as Andrew got a white bandage and some ointment.

"What is with you defenders, anyway," he said, bandaging her wound, "you’re always looking for a battle." Andrew put away the bandages and looked at the dressed wound one more time. "All set," he said as they walked back to the main room. Cami moved away sitting down on the couch at the far left of the room. Andrew followed her, sitting down. "So what happened with the woman who had lost her father?" She asked. Andrew looked at her, confused. "The case you were working on in New York."

"Oh, it worked out fine," Andrew shifted his position on the end of the couch a bit and turned, looking at her.

"That’s good, did she come to terms with her loss?" Cami asked.

"How about Ryan? Let’s talk about him for a moment," Andrew said, looking deeply into her eyes. A look that Cami knew wasn’t letting her change the conversation.

"Why? It’s the same story. He’s one of them, has been for centuries. Nothing changes with Ryan. He just goes deeper into despair."

"Then why request my help, Cami? All you had to do was ask me for help, you know I would have come." Andrew watched her closely as she stood up and walked to the chair. She took out a barrette that had been holding her hair back and let her long red curls fall down her back. Her clothing had changed also in that moment. She wore a white flowing dress as she was restored in look to her angelic form. Andrew couldn’t help but smile towards her. She was truly beautiful inside and out. Her red hair, petite figure and alluring green eyes were certainly not lost on her soulmate sitting in front of her.

It had always been hard to explain angels who were soul mates to humans especially when angels lived mostly on earth. It was even harder for their relationships not to take on certain human characteristics of earthly love. This caused an attraction between the angels that humans would recognize only as an physical one, but what in truth was more a desire for the essence of their beings, their souls. They were a perfect union…created in pure love, that was how most angels explained it and that was the way it felt by the two angels in that warehouse for the past two thousand years.

Cami moved back to Andrew and leaned against his chest, letting the love surround her as his arms did. She breathed in the calmness…the peacefulness…

"You are restless," Andrew said, stroking her hair gently.

"I just needed you," she said, softly.

"I’m always here, Cami," Andrew’s voice was calming, comforting. All the tears held up for a rainy day began to pour out of Cami.

"What is wrong, Cam," he said, softly. She didn’t answer in words as the tears freely flowed down her cheeks.

"I’m sorry," she said almost in a whisper. "So sorry."

"Come on, honey, there isn’t anything you could have done...."

"I was tempted," she said, looking up at him for a moment. "I was tempted." She said again and buried her head back on his chest, crying softly. Andrew comforted her, spoke soothing words of love and hope of God’s forgiveness, but he knew she wasn’t looking for God’s forgiveness or compassion. She was looking for his.

After a few moments, Andrew gently pushed her shoulders back to look into her eyes.

"I know," she said walking away from him.

"Our Father will always love you, " Andrew said, walking up behind her and leaning down to whisper in her ear, "I will always love you, but Cami…you can’t truly feel our love if you turn away." He put his arms around her from behind and kissed her gently on the neck. "Don’t blame yourself, you know that it’s the first step to their victory over you." She leaned against him, holding this moment in her heart. He placed his head lightly against hers.

"Do you ever get scared, Andrew?" She asked softly as the moonlight streamed in from the window in front of them. They both looked at the beam shining through the darkness. Andrew picked up his head and smiled at the moonlight. Cami turned slightly in his arms, looking up at him. She watched him, looking at the moonlight and smiled to herself.

"With His love there is no fear," she said almost in a whisper answering her own question. He smiled at her and kissed her sweetly, "I love you, Andrew," she said, causing Andrew to feel all of his own love.

"And I love you for eternity and beyond," he said looking at her. "Now," he let go of her, taking only her hand and leading her back to the couch. He sat down ,she followed him. "Tell me what happened."

Cami took a deep breath and stared for moment, taking in the love and comfort in Andrew’s eyes looking back at her. No judgement, no questions, just a friend, just her soulmate, the other half of herself, just here to listen. "Oh, heavenly father," she prayed silently, "thank you for giving me what I needed most." Cami took another breath and began her story.

E E E E

"You condemned his soul, Ryan. For what?" Andrew said, calmly.

"Hey, is it my fault every time some guy loses faith and jumps out a window?" Ryan put his arms up. "Look at this way, he’s better off. He was cheating on his wife with his secretary and he was going leave her and their sweet little baby girl, Emily. If he did that, then Emily would have lost hope on men, thinking they would all leave her too and her life would be like living in hell never finding love and endlessly searching for something to fulfill her." He paused and looked at Andrew, "kinda of like you." "Let’s face it, I saved that poor girl from a life of hopelessness."

Andrew took a step forward. "Frankie didn’t have a family anymore. They died in an automobile accident last year, Ryan," he said.

"Yea, well…," Ryan said, smiling again. "But I think mine was better story. More drama and torture in it. Besides the man didn’t have hope anymore, if he did why would he have listened to me?" He moved a step towards Andrew. "You remember hopelessness, Andrew, don’t you? The feeling that everything is falling apart…to be lost in the valley…all alone." Ryan faced Andrew and looked deep into his eyes. "I know I remember that feeling." His face took on an angry expression. "Did you think I would let you forget what you did?"

Ryan’s twisted words sent Andrew into the past in his mind, to a dark time, he had thought was behind him now, but as the memories came flooding back so did the pain.

