21worked much on earth. However He had His reasons for not doing more with the angel. As the
angel would find out soon enough. The angel was too awestruck to speak.
"I have a mission for you." Still the angel said nothing. "One of my creations had lost her faith in
true love and the one she was meant for will pass her by if something isn't done." He waited for
the angel to speak but when the angel did not He continued. "You wonder why I am treating her
so specially when so many others lose their faith and I don't intervene. She's done something
recently that has made her special. Satan offered her everything material she could desire in
exchange for her soul, working thru a Satanist of course, and she refused. Renewing her faith in
true love is My reward to her. Now, to do this I'm granting you special powers. You'll be able to
read minds, temporarily alter reality, teleport. Also you'll have to show yourself to her, speak to
her. Not right away, mind you, she needs to do something first that you can't interfere in. A good
deed. Observe her, get to know the things she likes best. You will appear to her in a pleasing form
though you won't be perfect. Some wrinkles, a few crooked teeth. Believe me, she'll appreciate
them in the long run." Another pause. "You may go."
With a wave of His hand the angel vanished from His sight.
"Really," He said, reaching for His tv remote, "that one needs to learn to open his mouth more."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christine groaned as she got out of the white jeep. As usual she was the first one to work.
Though just a page the 26 year old woman was entrusted with the responsibilities of getting the
library ready for everyone with the exception of the money. However the blond woman didn't
want to be here. She was tired and the beginning of a migraine pounded itself thru her skull.
The woman in question wasn't a hideously ugly thing. Actually she was kind of pretty if one could
look past the fact that she was what the doctors termed "morbidly obese." Tipping the scales at
261 pounds Christine had started to stop really caring about how she looked. Oh, her clothing
was nice and clean, her hair recently washed, but it was also pulled tightly back into a ponytail, no
makeup hid the minor splattering of acne, two freshly squeezed zits on her chin and one in the
middle of her eyebrows, also recently squeezed. However her eyebrows had been waxed recently
and her face obviously washed. Her black leather purse was bigger then her hips from a side-view.
As always she wore black jeans. Rain or shine, 60 degree weather or 100+ Christine always wore
black jeans. She didn't believe fat women had any business wearing shorts or anything sleeveless.
Christine hadn't been to the beach in years and she lived in Southern California not more then 10
minutes from the beach.
Now the walk from the car to the back door of the library was short and on her way Christine
passed by the dumpster. In the quiet of the morning she heard a thump in the dumpster. While it
wasn't unusual for someone to throw things away that didn't belong there - such as one time an
entire metal swing set - noises from the dumpster were unusual. Remembering how someone had
put a live cat locked in a cat carrier behind the dumpster, she thought to check it out.
At first Christine saw nothing unusual. Then she realized that a black plastic trash bag was
moving. Putting her purse on the ground she reached in and ripped it open. A gasp escaped her
and swiftly she pulled out what she found, careful of it's head. For what had been moving so
weakly was a baby boy.
The baby was naked and covered in blood and afterbirth. She checked his mouth and found mucus
inside, quickly clearing it out. The baby gasped for breath even as Christine rolled the bottom of
her shirt around him and pressed him close. She grabbed her purse and keys and swiftly walked to
the door, opening it, closing it, and rushing to turn off the alarm, dropping her purse and keys on
the floor. Then it was to the phone to call 911. In a rushed voice she reported what she had found
and where she was. "Tell them to come to the back, I'll leave the door open for them." She said
to the operator.
After opening the backdoor she rushed into the kitchen/break room, she grabbed the clean
dishtowels from the cupboard and wrapped the baby in them. Trying to keep him warm she held
him close to her size-D breasts, listening for the sound of sirens.
It seemed like hours but it was only seconds since she had wrapped the baby up when he stopped
breathing. Desperately Christine laid him on the table and unwrapped him. Covering his mouth
and nose with her mouth she put in two gentle puffs, rescue breaths. Then she checked for a
heartbeat and found none. She began CPR, pushing on his tiny chest with two fingers, breathing
into his little lungs.
"Please, dear God," she said between breaths, using words instead of numbers to count the
thrusts. "Don't let him die. Please don't." Over and over again she prayed.
She didn't see them, of course, but three angels stood around her. One was her own guardian
angel. One was the baby's guardian. The third was the one God had just sent down to make her
believe in love again. All three place their right hands on her's as she thrust on the baby's chest.
All three bent down with her as she breathed into the baby's little mouth and nose.
A mewl came from the baby as the paramedics and police entered. They moved her out of the
way, but she had done it - the baby was breathing and his heart beating. Christine sobbed out the
story, not knowing that two sets of heavenly hands supported her. One on either side. One of the
librarians came in just seconds before the paramedics headed out.
"Go home, Christine," Gina said, rubbing her shoulder. "Start your weekend. You're too shaken
up to work."
Christine nodded, sniffling. She tried for her car keys and kept dropping them. Finally two officers
offered to take her home. One took her in her jeep while the other drove the patrol car behind her.
Of course no one saw the three angels sitting in the back of the jeep.
"You going to be okay, Miss?" The officer asked, looking over at Christine who was a mess from
crying and her shirt was stained with the blood and afterbirth. His heart went out to her, looking
so helpless as she leaned against the window.
"H-How could anyone do that to a baby?" She asked, her voice cracking. "An innocent little
life..."
"There's a lot of sick and scared people out there," The officer said. "But that baby is very lucky
you came along." He reached out and patted her knee.
"Thank God..." she said, and silently prayed her thanks to aforementioned being.
The rest of the ride was spent in awkward silence as the officer wasn't sure what to say. He was a
devout atheist and to tell the truth was kind of offended that the woman would mention God at
all. Had he known that his guardian angel was behind him, sighing as he knew what his charge
was thinking, perhaps things would've been different. Or perhaps not.
Christine thanked the officer as he handed her back the car keys. Offering him and his partner a
chance for a drink before they left, both refused however and went off in the patrol car. Letting
herself in, she was greeted by her shorter, also overweight mother and her hyper active American
Cocker Spaniel who currently was a black and white blur of cuteness. Christine had no energy for
cuteness.
"Honey," Christine's mother, Paula, said, "What's going on? Why are you home so early and why
are you bloody?"
In a halting, shaking voice the story came out. Not since last year's anthrax scare (It turned out to
be powered coffee creamer someone had poured purposely into a pile on the floor in order to
scare people) had Christine been stripped by her mother and embraced so tightly by the shorter
woman. Christine sobbed helplessly. Three angels and a cherub watching.
