"You don't love me, do you?"

Darla looked away from him. "Not the way you want me to. At least, not any more."

Gabriel's brows rose. "Really?"

"When I first met you," She nodded sheepishly, "I would've done anything to hear you say that… but now… I don't know. Things are different now."

"You're an adult." He smirked, but there was no warmth or humor behind it. "You outgrew me."

"I do love you, Gabe, just-"

"Not the way I love you, I get it, Darla. You don't need to keep saying it."

The woman stepped forward and embraced him. "I'm sorry, I just… accepted it, you know?"

"Accepted what?"

"That you were out of my league. I mean, you're a freakin' god, Gabriel!"

"Archangel," He corrected with his casual smugness. His arms rose and encircled around her waist.

"Archangel," Darla repeated, not pulling away from him. "You're not even human."

Gabriel felt his heart sink in his chest. He'd thought about all of humans little flaws and defects… he had never considered that she may actually want her mate to have them. Evolution prompted women to want the alpha male, and frankly, against any human, Gabriel won out every time. But she wasn't looking for a god, or angel. She was looking for a man.

"Right."

"Gabe, I don't-" she sighed and hugged him tighter. "I just don't think we'd be compatible…you said yourself you're too old for me." The woman leaned back to look him in the eye, "Do you really want to be with someone when you know that you'll have to watch them die one day?"

Gabriel frowned. He hadn't considered the long term effects of their relationship. "I don't think I could."

She smiled warmly at him. "I know you couldn't." The playful glint returned to her blue eyes. "Because under that thick candy shell is a squishy heart of milk chocolate gold, Trick."

"Hm." He smiled at her, no longer with lust but rather something else. Something more akin to respect. Leaning down, he placed a kiss on her brow. "I knew there was a reason I kept you around."

"To fluff your ego?"

"To ground me."

Darla blushed. With a shrug of false modesty she agreed, "I am pretty awesome."

Gabriel rolled his eyes. "Yeah. You're freakin' a delight."

She giggled, pleased that the awkward moment had passed. "So. You really gonna leave me here all by my lonesome?"

"Not exactly."

Her eyes lit up. "You're letting me keep Pez?"

"No!" He snapped, glaring at her, "I already told you no!"

"I thought you loved me!" Darla accused.

He scoffed. "Not that much."

The girl stuck her tongue out at him. He went on, "I got you a place to live."

"But-" She blinked, "I already have an apartment."

"I know, but this place is better."

"Is it this place?" Her chipped nails pointed to the floor.

"No." Gabriel shook his head. "God, why do you want all my stuff?"

"Because I secretly yearn to be an ex-wife?"

He rolled his eyes, "Funny. But no. You're apartment is shit, and I don't want to have to worry about you getting gang raped while I'm gone."

"So where is this mystery spot?" She fell back on the couch with a sigh. Pez could be heard growling in the bedroom, no doubt having found one of the archangel's many candy stashes.

"Westerville." He told her, tossing a piece of paper into her lap.

Darla sat up. Her blue eyes dropped to the scrap. The address there was at least an hour away. "Seriously? Isn't that kind of far?"

"Not really. Besides, I know you'll like it. It's pretty sweet, this hot chick was looking for a roommate- that reminds me…" The angel's lips twisted into a lewd smirk, "Any videos you to make together must be forwarded to me first."

The woman curled her lips back in disgust. "Perv."

"You love me."

She smiled at him. "I really do."

"If you really loved me, we'd have sex before I go."

"Gabriel!" Darla snapped at him with a glare.

He snickered. "Can't blame a guy for trying."

"Wanna bet?"

"How about a bj then?"

She stood, stretched and sighed. "God, you are a strange man. God. Angel, whatever." She tilted her head, long black hair moving with her, "Where will you go? Seriously, I mean."

"I dunno," He grinned crookedly at her. "I think half the fun is not knowing."

"You'll be careful though? Check in with me and stuff?"

Gabriel shrugged, "Maybe."

Her shoulders sagged. "Oh."

He snapped his fingers. A thin chain appeared in his hand, a small watch hanging from it. "Lift your hair."

With puzzled features, she did as she was told. Carefully Gabriel slipped the chain around her neck. "If you ever need me, and I mean really need me, not just I'm lonely let's have kinky sex need me, wind it." His fingers caressed the back her neck and she shuddered. "I'm gonna miss you, Darlin'."

"I'm gonna miss you too, Trick." Her eyes fluttered closed as his lips brushed over her neck. "Can I ask you something?"

The angel pulled away from her. "Anything."

"What brought all this on?"

"Honestly?" He smirked, "Seeing you naked. Made me realize you weren't some kid anymore. You're a woman now."

She giggled. "Wow. And to think all those menstrual cycles for nothing."

"The female body is a horrifying thing, Darla."

"Yes it is."

They stared at each other a moment. His lips found hers for one last kiss before he pulled away. Gabriel's hand rose. "See ya round, princess."

"See ya round, Trick."

Then he snapped his fingers and he was gone.

Darla sighed and looked around the now barren apartment. Her fingers rose to the watch and she gave it an experimental wind. Nothing. Her shoulders slumped.

The drive to Westerville was long and dull. The radio, as loud as it was, did little to ease her anxiety as she drove through the small town and into the suburbs. Her hand was tight on the steering wheel as she past by various houses. They all looked the same to her. A blur out her peripheral vision. That could've been the tears though.

Three days Gabriel had been gone. Three days and no sign of this all being some kind of cosmic joke. She sighed as she pulled up to a stop sign. She glanced out a window to one of the houses that lined the streets. The numbers were higher than they should've been, and Darla realized she had past her destination.

With a groan she threw the shitbox she called a car into reverse. She went back two houses and pulled into the drive way. She stepped out of the car and glared at the one story home. It was too cookie cutter for her taste. A pale pink with red shutters, hell, it even had a white picket fence.

Kicking the door closed, she walked over to the fence. She looked down at it with pursed lips and removed her sun glasses before opening it. It was a short trip up the cobblestone path to porch and soon enough she was ringing a door bell. There were a few moments of silence, and with an annoyed jab, it was rung again.

A rustle behind the door. Darla sighed. It swung open and the girl's jaw dropped.

So did the woman's on the other side of the threshold. "D-Dee?"

"Marley?"