E E E E

The time was 1692 and the place was Salem, Massachusetts, a dark time for Andrew, Cami, Ryan and most of all God’s children. A little 8 year old child, Andrew remembered like it was yesterday. Sweet Ann Putnam, she was raised in a village with God’s love, but she had turned away and now was taken by a dark one. She had listened to his every word and it was up to Ryan, Cami and him to stop the evil. For weeks they tried to bring them to God’s light, but the townspeople of Salem ignored their pleas, ignored their love. They listened only to the dark lies of little Ann and her friends, all deceived by the words. Deception and lies encompassed their souls and accusations of witchcraft spread like an evil rain across the village. Cami had already been accused, because of a misunderstanding and sentence to hang for her crime in the morning. Andrew and Ryan both knew what would happen if the people of Salem committed that crime against an Angel.

It seemed to be hopeless…until Andrew had encountered a man by the name of John Proctor in the village. Andrew had found hope in this man with his strength of faith. Of course, there were others, but all had been accused now, even gentle and loving Rebecca Nurse who never faltered in God’s love. With John Proctor and a sense of hope, the wind changed and God lived again for a time. This was until John’s wife, Elizabeth, was accused. Anger and hate overtook the man, consumed him and here was where Andrew and Ryan stood looking upon a lost village of God’s children...

"No, I won’t believe that," Andrew said to Ryan on that dark night. "Not everyone has turned away from God and we need to be here for them."

"What of Cami? She’ll be killed in the morning. You can’t deny that. You’ve seen the hate in those people’s eyes. They will hang her and God hasn’t said a word to her, to you, to anyone of us for days." Ryan moved closer to Andrew. "He will let her die here…left alone in this world. He turned away from us."

"No!" Andrew said, half- yelling at Ryan and yelling at himself. He had to believe God had a plan. He had to…what would happen if His angel lost hope? Andrew turned back towards the village and thought of Cami, locked up in that cell. He had spoken with her on this night. Her face full of hope that God was with them. Her eyes held the light of love. He couldn’t believe what Ryan was saying. He couldn’t give up on those people, on Cami…on God.

"You know I’m right, Andrew. It’s time. God has left us." Ryan said, behind Andrew. "And now, we need to save her before they kill her for this darkness." He touched Andrew’s shoulder. "You need to save her, Andrew. You can’t let her die here. If you do, it was always be in your heart and that is a heavy cross to bear, my friend." He walked in front of Andrew. Andrew had closed his eyes and searched in his heart for the faith he knew he still possessed. "You love her, Andrew. Not like these people. Pure love, soul mates, not all angels find their soulmates as young as you have. Only two thousand years did you have to endure without her. Now you have eternity and more to be with Cami. Don’t lose her for these people who have left his grace."

In a moment, Andrew felt despair, hopelessness, lost and in the next moment he was looking into Cami’s face, feeling her soft kiss touch his lips and he knew one thing Ryan said was true. He opened his eyes and didn’t see his friend who loved, had compassion for all of God’s people, who was grateful for God’s creations, he saw something completely different…and frightening.

"You are correct, Ryan, about one thing." He watched Ryan’s expression of anticipation on his face. "I love her deeply, with all of my soul," he paused and placed a hand on Ryan, "and it is God who gave me that soul. It is God that gave me all that have and made me all that I am and it is God that blessed me with Cami, creating her soul and mine to be joined eternally. I am grateful to be here, to be chosen to do God’s work here in Salem and I am grateful to God for choosing Cami to do his work also. I am grateful for the day that God has made." He threw his hands up in the air, throwing his head back and smiling, letting the rain that started to fall hit his face and cleanse his soul. The rain had grew heavier as they walked back to the village and back to a world plagued with the dark ones. But the angel that had crossed that bridge from the village earlier that day was restored by God’s light and hope remained in his heart. The other angel was also different, but it was the darkness and the despair that filled his heart. Andrew knew he had lost his best friend.

Andrew’s mind raced back to the present still holding a moment of the past, standing across from Ryan, looking at his friend who held the same dark look in his eyes as those children who watched Cami walk to the hanging rope on Gallows’ Hill all those years ago. Ryan looked at him with the same dark smile that the girls had as they watched Cami fall under the rope. And he had the same blind eyes that the girls had that day as Cami’s light burned through the darkness and the rain that morning. A light only a few chosen ever saw. A light that showered over the hearts and minds of a few villagers who would end the madness and find the right path turning back to God, letting him take them into his hands and restore their own souls.

In that terrible moment, Andrew had felt Cami beside him, Ryan couldn’t see her light, couldn’t feel her comforting hand. Andrew had felt the kiss she placed on his lips, but Ryan had only felt the rain begin to fall.

"I am grateful from what I have been given…all of it, Ryan. You cannot tempt me, there is nothing you have that I could ever want," Andrew had said and turned away from Ryan and the demon that overtook his loving soul.

"You can’t walk away from this. You have to find souls and lead to heaven and I will always be there." Ryan had said from behind him and laughed, but Andrew was no longer listening. "I will one step ahead of you…I always was. You remember that." Andrew disappeared from Ryan’s sight and for a moment, Ryan stood in the rain letting it pour over him. For a moment, he wanted to run towards his friend. Run back…in that instand Ryan yelled, dark and agonizing. The scream ripped through the night, but Andrew and Cami never heard it. The rain of God’s love covered the cries of a demon.