Forced to shower and lay down, the last thing Paula said before leaving Christine in her room
was, "This room stinks. Smells just like a dog. You're such a slob, Christine." Then she closed the
door behind her.
"I save a baby's life and that's what I get?" Christine couldn't help but say to the little dog now
cuddled up next to her. The dog, named Ophelia, responded by rolling over and exposing herself
for a belly rub. "I just don't understand anything, Ophelia." She sniffled. "I find a baby in the
garbage - in a bag where it would've suffocated to death - the mother had to be nearby
somewhere. And I save his life and what do I get from mom? Insults. Who bloody well cares if my
room smells like a dog? There are more important things in life then worrying about that. God, I
just don't understand anything."
The two angels and the cherub had watched all this in silence. Then the guardian angel turned to
the other and began to speak. "It's like this all the time. The mother is completely controlling and
abusive. When Christine was a child Paula would sometimes lose her temper and hit her, now that
Christine is too big to hit she simply crushes her spirit. She's trying to prevent her from going to
the college she wants, had successfully kept her from moving out. Christine dreams of moving to
England and becoming a legal citizen. It would be good for her, that's what she was meant for,
but her mother is preventing her. She belittles her about her weight, then practically shovels the
food down Christine's throat. Christine tried a gym but her mother actually kept her from going
over half the time so it never worked."
The angel reached into her mind, searching, then he tried the voice he chose, it was a deep voice
with an upper class English accent. "Should I show myself to her now?"
"Observe her a little while longer." The guardian angel suggested. "Read her mind, but also look
around her room. It's a mess but it says a lot about her."
Indeed it was a mess but it defiantly also said much about her. There was lots and lots of books of
all kinds. From Sherlock Holmes to Harry Potter. There were cheap romance novels and Stephen
King. Shakespeare and Anne Rice. She had a ton of Jackie Chan movies on DVD and VHS, along
with musicals, comedies, the only sci-fi she had other then Star Trek: The Next Generation was
Independence Day. Blade 1 & 2, several versions of Dracula and The Phantom Of The Opera,
Lord Of The Rings, Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone, Weird Al Yankovic's UHF. She had
lots of CDs too, mostly Michael Crawford and musicals, she also had a lot of Weird Al, a few
Neil Diamond, Louis Armstrong, one by some fellow named Brent Spiner, Barry Manilow. On the
entertainment center was a 5 gallon fish tank containing a single yellow Betta. There was tons of
fish medicines and a pint sized yogurt container now labeled "Betta food" that contained a mix of
all sorts of dry food good for Bettas. There was a huge standing jewelry case. A messy closet.
Two chests of drawers. An extra storage closet that came in a kit. A computer on a seriously
messy desk. There were stuffed animals, Thomas Kincaid prints of things like gazebos and
churches, a picture of Michael Crawford as The Phantom, masks, heart shaped objects, a picture
of Merlin with a unicorn and a red dragon, music awards for high school choir, and many other
things. The walls were painted light pink and a paper boarder near the ceiling that had pink roses
entwined with blue ribbons. There were comic books stored in the entertainment center - Marvel
Comics bearing stories about Gambit, Spider-man, and The Dare Devil.
Now he went into her mind. Seeing her thoughts, her desires. Some shocked him and some
touched him. He knew her entire life story now. Knew what pleased her, what she lacked in, and
her utter sadness.
For the next few weeks he watched. He watched as the mother gave love to a brother whom he
knew was still using the drugs and alcohol he claimed he wasn't on anymore. While the daughter
got the brunt of the mother's aggressions. Paula emotionally and mentally abused the father as
well, and the daughter, seeking approval from her mother, fell in with it though it made her sick
inside.
It was no wonder she didn't believe in true love anymore. The angel sighed. It seemed that she
lavished all her unshared affection on the dog and the fish. Losing herself in role playing games or
books. He watched her self destructive behavior as she crammed food she didn't enjoy into her
mouth on the sly. Even though people praised her for saving the baby she had no real friends. No
one her own age showed the least bit of interest in her. Those older indulged her conversation for
she was a very smart woman but they saw her more like an entertaining child then a friend.
Her loneliness became his. Her routine was his. Every day was the same thing. The only
differences were on Tuesdays she had vocal lessons - she had a beautiful voice, God had truly
gifted her in that department - Thursday was her last work day of the week. Friday night was
British sit-com night.
The time finally came, he decided, to show himself. He encouraged the parents to leave, and the
son too. Then he waited until the perfect moment, when she was laying on the bed instead of at
the computer. Revealing himself in a blaze of white light...
"Oh God -" she groaned, grabbing her head. Christine was suffering from a major migraine. The
worse ever. Complete with the flashing white light she always saw during her worse migraines.
"No," said a deep voice with a ringing English accent, "I am an angel of the Lord, sent to make
you believe in true love again."
"Great," Christine said, pulling the blankets of her bed over her head. "Not just flashing white
lights this time, but I'm hearing things too. My poor head!"
The angel paused, feeling frustrated. Then dropping the light but keeping the white robes and
wings he walked over, ripping the blankets off her head. "Now don't you ignore me!" He
snapped. "Here I appear in all my glory and you think you're hallucinating?" He touched her
forehead, removing the migraine. "Now, are you going to listen to me or what?"
Christine sat up and curled into the corner of her bed even as Ophelia started acting cutesy for the
angel. He reached down and petted the little dog. Then he smiled, not too big because he knew he
wasn't perfect, that his teeth were a little crooked.
"Oh don't be scared. I'm not going to hurt you." He said. "I am..." He reached out mentally to
see her favorite name, "Erik. Call me Erik."
Looking at him wide-eyed she couldn't help but ask, "An angel - with an English accent and
crooked teeth?"
"I chose to have this accent because I know it pleases you." He said. "Just like I chose your
favorite name and as for the teeth - well, that was His decree. He said you'd appreciate me not
being totally perfect."
"So - what is this?" Christine asked. "You in love with me or something?"
He snorted and realized his nose was larger then average. "This isn't some movie with Meg Ryan.
You didn't listen at all, did you?" He fluttered his wings in frustration, knocking over her alarm
clock. "Sorry about that." He bent down and picked it up. "I'm here to make you believe in true
love, not to declare my love for you."
Christine took in the angel before her. He looked awfully human for an angel. He had thick brown
hair, brown eyes, some wrinkles, not to mention those crooked teeth. He was wearing white robes
and of course there were those wings which now turned in her direction as he bent to pick
something else he knocked down up. Getting out of the bed she moved and touched the wings.
