Chapter 27: Bliss

Audrey woke up sometime just after sunrise, and the place beside her in bed was empty. Gabriel was gone. But the sheets were still warm, and the soreness of her body attested to the fact that the night's previous glory wasn't a dream. Feeling blissfully happy and completely at peace for the first time in her life, Audrey rose from the bed and looked for something to wrap herself in among the clothes given to them by Millie and Howard. Cotton dresses, jeans, tshirts and sweaters; exactly what she's anticipated from the simple family's home. She smiled as she tugged on pale pink overalls and shoved her bare feet into sneakers just a little too large for her. Today, the first day of her life in so many ways, was going to be perfect.

She was in the tiny bathroom applying her makeup when Gabriel's large form filled the doorway. He too was fully dressed, the sunshine pouring in through the window behind him illuminating his outline and making him appear holy. Or perhaps it was his natural bearing. She smiled at him in the mirror.

"Good morning."

"And to you." He replied. He watched her in silence for a few moments, then his deep voice made her pause.

"I wish you to keep your face clean. You do not need these paints and ointments. You are to be the wife of one of the sons of Heaven."

"Are you…telling me I'm not allowed to wear makeup?"

"Yes."

She blinked, then turned around. Folding her arms and looking up at him. Some of the glow in her chest dulled.

"Seriously?! Come on, Gabriel. It's just a little lipstick and some eye makeup. I look like shit without it!"

"You will also refrain from using foul language. Audrey, please." His hands were large and warm and gentle on her shoulders as he reached for her, and his pale eyes were serious. "There are many things I will ask you to change. Not to torment you or to become a tyrant in your life. You must life an exemplary existence from now on. It is somewhat crucial."

"You have got to be sh….kidding me!"

"I assure you, I am not. You can see that I no longer have my wings or my collar. I cannot protect you as I once could from the wrath of God. Therefore I will protect you in new ways, by safeguarding your virtue and making certain that you live a proper life free from sin."

"Are you going to make me go to church, too?! After what He did to you?! No thanks! I'd rather burn in Hell than – "

He gave her a little shake, and his voice became stern. "Do not say such things. You do not understand the horrors of Hell, and you will never understand it if you will but listen. Nothing being asked of you will be difficult, I promise you this. I will not make you sit through a human church service, it is not necessary and often filled with opinions and the seeds of discord. You will have a full and long life of joy and love with me. But there must be a few pitfalls that I am permitted to protect you from. Do you understand?"

Audrey calmed down slightly, but she was still annoyed. And she pulled away from him and sat on the edge of the tub.

"Alright. You'd better give me the rules."

"Very well. You must keep your anger at God under control no matter what. He will be a touch more indulgent with you than most, but it will stretch only so far. You must take very good care of your soul. Spend time in silence, contemplating the vastness of the universe to keep you from hubris. Be out of doors often to revel in the bounty of the Earth. Love others with all your heart that the light of compassion never dims within you. Do not become vain about your beauty…it comes from within and not from the garments you wear or the unguents you paint upon your skin. Do not fight with Uriel or Michael. They are archangels, they have fought for you and protected you and shown you mercy and kindness. Be kind to yourself, and to all around you as often as possible. And when you see injustice or cruelty, do what is in your power to stop it. These are easy things, all of them. You will not have to spend your life indoors bent over a Bible in study. Spend it freely exploring all that you can, and bend over life itself to study it. I do not ask you to become an ascetic. I ask you to live as a child of Eden. Can you do these things?"

At this, Audrey finally melted a little. He was so gentle and handsome and a little sad, watching her expectantly with those big pale eyes. She stood up and went to him, slipping her arms around his waist and raising her face for a kiss. Tenderly, he brushed his lips against her forehead, and she giggled.

"Alright, you win. But I want a couple of things too. Okay?"

"You have but to name them. I would give you the Moon if I could."

"Maybe for my birthday. No, seriously. I want to spend as much time with you as possible. I want to talk about feelings and about the world and about what's going on inside your head, and I want to be close, and hold hands, and do romantic gushy stuff."

He nodded.