The memories overtook Ryan, the plan to stop Andrew’s endless compassion for humans was forgotten and he was lost again. Alone again. He turned away from Andrew who was speaking comforting words to Frankie on the ground. Ryan walked down the street away from Frankie. The soul he had wanted so much to take from God, didn’t matter anymore. He left it halfway between the worlds, halfway between life and death. When the police found Frankie Colin the next morning they could not have imagined the struggle the man who was in a coma was really fighting, but God knew and His Angel made certain Frankie was never alone in those dark hours.

E E E E

"How do you do this?" Monica finally asked her after Cami offered Monica some coffee and made herself a cup of tea.

"The same way you do, Monica." She said, simply, handing Monica a cup of coffee and sitting down on the floor as Monica sat down on the bed.

"Where’s Andrew? I thought his assignment…"

"Was me?" Cami said, finishing her thought. "I have found that to be rarely the case. Andrew comes for many reasons I am certain. Unfortunately, we live in a world where death comes at all hours, at all moments and none are immune to it."

"I’ve never thought of it quite like that way," Monica said.

"We all have our jobs," Cami added, taking a sip of tea.

"Yes." Monica said, pensively.

"So," Monica said, leaning towards Cami, leaning her arms on her legs. "I have a question I would very much like answered, if you wouldn’t mind." Cami looked at her and nodded her head towards Monica, waiting. "Well, I would like to know," she paused for a moment, "what does it feel like?" She finished in a whisper. Cami smiled.

"I think you already know, Monica." Cami answered, still smiling.

"Love yes, soul mates, no. I have never seen the joining of souls like I did…" she paused again and moved closer to Cami. "It was beautiful."

"Do you know when God envelops you in his love?" Cami said, looking past Monica into another thought. "When all you can see, touch, feel, is pure love? When you completely understand all things and know nothing? When just being there in that moment is a sense of peace within you?"

"Yes," Monica sighed.

"That’s the feeling with soulmates…each moment better than the last. Anticipating the next moment and never wanting for anything else for all eternity." She turned towards Monica. "You are completed."

Monica smiled at Cami and looked toward the far wall, thinking about the perfect dream she described. Her eyes suddenly got a glint of silver, she looked towards it and saw the sword hanging on the wall.

"What is that?" Monica said, standing up and walking towards it.

Cami stood up and followed Monica.

"That is the sword of hope," Cami said, causing Monica to look at her.

"A never thought a weapon could be hope," Monica said.

"This is not a weapon, Monica. This sword is all that is left of the fallen ones."

"The angels who fought in the war?" Monica asked, intrigued now by the thought of it all and terrified of why Cami would have this sword.

"Yes. When the first angel who fell from God’s love, this sword that was made by God’s hands. It was to be an instrument of hope and love which God gave as a gift to the angel. The fallen angel took this same sword, created in love and struck the ground of Heaven. The ground cried in pain with the fallen angel’s jealousy and hatred. The dark place was then created within that moment and the rip in Heaven continues. One by one the angels who fell into the darkness fell onto Earth. Soon,the Seven Heavenly Hosts," she turned to Monica quickly, "the Princes, fought against the dark ones, fighting for the souls of mortals to fill the hole in Heaven with their love and faith." Cami walked back to the bed away from Monica as she continued. "slowly the war turned and the fallen angel who had started it all was swallowed by his own demise. All hope was lost in Heaven and as hope disappeared so did the Angels from earth. They fell to the dark ones and the sword was retrieved by the Heavenly Hosts never to be placed back in Heaven until the dark ones returned to Heaven and God’s love." Cami turned back to Monica. "Now the sword waits for the day the fallen angel returns home and he seals the hole forever rejoining God’s love."

"Why do you have it?" Monica questioned.

"It is always under the protection of a Heart of a Prince. I received it when…" she turned away. Monica moved closer to her, placing a hand on her shoulder. "Another angel, a friend fell to the dark ones." She turned towards Monica, and she could see Cami’s sadness at this story. "The Heart is the Keeper of the sword, while the Prince protects it, until the first of the fallen reclaims it and returns to God’s love."

"I am sorry," Monica said, earnestly. Cami nodded her head and sat down.

"We have all lost many friends to the darkness, some our just harder than others," Something in Monica’s head told her Cami wasn’t talking about the fallen Heart or the first of the fallen angels.

"You are talking about a friend who has fallen," Monica questioned, quietly.

"Ryan...he was our best friend, but..." Cami stopped. "I’m sorry, Monica, it’s very hard to talk about.

"I understand." There was a moment of silence as Cami regained herself. "It was a long time ago," she added and then smiled at her. "Things were different on Earth."

Monica nodded and looked up quickly at Cami. "Andrew’s a Prince...a Heavenly Host...a..." she stammered, disbelieving, but knowing it to be true.

"Yep," Cami answered, casually.

"He never told me," Monica was completely perplexed. Years she had spent working with Andrew on cases and never once had he mentioned that he was a Prince of Heaven.

"He’s never really shouted it from the mountaintop as it were," Cami said. "He is proud and determined, but has no vanity within him."