They were warm and soft, pulsing with life. She thought about how quickly her migraine went
away. There was no doubt to her that this had to be an angel. For there was no logical
explanation. She ran her hand down the edge of his wing.
Erik shuddered. He had never been touched by a human before. Wasn't prepared for how her
hand felt on his wing, tingling every nerve ending. It felt - good. Different from when in the
presence of God, but good all the same. Slowly he folded his wings close to himself and turned to
her, again doing something he wasn't prepared for. His arm brushing against her fingertips.
Another shudder ran thru his body. Slowly he took her hand and began to examine it, feeling her
the warm red blood running thru her, the softness of her flesh, he touched every part of her hand,
then ran his hand up her arm. "I've never touched a human before." He said, his hand pausing at
her shoulder which was all tense. He massaged it, then lifted her arm up, and examined more, his
fingers running over her armpit.
Christine suddenly pulled away, laughing. "Don't. I'm ticklish." Really, being tickled by an angel.
How silly was that?
However Erik was intrigued by this and moved towards her. "I'm sorry, it's just - your reaction is
- new to me." With that he stuck his fingers into her armpits, at first just pressing, then he realized
he had to wiggle his fingers. Watching as Christine was reduced to a laughing mess. He tried her
ribs next. She fell on the bed so he grabbed up her bare feet and tried them. After a few minutes of
this he let her go. "Interesting. Please forgive me, you're just the first human I touched and your
reactions are interesting to me."
"Yeah, well, here's something else," Christine snapped, "don't ever touch me like that without
permission again!"
Ophelia not only took this all in stride, the little dog was now sound asleep. Christine straighten
the robe she was wearing.
"I'm - sorry," Erik said, realizing he needed to not let his curiosity get the better of him. "Well,
anyway let's get you dressed. You're not going to meet the one you're destined for laying in
bed."
"I can't leave." Christine protested. "I don't have a car of my own and anyway mom would freak
out."
Erik was frowning as he looked thru her closet, none of this would do. However he was granted
with certain powers. "Don't worry about that, we'll take a cab. You have nothing in here for
dancing though."
"I don't have the money for a cab or a night out and I can't dance!" Christine snapped, unable to
understand why this angel was here anyway. God didn't just send angels to earth for those
luckless in romance. "Anyway this is silly, even if there was such a thing as true love no man
would want a cow like me. They've said so often enough. "You're a nice person, Christine, but
you're so fat I'd be ashamed to be seen with you." Thinness, that's all that counts in this world."
This human was being a pain, Erik decided. Withdrawing from the closet he walked over to her
CD collection. Running his fingers over them. "I'll teach you to dance. Money will be taken care
of. I've been given certain powers to help in my mission."
"And why, pray tell," Christine said, crossing her arms across her chest, "would God care if I
believe in love or not?"
"The one you were made for is coming. If you don't believe in love he'll go away and you'll be
alone forever." Hm - this one would work, but the room was entirely too small and messy to
dance in. Holding Brent Spiner's Ol' Yellow Eyes Is Back, Erik continued. "You recently rejected
Satan. This is your reward."
"Some reward," Christine groused. "Why couldn't God have made me thin and rich instead?"
Erik rolled his eyes Heavenward. This woman had the ability to try the patience of angels. Not as
easy as it sounded. "God chose this instead. Now, I shall teach you to dance." Raising his hand he
made a brief motion.
Christine gasped and look around. Before she wasn't quite sure this guy was really an angel or
something else. Especially since he tickled her - no angel in the Bible ever tickled anyone. But
now she wasn't so sure. Certainly a demon couldn't come up with a place like this. The floor was
black and white marble, the walls and ceiling however were pink fluffy clouds that gave the entire
room and everything in it a soft pink cast. She was wearing a 1940's style ball gown in deep green
with elbow length sleeves. A band made entirely of angels of all sorts of skin colors but all dressed
in white sat at one end of the room. And the singer...
"Is that Brent Spiner?" Christine asked with a gasp. It certainly looked like the gentleman who
played Lt. Commander Data for seven years on Star Trek: The Next Generation. Right down to
the large nose that somehow fit perfectly on his face.
"Mm - no." Erik answered. "One of the angels just took on his appearance for this. I can do a lot
of things but I can't transport Mr. Spiner here against his will."
"But you can me?" Christine snapped.
"You know," Erik said, giving her a good glare, "you are getting on my nerves. A rare skill in a
human. Now, let's dance." He took her hand but she resisted. "I see we're going to have to do
this the hard way." Reaching inside her mind he took control, she relaxed and allowed him to pull
her close.
The angel disguised as the actor/singer began to sing in Brent Spiner's lovely voice. It was a voice
for the ages. Beautiful, smooth, utterly charming. The way he sang "Embraceable You" sent
shivers of pleasure up even the angels' spines - and this wasn't Heavenly altered, the angel was
actually singing in Brent Spiner's actual voice.
Christine resisted at first, but soon she gave up and allowed Erik to lead her in a dance. He was
the perfect gentleman and the perfect leader, before she knew it Christine had control over her
own body again and for once found herself dancing instead of just stumbling around the dance
floor. The music ran thru her, guiding her as much as Erik was. She looked into his brown eyes
and caught her breath. Suddenly she realized with all his flaws he was beautiful. The kind of guy
she would secretly drool over. If only he wasn't an angel...
Was it the first song or one much later that the trumpet solo came up? Christine had lost all track
of time until the most stunning trumpet playing she ever heard started. "That's so lovely."
"Yes, Gabriel plays a mean horn." Erik said.
"Gabriel...? But..." Christine couldn't even finish it.
Erik smiled a closed mouth smile. "Don't worry, it's not the Rapture. He enjoys to play for
humans. Don't tell but he often sneaks down to Earth in the guise of a street musician and plays.
Whatever he earns he gives to the first needy person he meets."
At the end of the song Erik dipped her. Christine had often heard that this was a romantic, grand
thing to do, but having never experienced it she hadn't known how true that statement was. Their
eyes met as he slowly pulled her back up from the dip and she was consumed with the desire to
kiss him. Oh! If only he wasn't an angel... his mouth suddenly seemed just made for kissing.
Erik stared into Christine's eyes wondering at what he was feeling. How very odd. It was like
when he was tickling her. He felt things no angel had ever felt before. However this time he did
nothing about it and simply let her go. He then turned to the angels and bowed. "Thank you." He
said before they vanished in a flash of light.
The angel that looked like Brent Spiner said to Gabriel, "Wasn't he suppose to kiss her?"