"I cannot imagine a love without these things."

"You just set the bar to an impossible height for every other man on the planet. I hope you know that, you gorgeous giant diamond in a bag of pebbles."

He looked at her quizzically, but seemed amused and pleased by her exuberant comparison.

"Go on, surely there must be more."

"I want to wear at least a little makeup. I'll ditch the dramatic eyes and the red lipstick. But I feel nicer when I'm looking my best. And I want to be able to listen to music and dance and go out places with you, like to the county fair or whatever, and not have to worry that I'm somehow bad or rotten for liking a little human fun."

"No night clubs and no excessive drunkenness. You may wear a small amount of makeup, but do not wear the sorts of clothing you once did. Pretend that you attend a strict school, and I am an unsmiling nun with a ruler to measure your skirts. One inch above the knee is all you get, unless it is a swimming outfit. Agreed?"

"God you're fun. Fine. And one more thing, Sister Gabriel."

"Yes?"

"If we're going to live here, and I'm going to work at a vet clinic and you're going to do God knows what….I'll need a porch swing and a puppy."

"Would you not rather have a dignified cat, like Old Pete? I am very fond of Old Pete."

"A cat person, huh? Ok, a couple of each. And then we're good. Deal?"

"We have come to terms." Solemnly, he held out his hand to shake hers, and she playfully grabbed it.

"I'd pull you back to bed, but I don't think I could survive another round. What's for breakfast?"

He chuckled and held her against him, nuzzling her neck, and her breath caught at the nearness of him. The scent of his skin, familiar and dearer to her than any treasure in Heaven or on Earth. She sighed, closing her eyes and holding him tightly.

"Ok, maybe one more round…"

Two hours later found them walking hand in hand through the meadow behind the little barn house, exploring the grounds together. There was a small cluster of fruit trees, a pond with ducks paddling back and forth, a trail through the scraggly pine forest to the west, and a flat rock atop a hill that they both agreed would be perfect for picnics. And it was the first day. And it was good.

Tummy full of oat bread and eggs, Audrey lay back on the sun-warmed rock and watched the clouds sailing by above them. Remembering how high Uriel had flown while he was thinking, riding the air currents of Eden until he was a white speck in an impossibly blue sky. Beside her, Gabriel sat on the grass with his back to the rock, quietly contemplating the progress of a little caterpillar inching through the green.

"Gabe?"

"Mmm?"

Audrey rolled onto her side and propped herself up on one elbow, looking down at him.

"Aren't you going to miss flying?"

"I do not lament the loss of the collar."

"That's not what I asked you."

"I suppose I will miss certain aspects of my former life, yes. But it was a small price to pay in exchange for this moment right now. Here. And for the taste of your kiss that I longed for but tried to shy away from. A small price for the glory of our coupling. Language falters before such a celebration of intimacy and love. I have never felt such sensations. I did not know I could feel them." He lifted the caterpillar into his large hands, and with impossible gentleness he petted its fuzzy back with one finger. "Flying pales in comparison. I shall miss it. But I would have missed you far more."

She was touched, and scooted to the edge of the rock to reach down and run her fingers through his thick dark hair.

"We're kind of on our honeymoon, you know. Even though we aren't married or anything."

"It is of little consequence. You are mine, and I am yours. We have made this decision with finality. But I know what such ceremonies mean to your kind, and I will of course participate."

"I love the sound of that. We should go to Paris and then Rome afterwards. Or just travel around the whole world and never stop having adventures!"

"There will be a price for such freedom. Human money will need to be made."

"What, you can't just pluck gold coins out of the air?"

"Do I look like a leprechaun? I will earn wages honestly, by the sweat of my brow. As your forebears did."

"Well…..do you know how to do anything?"

"I am well versed in battle."

Audrey laughed, rolling onto her back again.

"Ok, so we can add 'mercenary' to your resume. Anything else?"

Gabriel thought, turning his hands to let the caterpillar creep along.

"I crafted my own weapons. And Michael's. And the Sword of Redemption."

"Shut UP! You know how to make weapons?"