"A Prince?" Monica said again. Cami smiled and touched her hand.

"He’s still Andrew." Monica was searching for clues that she must have missed over the years that would confirm Andrew’s status. Suddenly, she felt Cami let go of her hand as she moved to the center of the room, slightly tilting her head to look at something.

"What is it?" Monica said, standing up and walking behind her.

Andrew appeared in front of her. He smiled, leaned down and kissed her quickly.

"Don’t do that," he said, turning away from her and looking toward Monica.

"You used to love it when I did that," Cami answered from behind him.

Andrew turned back to her, his smile faded. "Ryan took another soul tonight."

"Oh, no," Monica said. Andrew turned to her for a moment. His head fell down, holding back his own tears. Cami’s eyes held compassion as she wrapped her arms around him from behind, holding him tightly and placing her head against him.

"Oh, I am so sorry," Cami said, softly. After a moment she let go of her hold on him and he turned to face her, the tears in his eyes bore into Cami’s soul as she felt his pain deep within her. Silent tears ran down her face. He reached out and brushed them away with his soft touch.

"Don’t cry, my love." He pulled her in as she fell against his chest, heavily, shaking with tears now. He stroked her hair. "Shhh….shhh. We have to be strong, together. I am so sorry." Cami kept crying. Monica watched with her own tears for Andrew…for Cami…and for the person who she didn’t know and now was in a dark place. Through the tears and pain, she was fascinated at the effect it was having on them. They could feel each other’s pain so deep. She wasn’t sure she wanted that as she watched Andrew back up, gently picking up Cami’s chin to look at her.

"We have to help him find God’s love," Andrew said, softly, but with a strength that surprised both Monica and Cami.

"What?" Cami said. She backed up from him. Love ran through her soul as he advanced toward her. She didn’t want to love Ryan…he was their friend once, but he chose freely, she thought. The love, the compassion from Andrew tore through her thoughts, leaving her at peace with herself. She took a step towards him. She knew he was right, the feeling wouldn’t be as strong if he wasn’t. But she didn’t want to bring him back to the light, she had spent so much time trying to undo the wrongs he had done. He would never turn back. Never! She said in her mind.

"We have to, Cami and you know it. He wants us, too…for you…for me," Andrew said moving towards her. "And for Ryan. We have to try…one last time, before he is consumed by the darkness." He took her hands, Monica could see pleading in his eyes towards Cami and she wondered why for a moment and then Cami suddenly broke free, ripping her hands away from him and turning. "My love…look into yourself. You know what God wants, he has already told you. That’s why he bid me to come."

"I asked him to let you come, because I needed you," Cami said quietly.

"Ryan needs me…and he needs you. Together we can do this." Andrew said, he reached out with all his love, but she backed away.

"No, no, no, I won’t." She said, backing away from him. "Not together, he will separate us, I can feel it."

"God has a plan and we are a part of that plan and so is Monica. Don’t question, Cami. Understand."

"Understand?" She said, suddenly looking at him. "Why should I? Why should you? Ryan left us, he walked away." She looked down shaking her head.

"He couldn’t feel God’s love anymore. He was lost…and now he must be found." Cami looked up at him sharply on his words.

"I need your strength. That’s why I asked God to send you." Cami said, fear was apparent in her voice.

"You know I was not sent here for that," Andrew said, turning away. He felt sadder with each passing moment. His words tore at her soul and he could only feel anger from her now. He had to have faith God would keep her safe. "Find your faith, my love. Please…"

"I need you." Cami pleaded, reaching out for his hand. Andrew withdraw it and walked a step away, hiding the tear that fell and hiding the pain as best he could from her. Oh, God, why is this so painful? He said in his mind. He turned to her for a moment, opening himself to her completely.

"God wants you to do this. He needs you to do this…" He looked deep into her soul. "Remember what I said."

"No, Andrew, not this time. This is what I need and you’re going to follow him and ignore me. How can you?" Cami said, anger filling her voice.

Andrew screamed in his head, but keep his soul pure, holding onto the love God embraced him in. Slowly, he took in His strength and turned his back on Cami, obeying his father, but silently praying for her soul. Look, my love, look into the light. Look into the light," Andrew said, closing his eyes.

"What are you doing? Andrew, no come back." Cami said, behind him and ran up to him. Andrew started to turn to her, but stopped.

"Oh my sweet love if only you would let me," he said silently awaiting a miracle to descend upon his beloved and open her eyes, but no miracle came on this night and Andrew had to gather all of his faith to do the task God wanted him for.

Cami was confused, upset and too consumed in her own feelings to hear Andrew’s words, but Monica did. She took Cami’s hand as Andrew walked away, never turning back around.

Cami dropped to her knees with an agonizing scream, Monica stayed beside her as she watched Andrew disappear and Cami could no longer feel him. For centuries they had been connected, always together in spirit, in their minds, hearing each thoughts thousands of miles away from each other. Cami heard nothing, she felt the feeling fade from her. She looked up.

"Why?!" She screamed into the sky above her. "Why? Why…why…" she slowly crumbled to the ground, tears mixed with fear, anger and doubt. Doubt that threatened to tear the angel away from her path on that night. Monica stayed with her as she cried, screamed and overall all lost all hope. Nothing Monica said or did would change Cami’s soul, she had turned away from the light.