"Yes." Gabriel said with a heavy sigh. "Sometimes that boy can be so dense."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christine had found herself in a stall in the women's bathroom of a nightclub. When she walked
out Erik was walking out of the men's room. His wings were gone and now he wore a very stylish
suit that went well with his brown hair and eyes. She still wore the dress but now carried a
matching purse.
However both looked totally out of place in the nightclub. Thumping crap that people dared to
call music deafened them, people in tight fake leather clothing rubbed against each other in the
simulated sex acts they called dancing. Erik's eyes went wide as he took it all in. Like a terrified
child he grasped Christine's hand. "This is horrible." He whispered, though she could hear him as
clear as a bell.
"Let's get out of here." Christine said, urging Erik thru the crowds. Some made fun of her weight
and others made fun of her dress. She breathed a huge sigh of relief when they got outside and
hung onto Erik's arm.
"That was the most - I didn't realize humans - ew. No wonder you don't believe in true love
anymore." Erik said, without thinking he wrapped an arm around Christine's shoulders as they
walked down the street. "There's got to be some place with a little class we can go to."
"You're the angel." Christine said, leaning against him as they walked. "You should know a
place."
"Um - Christine," Erik said, "you may not want to speak or lean against me."
"Why not?" Christine asked, then realized people were staring at her, she straightened up,
frowning.
"They can't see me, Christine." Erik replied. "You look crazy."
"Great," Christine grumbled. "My companion is an invisible angel and now everyone thinks I'm
nuts."
"Well, if you don't stop talking to me they certainly will continue to think that." Quipped the
angel without thinking.
Spinning on him, Christine shouted. "Who asked your opinion anyway?! I didn't ask for God to
send you. I don't want to believe in true love! I just - I just want to be thin and pretty and free!
That's all, nothing else. I don't want a man screwing up my life and controlling me!"
"No, of course not!" Erik snapped back, people that had stopped to stare at the crazy woman
yelling at nothing shivered in the sudden cold air. "You already have your mother to take care of
that!"
"You leave my mother out of this, angel boy!" With that Christine stomped hard on Erik's foot
and walked off, leaving him behind, jumping on one foot.
"Oh no you don't." Erik snarled, "You're not getting rid of me that easily." Limping and not
realizing he was an angel and therefore shouldn't have felt pain anyway. "I've got a job to do and
I'm going to do it."
"Good luck." The voice that said it was smooth, deep, seductive. It was a voice of velvet and iced
whiskey. The owner of the voice was young, wearing a white Armani suit with a beige shirt. His
hair was long and black and his eyebrows heavy and dark. His eyes were midnight blue. He had a
slight Australian accent to him. "You'll need it with that bitch."
"Bugger off, Radu." Erik snapped. "No one wants you around." Ignoring the demon he kept
walking after Christine, Radu falling in step beside him.
"She's a stubborn cow." Radu said, making some pistachio nuts appear and munching on them.
The shells scattering behind him, causing things like broken heels, runs in stockings, and fights
between lovers and friends. "I know. I've been working on her since she was 10 years old. Man, I
tell you, I've never met a mortal more hung up on keeping her soul. Oh, I almost had her when
she slept with that drug addict loser. But then she repented it. I have tried everything. Including
attacking her at night. There's just no hooking her. Even had one of my agents try to buy her soul.
A Satanist from Australia, that's what's with my accent. Been spending a lot of time down under.
Anyway she rejected him. He offered her the world and she rejected him!"
"Anyone with half a brain would reject any deal from a demon." Oooo - if only he was allowed to
be a demon slayer! "That's why I'm here in fact."
"I know why you're here, Erik, isn't it?" Radu grinned a charming grin. "And believe me, the
battle for her soul has only just begun. In the end, I'll win."
Spinning on the demon, Erik grabbed up handfuls of Radu's jacket and pulled him nose to nose.
"Don't you touch her!"
"Oh what is this?" Radu asked with a grin. "Caring for your little charge? Careful, you know what
happens to angels who fall for humans."
Dropping Radu, Erik turned and rushed after Christine.
Christine had went around a corner, anger filling her. Stupid angel with his stupid mission from
God. She didn't even know where she was and he hadn't informed her that he couldn't be seen
and - YARG! Even men from Heaven were a total pain in the ass. Why couldn't he just go away?
It was as she was lost in these thoughts that she felt herself slam into something warm and slightly
yielding. Looking up she realized it was a man. And what a man. His skin was the color of dark
chocolate with eyes to match, his face and body like some Adonis, his suit was the best of the
best. When he smiled he nearly blinded her with his perfect white teeth.
"Well," he said in a spine melting sexy voice with just a hint of a Scottish accent, "this night is
looking up." He had put his hands on Christine's forearms. "I am Matt. Tell me that you're mine."
All Christine could make at first was a tiny squeak. Finally she took a deep breath. "I'm - I'm
Christine..." How warm his hands were, like he held fire in his palms.
"What a beautiful name." He ran his hands up her arms, staring into her eyes. "Well, Christine, do
you dance?" Without waiting for her to answer he led her to the door of a club where soft jazz
was playing and inside. He took her straight to the dance floor and began to dance, much closer
the Erik had. Christine could feel his body heat which was nearly over whelming.
Erik had followed Christine in, unseen by all others and now apparently unseen by Christine. As
he watched her dance he felt an unusual sensation in the pit of his stomach. He felt anger, and
dread...
"Face it," Radu whispered to him, "she's better off with her own kind my angelic friend." Then in
a puff of smoke that no mortal could see but could smell, the demon was gone.
And Erik despite being able to see everyone's guardian angels, felt terribly alone.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"Oh that was the best night." Christine giggled as she headed up the driveway as the taxi took off.
She had found a wad of cash in her purse and so gave the driver a healthy tip. She hadn't been
drinking but her head spun as if she had. Matt was the most wonderful man she ever met.
Erik sulked but Christine didn't notice. "Just don't think that he's the one. One has to - shop
around - before finding the right one." He muttered.
"Oh stop acting jealous. It's unbecoming an angel." Christine dug her keys out of her purse, the
were more chains then keys, including a Phantom Of The Opera one, a black whistle, and a grey
pouch that contained a CPR kit.
"I am not jealous!" Erik snapped. "Angels can't become jealous!" He crossed his arms and pouted
as Christine opened the security door then the regular one.
"Where the HELL have you BEEN?!" Paula roared as Christine entered, pulling the woman away
from the door and slamming it shut just as Erik walked thru it. "I have been worried sick about
you! It's 3 am! And where did you get that dress?"