"Of course. I was the best suited for such labors, being larger and stronger than any of my brethren."

"You could be a metalworker! Do you know how much artisans like that even MAKE?! Oh my God, we have to set up, like, a forge or something. With one of those black anchor things that you pound a hammer on. Holy fu…..ngus, we're going to have the best life!"

He tilted his head back to look at her. "Holy fungus, is it? Watch yourself."

"I'm trying, alright? It's going to take more than a couple hours! But seriously, you could be a blacksmith!"

"The idea has merit. I wonder if such craftsmen are even still needed. All things of metal seem to be produced in factories now. Each piece identical."

"No one could make what you can make, not in any factory in the world. Talk to Howard, he'll tell you the same thing. This is actually a fantastic idea."

"I am happy that you are happy."

"I'm ecstatic! This could mean that we'll have a really nice future."

"It will be pleasant no matter what I choose to do for work. But metalsmithing does seem to be an obvious choice. I will speak with Howard about the prospects. We should go into town, Audrey. Walk there together, and speak with the authorities about what happened to your parents. There will be no need to elaborate as to the exact nature of their deaths. The explosion that occurred at the café would have eradicated all evidence."

"What explosion? What do you mean? It blew up?"

Gabriel nodded, reaching beside him to set down the caterpillar in the shade and protection of the rock's edge.

"Yes. It happened after you left. Nothing remains, the devastation was complete. The police will want to send someone to investigate. Your father's car will be discovered, and the legal mechanisms will begin to have them officially declared to be among the dead. You will be able to hold a memorial service and lay their memories to rest properly. You will be able to obtain copies of your identifying paperwork. You will be able to inherit their finances and claim any property that was owned by them. These are practical matters that must be attended to for you to move forward with your life."

Audrey made a face.

"I was hoping to just move on and not have to go through all that. They'll ask questions that I won't even know how to answer. It hurts to even think about them. I really miss my parents."

"I know."

"You're right though. I can't hide from it. The world went mad for a little while, I bet I'm not the only person who will be coming to report loved ones missing. Do you think it's all over? The craziness? The angels in human bodies and the killing and all of it?"

"In truth? No. The Father seems to be determined to allow this drama to play itself out, though He no longer wishes to actively orchestrate the downfall of humanity. The child lives. The man who now wears Michael's sigils will need to learn their meaning and seek out the prophets who will guide him in the raising of humankind's new Savior. It is not our concern anymore, we will lead simple lives apart from these theological doings." Gabriel rose to his feet, dusting off the jeans he wore, and held out a hand to help Audrey up too.

"Are we safe? Like, the world isn't ending anymore?"

"The world was never ending. Don't be dramatic. It was only human beings who were to be eradicated. But that is no longer the case. And yes, we are safe. Lesser angels, however they play with weak minded human beings, will not dare to approach even within fifty miles of me despite my new condition."

"Are you sure?"

"Not completely. I would certainly be able to handle myself if they chose to do so. Are you worried?"

"A little. Yes. But I trust you."

She held his hand as they walked slowly back toward the house. They both felt it, that lightness of spirit that accompanies new beginnings. He paused to wait for her when she bent to gather a huge bouquet of Queen Ann's Lace from the meadow. She waited for him when he stopped to watch an eagle sail high above them, riding the wind. The return journey took a little longer than necessary, for they were enjoying themselves and felt no need to hurry.

When they reached the barn they were surprised to see Howard's truck parked outside. He was waiting for them in a wooden chair on the porch, and got to his feet with a smile when he saw them approach.

"Gabe. Audrey. Millie and I planned to leave you two alone for a bit, let you just settle, but I couldn't stay away. She wanted me to bring you these." He picked up a small basket that had been sitting on the ground by his feet. "Fresh bread, and some cookies."

"You are always most welcome, Howard. As is Millie's cooking. Please, come inside."

"I won't stay but a few minutes. Wanted to tell you that I called up the power company this morning, got your lights on for you here. And I brought you something. Call it an early wedding present from your honorary folks."