E E E E

"I am sorry, Andrew." She said, turning to face him. He had been crying and his face looked so sad. Love burned in his heart and faith stayed strong in his soul. She smiled at him. "I have never seen an angel do what you did tonight. God loves you, Andrew."

"I know, Monica." Andrew said, softly. "It is Cami’s pain that I feel, not my own. I know God has a plan, just sometimes I wish I knew a little more." He said, smiling slightly. "Thank you, Monica," he said, touching her face gently. "You are my salvation on this dark night. I know she shall find comfort in you." He said, standing up quickly. "Ryan has began. I have to go." Monica stood up and nodded her head. He slightly turned when Monica touched his arm. He turned back to her.

"Cami will find her faith, Andrew. She has so very much to be thankful for…" Andrew touched her hand and smiled at her comfort. She was learning, he said to himself.

After a moment, Andrew was gone and the still morning sky hung over her head. The rising sun filled hope in Monica’s heart and she watched the break of dawn and prayed to God for the wonders he made.

E E E E

Andrew moved a few steps away from Ryan. Ryan pursued him continuing his words, "you watched her climb the stairs to the hanging rope and you thought for a moment about what she meant to you…to you, Andrew, not to God, not to some Great Plan. Not to humanity, but to you. And when they put that rope around her neck and Cami closed her eyes, you thought about how you would go on if she wasn’t with you, you didn’t think about her sacrificing herself for the greater good of humankind, but what her death would do to you." Ryan came up behind Andrew again. "Think about it, Andrew, He put you through so much pain, not just that day, but many, many days. The agony of watching people you love and care about suffer, watching Cami fight everyday against hate, anger, fear, darkness to try and bring Angels back from the darkness, for what, really? You asked that question before. And what about your job, you lose more souls to me than the ones you bring to His hands. Don’t you see, the battle has already been won and my friend, you picked the wrong side. God hasn’t stopped all the pain, the suffering. He didn’t save all those tormented souls. And you have one question, He never answers…" Ryan moved closer. "Why?"

"He has a plan and I trust in that Plan." Andrew said trying hard to hold onto God’s words and comforts. It had never been so hard to fight against Ryan’s words before, he had the strength of God in his soul…and Cami’s strength in his heart, but he searched desperately for her love, he felt only sadness, pain and suffering. In all his existence, she had always been with him even before they had met. But on this night as Ryan threatened his very soul, He stood alone. No, Andrew said in his mind. Not Alone. Andrew reached out with his soul, with his heart, with all that was in him and a soft voice spoke to him, "you are never alone, my son," Andrew opened his eyes and turned to Ryan.

"Stop this, Ryan. There is nothing where you are. Nothing. No love, no hope. Nothing. And I never lost hope, even in my doubts and confusion on that hill. I reached out then and He held my hand and comforted me. I doubted at times, but I never lost faith and I won’t tonight." Andrew walked forward, causing Ryan to back up a few steps. Andrew reached out, but this time it was to his friend. "You are not alone, Ryan. God loves you. He never stopped loving you. Let go of this darkness. He doesn’t want you to suffer anymore. He suffers with you, everyday. He was with you when you walked into darkness and He never left your side, Ryan. He walked with you through it all. He walked with you in the shadows and in the lies. Let Him into your heart and he will led you. I promise you, He shall never forsake you even now you are consumed in darkness and He reaches out to comfort you." Ryan turned away, trying to ignore Andrew’s words. "Come home, Ryan. We are all waiting for you. Your father is waiting for you." He reached out his hand.

"Get away!" Ryan said, backing away from Andrew. He turned away from Andrew’s eyes. "God hates me." When he faced Andrew again, darkness covered his eyes, "and you hate me for what I did to all those people, for what I did to Cami."

"That’s not true, Ryan. You are my friend and I want to help you," Andrew said, calmly but with compassion in his eyes and forgiveness in his words. He reached out again to Ryan.

"Get away!" He inched away from the light that shone on Andrew, shaking his head at him. "You lie! God lies!" Ryan said, running far away from Andrew and the truths Ryan knew all too well.

"You can’t run from the truth, Ryan." Andrew called after him. He watched Ryan stop running for a moment and start to turn back to him. Then Ryan put his head down and continued running into the darkness. Andrew shook his head at him. "He still is with you," Andrew said softly. "And so will I, my friend." He let out a heavy breath and tried to move, but it had taken all his strength to help Ryan. He felt like he would crumble right there on the street, fall to his knees and he was scared he wouldn’t get back up. Andrew closed his eyes, he felt the Father’s hand holding him up and helping him take the first step. Andrew silently said a prayer, Thank you, Father, for all of the pain and for all of the joy you have given me. Thank you for all the doubts that frightened me and for all the strength to help me find your love. Andrew opened his eyes and continued on his way with God walking alongside him leading him through the darkness.

E E E E

"All you can," Tess said, appearing from behind her. Monica turned around quickly, smiling at her.

"Tess…" Monica said, hugging her tightly. Tess smiled and held her.

"It’s alright, baby." She soothed. Monica let go of the embrace and looked at her.

"She’s in such pain. I don’t know what to do?" Monica said, looking towards Cami on the bed, silent tears still fell and she shivered a bit as if from coldness.