"I - I bought it - and I was out dancing!" Christine shouted though her voice quivered in fear.
"My headache went away and I had to get out before I went insane so I took a bus to a store and
bought the dress and shoes then came home, bathed and changed, then took a cab to LA and went
dancing."
"Spending money like there's no tomorrow. And on an ugly dress too. You'll never amount to
anything, Christine!" Paula raged.
Erik saw the tears streak Christine's face even as she tried to push back the shorter woman, only
to be pushed back and smacked hard across the face.
"I suppose you've been eating like a pig too! Drinking, I bet. Surprised you can even walk!" The
woman practically foamed at the mouth, smacking the daughter again. Now she grabbed Christine
by the hair and slammed her into the wall, rocking the giant mirror the abused daughter nearly
crashed into. "You're such an embarrassment to me!"
"Why don't you stop this?" Erik asked Christine's guardian.
"Free will. I can only guard her so much." The angel said.
The other angel pointed to his charge. "She was abused by her mother as well. And her first
husband. There is a lot of rage in her and she takes it out on her daughter because the sons are no
longer easy targets."
"I can't take this!" Erik declared. For the second time that night he appeared in all his angelic
glory, this time bearing a flashing silver sword, pushing his way between mother and daughter.
Christine fell against his back, sobbing and clinging to his robes. "TOUCH HER NOT!" He
roared. Ophelia appeared and laid at his feet. Christine's father also stumbled in, then backwards
down the hall in shock. "I HAVE BEEN SENT TO MAKE HER BELIEVE IN TRUE LOVE
AGAIN AND YOU SHALL NOT STAND IN THE WAY OF MY MISSION, WOMAN!"
Paula grabbed her chest and fell down dead.
"Now you've done it." Christine's guardian angel said even as Christine pushed past Erik and
began to check and administer CPR to her mother. Screaming at her father to call 911.
Paula's guardian angel stood by the tv, holding the glowing ball that was Paula's soul, black spots
swirled amongst the gold. He watched as Christine tried to revive her mother. Then let the soul
go. It floated for a moment, then suddenly dived back down into the body on the floor. Paula
gasped in a breath. Christine let out a sob of relief, looking up at Erik.
"You should've left good enough alone, Angel." She said. "You should've left good enough
alone."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bruises faded and Paula eventually came home from the hospital. During all this time Erik showed
himself to no one but Christine who ignored him. He tried to apologize but she refused to listen.
He tried to explain how he had felt suddenly that he had to protect her and she finally spoke.
"Why?" She said, her voice soft but deadly. "Why? My guardian angel never saw fit to protect me
from her rages. She use to be so careful to not leave bruised or lumps when she did it. It use to be
so rare. She hadn't hit me since I was 18. You did this, Erik, you with your bloody mission and
your desires. She died, she came back but she was dead. Now I'll never be free. You should've
left her be. Now I'll be forever stuck taking care of her until she's dead. And then dad. I can't see
Matt - it's like I'm 12 years old and on restriction. Dad won't even let him talk to me on the
phone. On top of that by showing yourself I'm now treated more like I'm possessed by a demon
then anything. Even the alcoholic is scooting around me like I'm going to start vomiting pea soup
and humping a crucifix."
"That - that is just silly." Erik said. "I won't let that happen. My mission..."
"Your mission," Christine interrupted, "is hopeless." She sighed and turned back to her computer.
"Go back to Heaven, Erik. Tell God He can't win them all."
Erik allowed himself to fade from sight, but he didn't leave. And somehow, Christine knew this.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"You're going to have to quit your job." The father said to the daughter. "I need you here to care
for your mother."
"No." Christine stated, looking at her father. What a weak man. His slumped shoulders, his pitted
skin, his thick glasses, greying brown hair. "Hire a nurse."
"We can't afford on and this is all your fault." The father said.
Christine slammed the plate down so hard it cracked, she stared at the dinner she had been slaving
over. "NO! No it is NOT my fault!" Two weeks, two weeks of slaving over meals for the family.
Two weeks of being accused and avoided. "She's the one who's fault this is! Her! Got it? She's
the one who stresses over every little thing. Makes herself the fucking maytar! She let one son
take drugs and take advantage of her. Now she's got the alcoholic living here and me, the one
who does nothing, who hides in her room so as to not cause trouble, I'm the one who's treated
like shit! I am not going to do it anymore. I'm not sacrificing my life for her's anymore."
"Then you can get the hell out." The father said in the mother's tone.
"Fine." Christine stalked out of the kitchen followed by two angels.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
When an angel is backing you up it is amazing what one can accomplished. Within two weeks
Christine not only had gotten a clerking job at the same library she paged at, she had gotten a one
bedroom apartment and had completely moved out including her fish and of course, Ophelia. It
was like she was a new person. No longer did she talk about things, she actually did them. A new
hairstyle, getting out more. Erik began to think his mission would've been much easier had he
gotten her to move out in the first place.
However he couldn't bare to leave her until he saw her with her one true love. Still, she was
dating Matt and Erik hated it - he had a bad feeling about Matt. Especially since Radu was often
nearby, tipping his smoking drink at Erik.
"I just think you should see other men." Erik said as he brushed Christine's hair before bed. She
sat before him on the bed, wearing a green satin nightie that was very Victorian style. "After all,
he might not be the one."
"There you go." Christine said sleepily. "Acting jealous again."
Erik carefully tucked her into bed. "I'll take Ophelia potty." He grabbed up the dog's leash. At
least for this he could be visible, but of course he had to do some things the angel way so the
landlord wouldn't think Christine had a roommate. "Sleep well."
Christine replied with a snore that anyone else would've found annoying, Erik found it utterly
charming.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"It's going too slowly!" Radu fumed at Matt, the black Scott cringing before the demon. "You
should've gotten her in bed already."
"Living on her own has given her new confidence." Matt whimpered, afraid of the beast before
him even though Radu looked perfectly human, he was still terrifying. "And - and I'm not so sure
I want to do this... she - isn't my type for one thing."
"Your type is whatever I tell you it is!" Radu snarled, grabbing Matt by the shirt and pulling him
from his chair. "Be it fat or thin, male or female, old or young, human or animal. You belong to
me. You signed the contract."
"I want to get out!" Matt shouted, suddenly breaking free of the demon. "I - I don't want to hurt
people anymore."
"I - I don't want to hurt people anymore." Radu mocked, flinging the man away. "I made you.