The veterinarian reached inside his coat to pull out a piece of old, yellowed paper. It was, of course, the deed to the barn home. He beamed as he put it into Gabriel's hand, as though he was handing him the Crown Jewels. And Gabriel for his part accepted the gift with the same amount of seriousness. He embraced his friend closely.

"Thank you for your generosity, when you have already done so much."

"It ain't fancy, but it'll keep you warm and dry in all seasons. It's a real solid house. Millie and I were happy here, Gabe. Always planned to pass it on to my son one day." Howard paused, rubbing his neck. "I reckon you're as close as I'm likely to get. And I thank God for you, too. All you been through, this is the least I can do. You ah….you spoken to Mike at all lately? My wife was real fond of him. She wanted me to ask you."

"I have not spoken to him, no. I have no way to reach him until he comes to me. But he will come, of this I have no doubt." Gabriel put his hand on the old man's shoulder. "You need not worry. He cared a great deal for Mille, and for you. You saved our lives, after all. Howard, I know that you have gone to great lengths to assist us. To care for Audrey in my absence. I want you to know how grateful I am."

"It was a pleasure, all of it. Never did think I would have a life that angels moved through so freely. You've all been more of a blessing than I ever received in my life."

"You will find the rest of your life blessed, my friend. The angels will see to it. Your crops will grow even when all others wither. Your animals will enjoy great health, and you and your wife as well. The days of your life will be many."

Howard's eyes were glistening, and for a moment he felt as though he would shed a few tears. The magnitude of the former archangel's words moved him to the core. He put his old, wrinkled hands on top of Gabriel's, patting them.

Audrey had slipped inside while the men were talking, and was returning now with three glasses of lemonade on a wooden tray she'd found in the pantry. In her overalls, hair in a ponytail, barely any makeup on her face, she looked more beautiful than she ever had in her life. Although she wouldn't have believed it if someone told her.

The three of them sat on the porch and talked. Gabriel explained his skill with metalsmithing, and Howard agreed that such a job could be found very easily for him. He knew a few places where the necessary tools could be found, and a forge could be assembled in the back yard in under a week. He pulled a small notebook out of his back pocket and wrote down the things that Gabriel listed, items he would need to begin working immediately. Howard asked a few questions, and wrote down the answers.

Yes, Gabriel knew how to make horse shoes and nails and tools. Yes, he could create wrought iron fences, pots and pans that would be serviceable, weathervanes and lightning rods and rotary blades. He could also craft knives. But his specialty was swords and armor. These items would fetch the highest price for their rarity.

At last, an hour and a half later, Howard needed to leave. He hugged the young couple warmly, kissing the top of Audrey's head, and stood back to look at them.

"Heaven on Earth, you two. That's what you've gone and found in each other. Heaven on Earth."

They watched him drive away, hand in hand in their front yard. Gabriel turned to look down at his companion, and her loveliness and quiet grace warmed his heart.

"He is right, you know. The world was always given everything that it needed for humankind to create their own Eden here. You and I will live in our own Eden together."

"I love you, Gabe."

Audrey bit her lip, looking up at him. Remembering a time when she hated this man who stood before her. When she hurled books and insults at him. A time when her tortured mind and broken spirit were at war with the gentle re-forging of her soul. She took both of his hands in hers and kissed them.

"Thank you for saving me. Not just my life, I mean. For really saving ME."

Gabriel lowered his head in a slight bow.

"Thank you for saving me as well, Audrey Anderson. I love you too."

She smiled and tugged on his hands, drawing him back towards the house.

"Come on. I think I can figure out how to make us some egg salad sandwiches from the stuff in the fridge, and Millie's fresh bread. We can have lunch. And then? I think I'd like to weed that garden out back."

"You are voluntarily going to participate in manual labor?"

"Absolutely! How else are we going to get a good crop of fresh tomatoes when they're in season? I learned a little bit about gardening when you were away. So what do you think? Egg salad and cookies?"

To Gabriel, every word she said sounded like poetry. She was so happy, and her joy soothed the tumult in his chest. He followed after her, still holding her hand.

"Yes, my love." He said, pushing back the darkness on the edge of his thoughts. "Egg salad and cookies."