"She’s lost, baby," Tess said, looking at Cami. "She’s feeling alone right now." Tess looked at Monica. "She can’t see Him comforting her. He can’t hear His words."

"But, Tess, she has some much love in her heart and so much faith. I could feel it."

"Oh it’s still there, she just can’t find it, because she forgotten where to look," Tess touched Monica’s hand, "she’s looking for love, but she doesn’t see it right in front of her." Tess said, turning Monica back to Cami.

Monica saw Andrew standing behind Cami and reaching out his hand to her. She moved away from the touch, shivering and curling herself up tighter on the bed.

"God never leaves us alone, baby. He gives us what we need, when we need it not when we want it." Tess said and Monica sadly watched Andrew try to reach out again, but Cami just ignored him. "Sometimes we can’t see what we need and sometimes we won’t see it. Cami hasn’t lost love or faith, she is just lost, hiding from her own fears, because she believes she betrayed God and now he is punishing her. But He doesn’t punish us, he stands with us when we cry, he feels our pain when we are angry and he holds us when we fall."

"Oh, Tess, if only I could help her see." Monica said, turning back to Tess.

"Good, angel-girl." Tess smiled at her and slowly faded from Monica’s sight. Monica took a deep breath and turned back to Cami walking to the bed and leaning down next to her. Andrew still stood behind her, Monica looked up at him and smiled.

"Cami, I want to help you," she said, causing Cami to look at her quickly. "Andrew wants to help you. God wants to help you, Cami, but we can’t if you don’t let us."

"He’s left," Cami said, turning away from Monica. Andrew leaned down and reached out to touch her face. "He left," she murmured. "I betrayed God and Andrew." Andrew brushed his hand across her cheek, she looked toward him and Andrew’s eyes lit up for a moment, but she turned away again.

Monica sat on the bed, putting her hand on Cami’s back. "You don’t believe that, Cami. You know God loves you. You’ve had to fight so hard against darkness, let Him comfort you. He knows your pain. Give Him the pain, Cami and you will feel His love again, I promise you." Cami started crying again. Andrew leaned down close to her face and looked at Monica, urging her to continue.

"He loves you so much, Cami and now He wants you to stop suffering. He wants to ease your pain, but you have to let him. You have to reach out to Him, Cami. Just reach out and you will feel His love. Hear His words. Feel His healing." Monica was crying now as God spoke the words in her head and she desperately seeked for Cami’s soul to be touched with them. "Just reach out…" she said in a soft voice, drawing Cami out of the darkness. Cami moved her hand slowly towards Andrew. Andrew reached out his hand for her to take it. Monica watched as the glowing light came over Andrew. Cami dropped her hand.

"Cami, my darling, don’t give up. Reach out," he said, softly in her ear. Cami sat up quickly.

"I can’t," she said walking away in frustration. "I can’t forgive myself for what I have done."

Andrew followed her, standing behind her.

"Yes, Cami, you can. Look at Monica," he said as she slowly turned to Monica looked back at her, smiling. "Now, look at me, Cami." She slowly moved her eyes to focus on Andrew. She saw his figure slowly came into view in all God’s glory. She felt the pureness of the love and hope in that light. She reached out to him, Andrew took her hand and Cami fell to the floor, weeping. Andrew held her hand and went down on his knees, lifting her chin to meet his eyes. He pulled her close to him and the tears that dropped from Andrew’s eyes were God’s tears washing away her pain.

Monica’s tears flowed freely as she wept in joy and whispered a prayer.

E E E E

E E E E

"I’ve had it with you," Nick said, storming out of the restaurant and slamiing the door behind him. Ryan laughed as Jim fell to the ground holding his left arm.

"Oh my god…" Jim said, weakly. "Help me." He turned his head towards Ryan.

Ryan smiled as he leaned down over Jim.

"I don’t think God’s gonna help, but I can Jim-boy?" Ryan said, reaching out his hand to him.

Andrew stood in front of Ryan. Cami and Monica behind him. Ryan looked up, smiling and standing up. Monica moved to the phone on the counter calling for a ambulance. She then moved back to Jim standing across from Ryan looking down at Jim, closing his eyes in the pain. She leaned down and touched his hand. He held it tightly.

"Help me," Jim said, opening his eyes and seeing the light flow over Monica.

"Thank you," Monica said, smiling at him.

"So you saved Jim-Boy, big deal," Ryan said, looking back to Andrew. "There are lots of lost souls."

"Yes, there are, Ryan." Cami said, standing next to Andrew. "And it is time they were found."

"Good ol’ Cami. Can’t trust anything these days? Thought you were coming to my side," Ryan said moving a step to her. "You’re gonna regret your choice, Cami. We could have had fun." He walked past both of them and turned back. "Oh well, time to move on. There’s nothing here but the mess to clean up," he said, turning to Jim on the floor and then back to Andrew. "And that’s your job." He smiled and walked out the door.

They could hear the ambulance outside, Andrew walked over to Jim.

"Will he…?" Monica questioned as she looked up at Andrew. Andrew placed a hand on her shoulder.

"No, not now, but both Jim and Nick still need you." Andrew said. Monica nodded her head. Andrew turned to Cami, she took his hand and they disappeared from the restaurant as the paramedics came charging in the restaurant.