Don't forget that. You were weak and sick. Dying, Matt, dying. Now look at you. Wesley Snipes
couldn't compare to you! You break our deal and you'll go back to that sick little stick, wasting
away from cancer."
"I don't care!" Matt said, standing slowly on wobbly legs. "I'd rather die doing the right thing
then live under your burning thumb!"
Radu smirked, "Too late. You will do what I say. I don't care if you have to drug her, you will
get Christine to bed."
"B-But that'll be rape. I don't rape..."
"You do it if I say you do it." The demon said with a wry smile. "If you rape her, no one will
believe it. After all, why would a good looking guy like you rape a fat, ugly cow like her? She'll
become so upset, so despondent, she'll kill herself. And suicide, whatever the reason, leads to
Hell."
"People know better now a days." Matt protested. "Someone will believe her..."
"Not with me whispering in their ears," Radu chuckled, rubbing his hands together, "even her
own parents won't believe. Just like when Erik first appeared. If I could convince them he's a
demon, I can do anything."
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
"So demons and angels can be invisible from each other? Amazing." Christine said, her arms deep
in soapy water as she washed Ophelia. She was wearing a flimsy cotton robe that wet clung to her
bare breasts underneath and caused the nipples to stand like two small pebbles. Erik found this
fascinating but tried to not stare. He wasn't doing a very good job at it.
"Well," the angel said, trying to find something interesting on the bathroom ceiling, "it's all part of
the battle, you see, we can't always see what the enemy is up to and neither can they." His gaze
was drawn back to her breasts. He realized her nipples were smaller then average. Only as big
around as the tip of her pinky fingers and even hard they weren't that big. Not like other human
women. Trying to break his mind from these thoughts he walked over and plucked Ophelia from
the bath, passing his hands over her so she was completely clean and dry. Even her ears and teeth
cleaner then clean. Then he touched the water with a single finger and it was gone, the tub
sparkling, and while he did this he also placed his hand on Christine's shoulder so now her robe
was dry and not clinging to her. He could no longer see the color of her breasts like before, but
the nipples still stood at attention...
Christine realized Erik was staring at her breasts and crossed her arms so they were somewhat
protected. "You're a Godsend, Erik." She said, standing on tip-toe to kiss his cheek.
Erik had never felt anything like that kiss. Christine's lips were so warm, so soft, so - human. It
sent a feeling like fire thru him. Suddenly he wanted more and he found himself reaching out,
tucking her into his arms, pressing her close to him. Slowly he lowered his head, Christine wasn't
resisting...
And like some scene in a movie - the phone rang.
The moment ruined Erik let go of Christine, she hurried off to answer the phone, feeling all
confused, both felt painful disappointment.
"Hi Matt," Christine was saying into the phone a little too chipper. "Yes, sure I'd love to see you
tonight. Alright, how should I dress? Matt!" She giggled and blushed, "Don't be so scandalous!"
Erik grumbled as Christine was talking and as soon as she hung up he started in on her again.
Before they knew it they were in a full blown fight - thankfully Christine's guardian angel thought
to sound-proof the apartment.
"I just want you to find the right one!" Erik shouted.
Christine shouted back. "And I don't want to find the right one cause then you'd have to leave
me!"
Silence. They stared at each other, then Christine burst into tears, sitting down on the floor for
there was no seat beneath her as she flopped down. Muttering an "ow" between sobs. Erik
walked over and sat beside her, wrapping his arm around her, without thinking he had his wings
appear and he put a wing around her as well, letting her lean against him and cry.
"I'm s-so s-selfish." She said between sobs. "I know you have better places to be - helping
children in war torn countries or something like that. But I don't want to give you up. You're so
important to me, Erik. I can't imagine life without you."
"I can't imagine any place I'd rather be then helping you." He said. "Christine, there are already
enough angels in the places you speak. Ones specifically made for wars. When you find your one
I'll be assigned to another mortal who's lost faith. That's my job. I was created to bring love and
hope to those who have forgotten what those things are." Tucking a finger under her chin, he
forced her to look at him. "But you - you have been different from any human I ever met. You try
my patience. I never had someone make me lose my temper before. Because of that you're very
special to me. You make me understand what it's like to be human."
Without thinking he pressed his lips to her forehead. Oh - how strangely wonderful it felt to kiss
just that part of her. New feelings flooded him, including the strangest sensation between his
legs... Wait! He couldn't have feeling there - angels - angels didn't have anything down there.
This was bad. This was very bad. Though he didn't move away from her for fear of hurting her
feelings dread coursed thru Erik. If he had feeling down there... Dear God, it was happening - He
was Falling.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matt's lips trailed kisses down Christine's throat, he moaned softly into her warm flesh. His hand
wandered to her breast...
And she grabbed it and pulled it away.
"Christine," he groaned, trying to pull her closer in the confines of the car, "come on, I want to
make love to you."
"We've been thru this Matt," she said, trying to push him away, "I'm not going to do that again
until I'm married. I don't need to have sex with a guy just to prove I can get one."
"I might marry you," Matt exerted his strength, pulling her against him. "Now come on."
"Let me go, Matt," Christine struggled against him. They had come to this dark spot against her
better judgement. Allowing Matt to kiss her but he wasn't suppose to get like this. She gasped as
his front seat tumbled backwards, leaving them laying down with him on top of her. "MATT!"
"I'm sorry, Christine," he said, looking sincerely sorry, "Radu's making me do this. But I decided
this way was better then you being drugged, at least you can fight back." Tears fell from his eyes
as he ripped open her shirt. He was full on sobbing as she attacked him and he yanked down her
pants. "I'm sorry, I'm so sorry... Damn that demon..."
Suddenly Matt felt himself yanked out of the car. He screamed as his flesh burned in the grip of
the man who flung him to the ground. No - it wasn't a man. It was an angel. And he looked
pissed.
Erik flexed his wings, glaring at the man at his feet. He should kill him, except that the man had
admitted to working with Radu and that meant Erik had to give him a chance to really repent.
"How dare you touch her?!" He roared instead. "How dare you lay a hand on her like that?!"
"I didn't want to!" Matt said, suddenly crying. "I didn't want to - Radu... he made me. You don't
understand, I was dying and he offered me life for my soul. I don't even like Christine like that -
she's too fat. I had to dry swallow two Viagra just to get to this point. But Radu owns me. I'm -
I'm his slave. Oh God I'm sorry, if I could break the contract I'd gladly die just to be free of him.
I'm sorry, I'm sorry..."
"What was the plan?" Erik asked, knowing Radu could be around, just hidden.
"I was to rape her and Radu would make people believe she was lying." Matt choked out. "Until
she got so despondent she killed herself. Allowing Satan to claim her soul."
"This is all for my soul?" Christine whispered, clutching the tattered remains of her shirt. "Why all
this for my soul? Why am I so - so important?"
"All souls are important, Christine." Erik said, unable to turn and look at her. "But your's is more
so because you refused to sell it. Radu won't give up until he has it for his master." He couldn't
take his eyes off of Matt, sobbing and begging God to forgive him. "Christine, you have so many
important roles - here is one more. If you can forgive Matt his contract will be broken, but your
forgiveness has to be sincere."
Christine looked at Matt, thinking about what he had done and said. This was all an act to get her
soul. He didn't even like her - because she was fat. Didn't like her and yet tried to rape her. It hurt
so badly to know that someone she had really cared about was just using her. And yet - he really
did seem to be sorry...
Walking over, with one hand still holding her shirt together, Christine used the other to help Matt
up. "It's okay, Matt, I forgive you."
A choir of angels appeared and Christine stumbled backwards, falling into Erik's arms. She
watched as before her eyes Matt grew thin, weak looking, his body eaten away. Yet he was
smiling, because he was free. And then - Matt died.
Erik wrapped his wings tightly around Christine so she wouldn't have to look at the cancer-
riddled body before her. "Let's go home," he whispered, nodding to the angelic choir, he
transported them out of there.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Matt's body had been found the next morning by the police. They found it in the car, sitting
behind the wheel, no evidence of Christine was in the car. So she was never contacted. She just
read about it in the paper.
However since all of this Christine had not gone out except for work and vocal lessons. She spent
all her time on the computer. Her confidence destroyed. Erik had to take over Ophelia's care
completely. Nothing he did got Christine out of her funk. In desperation he had even tickled her
and while she laughed and squirmed he could see inside her eyes that look of the betrayed.
Another thing was that Christine didn't eat unless Erik forced her to. He would make her sit at the
table and actually cut the food and feed her. Sometimes going so far as to control her mind so
she'd chew and swallow. The pounds did not melt off of her from this starvation, rather they
clung to her, even increasing as her body tried to store fat to keep it alive. She plastered on a
smile at work and faked a cheery attitude, but the facade fell when it was just her and Erik.
Meanwhile Erik had his own problems. He was beginning to feel more and more human. Including
the need to eat and drink. He realized he was falling in love with Christine and if he didn't leave
her soon it would be too late. He would Fall and become a demon. For such was the fate of
angels who forsook God's Heaven for earthly emotions.
"Christine," He finally said as she sat on her bed, staring blankly at the tv. "This can't go on, I
have to complete my mission."
"Your mission is complete." Christine said woodenly. "You were sent to make me believe in true
love and I do..." At his blank stare she continued. "I'm not unhappy because of Matt, Erik, I'm
unhappy because that night I realized I am in love with you."
"I - Christine, I can't say it back, not because I don't feel the same but because - Angels who
choose to feel human emotions like love become demons, Christine, and if I said those words I'd
become no better then Radu, a beast out for your soul." He almost reached out to her, then pulled
back. "I told you when I first showed myself to you, this isn't a movie. This is real life, Christine,
and in real life angels who Fall don't get to know the joys of love and sex, they only end up
becoming demons."
Christine said nothing, then Ophelia decided at that moment to pass gas. Wrinkling her nose at the
rancid smell, she looked to Erik, "Would you take her out? I need some alone time to think about
things."
"Of course." Erik said, getting Ophelia's leash. "Come on, little girl, let's give mommy some time
by herself."
As soon as she was sure Erik was out of earshot Christine jumped off the bed. "HOW COULD
YOU?!" She raged at the ceiling. At God. "You knew I'd fall in love with him and now we can't
be together?! It's unfair! Why did you do this to me? Answer me - you know you can!"
"He won't." Said a smooth voice with an Australian accent. Radu grinned at Christine, cleaning
his nails with a knife. "Not as long as you're alive, that is."
"You're Radu," Christine said without questioning. "And you're here to bargain for my soul."
"Bright girl." He said with a wicked grin. "So do you want to ask the Big Man Himself? I could
do that for you, for a price."
"And how can a demon get me an audience with God?" Christine asked with much sarcasm.
Radu chuckled and waggled his knife at her. "Well, you see, we demons have to come thru on our
promises. Otherwise the contract is forfeit. So I have to get you in to see Him. Otherwise your
soul goes to Heaven on a technicality."
"And why would I even want to do this?"
"Because," the demon chuckled, "Erik's already falling. He's in love with you too. Haven't you
noticed? He's eating and drinking. Even going to the bathroom - honey child, angels don't have
any dicks. But he does. I could kill him now and he'd end up in Hell. Or if he were to say "I love
you" or kiss you on the lips and the fall is complete and he's a demon like me."
"There can't be any small print on the contract, got it?" Christine said. "It has to be plain and
simple. I get to talk to God on Erik's behalf and then you claim my soul. That's it. No double
talk. No trickery."
Grinning still, Radu produced the contract. A single sheet of paper that smelled of fire and
brimstone. It was just like she said, no small print. It very simply read that Christine would get to
talk to the one and only God about Erik, then she was Radu's to take to Satan. He took her left
hand and sliced it with his knife along her lifeline. Then handed her a quill. Christine dipped the
quill in her blood and signed the contract. Blowing on it to dry the blood before handing it over.
"Very good," Radu said with a grin. "Of course, to be able to talk to the big guy, you have to
die." With that he took his dagger and drove it into her heart.
Searing pain ran thru Christine's chest and down her left arm. Her eyes grew wide in shock as for
a brief moment she saw her guardian angel - crying - then he vanished. Screaming in the throws of
her heart attack in such a way that the neighbors couldn't help but be alerted to her distress,
Christine pitched forward, dead.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Erik was just turning back with Ophelia when Christine's guardian angel appeared in front of him.
"But if you're here..." he said in lieu of a greeting.
"Christine has sold her soul to Satan in order to speak to God on your behalf."
"NO!" Erik roared just before transporting himself to Christine's apartment. Christine lay face
down on the floor and Erik unhooked Ophelia. Both of them rushed to her side, the little dog
crying and pawing at her. Erik was about to reach out to her when the door opened and the super
rushed in followed by the police. Erik stood back as he watched the same two officers who had
been there when Christine found the baby begin CPR. Erik watched as three angels and a cherub
breathed when the first officer breathed, pumped as the other pumped. He watched the blood
from the wound on her hand soak into the carpet and Ophelia lay her head on Christine's arm and
whine.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Christine couldn't believe St. Peter was being such a jerk. "Look, I'll only stay long enough to
speak to God then I'm gone."