E E E E

"I kill you if you scream, now shut up and give me the money," a man said. Ryan smiled and ran towards the voice.

A boy, no more than seventeen was standing in an alleyway, looking around him quickly holding a gun on the man pushed against the wall. The man was wearing a business suit and holding out his wallet. The teenage boy grabbed it out of his hand and looked through it for the money. He pulled out twenty dollars and looked back at the man.

"Twenty dollars, come on, man you’ve got more than that." The boy said, holding the gun up to his face. "Where is it?" The man didn’t say anything too frightened to speak. Ryan walked up to the man, smiling.

"It’s alright," he said in his ear. The boy looked around nervously again. "You can do it, just knock the gun out of his hand. Come on, he’s just a scared little punk," Ryan urged on. The man took a breath. "One moment that’s all it takes," Ryan said, moving to the other side of the man. The man took another breath as the boy pointed the gun at his face and yelled at him.

Andrew and Cami appeared in the alleyway, but the man had already made his move, hitting the boy in the legs, causing him to go down. The man started running, but the boy got up and pointed the gun at the man. The man turned around and in the distance, they was anticipation in Ryan’s eyes as the gun fired.

Andrew stood in front of the man and reached out, catching the bullet in his hand. Cami stood behind the boy.

"What the…" The boy said in amazement, turning quickly around and meeting with Cami staring at him, God’s light fell over her.

"Let go of the anger, Greg," Cami said as the boy looked at her, terrified.

"How…did you know my name?" He stammered, backing up a step from Cami.

"God deosn’t want you to destroy the life he has given you." Cami said, looking at at Greg intently.

"What does God have to do with it?" Greg asked, still partly stunned at her image.

"I am an Angel sent by God to tell you He loves you Greg and he doesn’t want you to suffer anymore. He knows your pain, he feels it with you."

"God knows my pain," Greg said, shaking his head. "He couldn’t."

"He knows you think you have to do this because your sister is dying and you don’t have the money for the operation she needs, but Greg, Emily doesn’t want you to kill someone for her. She doesn’t want you to be in jail. She wants you to come home. Emily needs you, Greg and you need her." Cami said. Andrew, the man standing behind him and Ryan all watched Greg as a tear fell down his cheek.

"I can’t face her. I supposed to take care of her when our parents died. I’m supposed to look out for her and now she’s going die because I couldn’t save her. There no one to turn to, and when Emily is gone," Greg put his head down, crying, "I’ll be all alone."

"You are never alone. God is always with you." Cami said, touching Greg’s hand. Greg looked up and leaned toward Cami falling against her. She put her arms around Greg. The man from behind Andrew walked up to Cami and Greg. Andrew looked over at Ryan, who was watching the man intently now. He took a step forward, not realizing he standing next to Andrew. Andrew smiled.

"I lost my family when I was not much older than you," the man said to Greg. Greg turned to him. "I thought I was alone, too, but she’s right," he smiled at Cami quickly and turned back to Greg. "I’m the Administrator of Los Angeles Memorial Hospital." He reached into his pocket and pulled out a card, handing it to Greg. "You bring your sister here tomorrow and we’ll talk," he said and turned away.

"I was going kill you," he said, looking at the man.

The man looked at Andrew for a moment and turned back to Greg. "No, you weren’t. You were just lost." He smiled at Greg and took a step towards him. "We all get lost sometimes." Cami smiled at him and the man walked away back down the alleyway. Greg turned back to Cami.

"So, you’re really an angel," Greg said.

"Yep." Cami answered as Andrew approached them. "So is he." She said, turning towards Andrew.

"That’s how you caught the bullet," Greg said, turning to Andrew. Andrew nodded and smiled at him.

Greg took a breath. "I think I should go home. Emily likes for me to tuck her in…like our mom used to do," he smiled slightly. "Thank you," he said back to Cami and Andrew. "And Thank God for me, too."

"You can do that yourself, Greg," Andrew said.

Greg looked at him for a moment and nodded. "Yea, I guess I forgot how to."

He turned away and walked back down the alleyway.

Ryan clapped after Greg passed him out of the alleyway. Cami and Andrew turned to him.

"You two are amazing, it’s like an Angel tag team. Andrew does the big miracle and you talk of God loves you and all that," he said mockingly. "You two should be in the movies, not working as lowly little angels. I mean, really, you never get any credit for all the lives you save, do you? He gets all the credit. He gets them to worship him, but you two, he’ll forget all about you." Ryan moved closer. "Isn’t that the way it works?"

"That’s not the way you believe it works," Cami said. "Is it, Ryan? You can’t hide from God. He knows you, what’s in your heart and your soul. He created you. He knows everything and he knows how much you are hurting, Ryan. How much you want to forgive yourself. How much you want to come home." Cami moved closer to him. "Let him lead you."

"Oh please, Andrew already tried that one." Ryan laughed at her. "Give it up, Cami. I’m not you. And that really bothers you, doesn’t it? You just can’t stand to think that I really want to be who I am. That I want to be me, not what He wants me to be, but the real me."

"This isn’t the real you, Ryan," Andrew said. Ryan looked at him and tilted his head.

"So what are you both going to gang up on me now? Good luck, Angels," he said, smiling and turned away from them.

Cami and Andrew looked at each other.

"You can’t keep running away, Ryan," Cami said appearing in front of Ryan.

"Oh yea, watch me." Ryan tried to her out of the way, but he couldn’t get around her. He turned around and Andrew appeared in front of him, he smiled and shrugged his shoulders at him.

"Ok, I get it." He looked up into the sky. "You want to talk…go ahead talk."

"He is, Ryan," Cami said, walking in front of him.

"You’re not listening," Andrew added as Cami stood next to him.

"You two are unbelievable, really," Ryan shook his head, smiling. "You really believe He wants to save me." He laughed and looked up again. "You don’t want to save Ryan, you want to take away my freedom." He looked back at Cami and Andrew. "And you two are carrying out the sentence." He turned away. "Keep trying, angels." He said, as he walked out of the alleyway and back into the street.

"We will," Andrew and Cami said, together. They turned to each other and Andrew placed a gentle kiss on her lips.

"I have an assignment," he said. Cami nodded. Andrew started to turn and turned back to look at her. She watched him, questioning in her eyes. He nodded his head for her to come. She smiled and took his hand. They walked out of the alleyway and slowly faded.

E E E E

"Is he going to be alright, Tess?" Monica asked as they appeared in the room unseen.

"Well, now that’s up to God, baby." Tess replied, looking over at Monica. "But I don’t think it will be the answer Nick wants to hear," Tess said, looking over to the foot of the bed and Andrew and Cami who appeared. Cami moved to Monica and Tess. She reached out and held Monica’s hand, smiling at her slightly. Silently thanking her for all her help.

"Nice to see you, sweetie," Tess said, smiling at Cami. Cami smiled back at her.

"So, Mr. Green is going to die," Monica said, turning her attention back to Jim Green and his son. "I don’t understand, Tess. If my assignment was Mr. Green and his son I didn’t do anything."

"Sure you did, baby." Tess said, looking over at Nick.

"Dad, I hope you can hear me," Nick said, leaning closer. "I wish we hadn’t fought…tonight or all those nights. But I want you to know that even though I didn’t call you Dad for the past few years, I never stopped thinking of you as my father." He held back tears, Andrew walked behind him, placing a hand on Nick’s shoulder. He continued, "I don’t know what happened between us, but I know that I don’t blame you, Dad, for Mom’s death, I’m sorry I couldn’t tell you. I’m so sorry."

Jim’s hand moved under Nick’s. He looked down at his father’s hand. In the next moment, Andrew turned to Jim and took his other hand.

Jim turned his head towards Andrew, he smiled at him and the monitors in the room stopped moving. The monitor next to Nick, displayed a flat line and Nick holding his father’s hand, cried in sadness and happiness all at the same time.

Tess smiled at Monica.

"There’s always a good ending when you got God as the storyteller," Tess said, leading Cami and Monica to the door out of the room. Cami stopped and looked back. Andrew walked into the light side by side with Mr. Green. Tess and Monica turned back and watched as the light opened wider and a million beautiful colors rained over them. Cami, Monica and Tess smiled. The colors slowly faded along with the light, but Cami saw Andrew turn to her for a moment and smile before he faded from her sight ascending into the Kingdom of Heaven.

"I can never see that enough," Cami said, softly. Tess smiled and put her arm around her.

"Well, I think you’re gonna have to stick around for awhile then. You been in the City of Angels too long, sweetie," Tess said, taking Cami’s and Monica’s hand. "Come on, Angel-girls you’ve got some things to do before you continue the assignment."

"Assignment?" Monica questioned.

"Sure, Andrew and Cami got a lot of work to do."

"Ryan," Monica said, softly looking sadly at Cami.

"Don’t look so down, baby," Tess said, smiling at Monica. "You should know by now…"

"God will put all things right," Cami finished, smiling at Tess.

"Now, you’re talking," Tess smiled and they all walked out of the room.

"So, where are we going?" Monica asked as they stepped outside of the hospital.

"Not us, baby," Tess said as she looked over at Andrew walking up behind them dressed in shorts and a polo shirt, holding a bag in his hand. Cami and Monica turned to look at him.

"You ready?" Andrew said to Cami, walking beside her.

"Ready?" Cami questioned and tried to read his thoughts. Andrew kissed her and smiled taking her hand.

"No reading thoughts, Cami. This is a surprise," Andrew said, smiling over at Tess.

"A big surprise…" Tess leaned towards Cami, "sent from the one who loves you the most," Tess said.

Cami looked at her and turned to Andrew. He nodded his head no and pointed slightly up to the sky. Cami slowly smiled and hugged Andrew.

Andrew and Cami walked hand in hand down the street away from Tess and Monica. Cami turned back to Tess and Monica and gave them a small wave goodbye, smiling. Then she blew a kiss into the sky and turned back to Andrew as they faded from sight.

"I’m gonna miss her, Tess." Monica said, watching them leave.

"Oh, she won’t be far away. You just couldn’t see her, baby cause you didn’t know what you were looking for. But you know now," Tess smiled and patted Monica on the back. "Well, come on, we’ve got work to do. Not everyone gets a vacation today." Tess walked to the driver’s seat and got into the car. Monica slid into the passenger seat and closed the doors and Tess started it and they rode down the street.

A white dove took off from its perch on the hospital roof and flew into the sky…