"If I let you do that then your soul is conceded." The angel said, running his hand thru his beard.
"You end up in Hell. At least if you stay here you're not there."
"I'm not in Heaven either," Christine said, looking around purgatory which looked a lot like a
doctor's waiting room. "This might as well be Hell." She leaned against the frame of the window,
not unlike the kind a doctor's receptionist would sit behind. "Just let's get this done and over
with."
St. Peter sighed. "Alright. Humans, so bloody impatient..." With that he pressed a button and
buzzed Christine thru.
If purgatory was a doctor's waiting room, then God's hall was a throne room. All in white at that.
Pure. Christine realized this wasn't how either really looked, but this is how her mortal mind saw
them.
God wasn't what she expected though. She had expected Him - or Her - to take on a human
form, or be a blazing white light. Instead a little black and white dog, not unlike Ophelia, sat on
God's throne, wagging it's little stump of a tail.
"Hey, what are you doing here?" God said though the mouth continued to pant. "Yes, I know, I
know that I'm suppose to know everything but I usually don't go prying into human minds unless
I absolutely have to. It's that free will thing. If I read your minds I might change them then you
wouldn't have your free will, see?"
"I see," Christine said, sitting down cross legged on the white "floor." Taking a deep breath - then
realizing she was dead so she didn't have to breath - Christine began. "God, I'm in love with the
angel you sent, Erik. He's absolutely everything I could want in a man. Considerate yet a take
charge kind of guy. Sweet yet not afraid to fight back. I love him from his stubborn nature to his
crooked teeth. And I know he loves me too. It's unfair, God, that you sent him, knowing we'd
fall in love, only for him to turn into a demon..."
"Don't be silly, Christine," God interrupted. "Angels only Fall when they experience lust. Love
just makes them human."
"But - both Erik and Radu..." She couldn't understand and it showed.
God jumped from the throne and walked over, rolling on His/Her back, waiting for a belly rub.
Christine started rubbing. "Ah - that feels good. Anyway I don't tell angels everything and
demons know squat. I sent Erik because I always meant for him to become human and for you
two to fall in love. Of course you being here spoils that a bit because it means you're dead."
"Spoiled in more ways then one." Christine sighed. "I sold my soul to Satan for a chance to talk
to you so Erik could remain an angel. So he wouldn't Fall."
God chuckled. "Christine, you know better, you know I could break that contract in a heartbeat.
Rather anti-climatic, really."
"NO!" Radu roared as he appeared in all his demonic glory. Dressed in robes of red, his pus
yellow skin covered in boils that maggots wiggled thru, the long black hair now short, grey,
brittle. Twisted, unusable black wings sprouted from his back. There were no horns, no cloven
hooves, no tail. Rather there was a large bulbous head and huge callus and wart covered feet.
"The contract is straight forward and simple, therefore unbreakable even by God! She gets to talk
to God and then comes with me!"
"Hmm -" God said, a grin covering that doggy face. "Here's the thing. She never did talk to God.
Rather, she talked to Dog."
Radu, realizing he had been tricked, roared as the contract turned to ashes. Null and void.
"Go back to Hell, Radu, and don't leave for two hundred years." God - rather Dog - said.
Banishing the demon back to the fiery netherworld. "And you, Christine, go back to Earth and to
life. You'll find Erik again when it is time."
Seconds later Christine, laying on the floor of her apartment, gasped for breath as the police
officer pulled away and the paramedics came rushing in. Ophelia licked her face excitedly, but -
Erik - Erik was gone...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Heathrow Airport. It seemed like he had been there forever. However it had only been a few
months. When God had given him human form, He had put Erik in England. Giving him all the
proper papers and background, and a job at Heathrow selling snacks to hungry flyers. It was
boring and Erik knew he'd move on in time, but not until God told him it was time.
How he missed Christine. It had been nearly a year since he saw her and little Ophelia last. His
own guardian angel sometimes told him what was going on, but only a little. He knew Christine's
fish had died. Victim of old age. And - well, that was all he really knew. He wanted to write her
but had been told not to.
It was odd, most of his angelic powers were still with him. Except he had no wings and couldn't
make himself invisible. For the first few weeks he had read the minds of everyone he encountered,
hoping on some off chance they might've seen Christine, but finally he gave up hope. Serving
food with a plastic smile.
"Could I have some water in a bowl please?" A tired voice said. A voice that caused him to jerk
his head up. The owner of the voice was a blond, once overweight but now thinner thanks to
forced diet and exercise. With the most beautiful and sad eyes - eyes that quickly grew happy.
"Erik?" Christine whispered.
"Christine!" He shouted, scrambling around the counter and grasping her in a tight embrace, the
animal carrier she held bumping into his hip. "And Ophelia!" He took the animal carrier and
looked at that little black and white face. Knowing instantly who was responsible for Christine to
be able to bring the dog into England without quarantining her. "What are you doing here?"
"My great-uncle died and left me a ton of money," Christine answered, unable and yet able to
believe Erik was really here. And real, real warm flesh. "So I decided to rebel once again and
move to England, become a citizen."
"Erik!" Erik's boss, a bone thin woman with a long pointed nose snapped, "What is going on
here? I don't pay you to socialize with the customers."
"You don't pay him at all!" Christine snapped. "He quits. Don't you, Erik?"
"Yes, I do." Erik said, flinging his name tag onto the counter. "Come on, we'll get Ophelia water
at the drinking fountain." He took Christine's carry on bag. "Then we'll get out of here." They
walked out into the crowd of travelers. Erik leading Christine thru. Then once the little dog had
her drink of water, he knelt down on one knee, producing the ring he had bought months ago
incase this moment ever arrived. People around paused to watch. "Christine, I have loved you for
as long as I can remember. You have the rare ability to try the patience of angels. Will you marry
me?" He smiled fully, showing even his crooked teeth.
"Of course! Don't be silly, you know I'll marry you!" Christine laughed and cried at the same time
as the ring was slipped onto her finger. Then she pulled Erik to his feet and for the first time, they
kissed. Cheers erupting around them.
And not all the cheering crowd was human.
As they broke off that perfect first kiss, Christine smiled and whispered, "I guess this means
God's going to be my father-in-law of sorts, seeing how He did create you after all."
"Let's just say our kids are going to get the best Christmas presents." Erik whispered back.
~~The End~~