DISCLAIMER: I DO NOT own the characters from Touched by an Angel. They belong to CBS. Everyone you don't recognize, I do own.

Enjoy!

God loves you!

A/N: This story is very special to me. It's special to me because this is the first story where Tess/Gloria really bond. This story takes place a month or two in the middle of "I Hope You Dance." That means Gloria is just recovering from the cancer.

"Happy New Year, Gloria!"

Chapter 1-A New Year's Eve Assignment

Gloria frowned as she followed Monica into the living room of the house the Father had provided to them for the time being.

"But why can't I come with you?" Gloria asked, her brown eyes full of confusion.

Monica sighed. She walked over to the couch and motioned for Gloria to join her.

Gloria didn't need much coaxing. She sat down next to Monica and relaxed as Monica put a comforting arm around her.

"Gloria, it's only goin' to be for one day. You'll be fine here with Tess. Besides, I hear she has somethin' fun planned for you two to do during New Years Eve."

Gloria nodded, but she didn't smile. She really wasn't looking forward to spending a day with Tess. It's not that Gloria didn't love her, far from it. She just felt safer with Monica and she wasn't really ready to trust Tess all the way yet. It had only been four months since Gloria had been attacked and she was still a wee bit hesitant around the eldest angel.

Even though Tess had never hurt her, Gloria still felt apprehensive around her, due to a mistake Tess had made after Gloria was attacked.

Monica smiled as she planted a motherly kiss on the top of Gloria's head.

"You'll be fine, little one. I promise. And I'll be back before you know it."

Gloria sighed.

"I know, but it's just that…" Her voice trailed off, giving Monica the impression that something was bothering her.

"Gloria, Tess loves you. She really does. All she wants is for you to give her a chance to prove it."

"I know, but it's…it's hard." Gloria admitted, tears in her voice. "I feel safe with you and…"

"I know you do, sweetheart, I know. But Tess isn't goin' to hurt you. She would never hurt you on purpose. She loves ya so much, little one. And the Father knows it too. That's why He's given you this time with Tess."

Gloria nodded as she buried her face in Monica's shoulder while letting out a sob.

"Shh, it's all right, Gloria. It's okay. I know you're goin' to miss me, darlin'. I'll miss you too. But I'll be back. I love you so much. And I trust Tess with my life, so I know she'll take good care of you."

Gloria nodded as she tried to calm down. She knew Monica spoke the truth, but she was still a wee bit afraid.

"Did you ask Tess what you wanted to know?" Monica asked after a few minutes of silence had passed.

"Ask Tess what?" A familiar, wise voice asked from just inside the doorway.

Monica glanced up and grinned when she saw who was standing there.

Tess returned Monica's smile. She walked into the room and came over to the couch. She gave Gloria a concerned look when she saw the way the youngest angel was clinging to her supervisor and best friend.

"Gloria? What's the matter?" Tess asked in concern.

Monica sighed.

"She doesn't want me to go." She informed her former supervisor.

Tess frowned.

"Little angel, it's only gonna be for one day. Monica will be back. And I have something fun planned for you and me to do tonight."

Gloria nodded, but she made no moves to leave the safety of Monica's embrace. She was content for the moment and she wasn't planning on moving any time soon.

"I told Gloria the same thing." The Irish angel told Tess. "But my wee one wasn't havin' any of it. At least not now."

Tess nodded. She wasn't about to push Gloria, at least not yet. But Monica would have to leave soon. And Tess knew from what she was witnessing right now, it wasn't going to be easy for Gloria to say good bye to her.

"Did you pack?" Tess inquired as she sat down on Monica's other side.

The Irish angel nodded. She put a hand through Gloria's hair in an effort to keep her calm as well as to reassure her she wasn't leaving just yet.

"I just wish Gloria would trust me." Tess said, a yearning in her eyes that Monica had seen there many times before.

"All Gloria needs is time." Monica reminded her mother figure and former supervisor. "The Father's time. Gloria will trust you again. I know she will."

"I love Gloria so much. Lord knows how much I love that little angel you're holding right now."

Monica nodded.

"I know. I know that and you know that. We just need to convince Gloria."

A few minutes of silence passed before Monica decided it was time to double check her suitcase and get ready to leave. She was taken the train so that Tess would have access to the car.

"All right, little one. I know you're comfortable, but I need to make sure I have everything packed."

Gloria made a noise that suggested she didn't want to move right now.

Rather than become impatient, Monica laughed softly before carefully pulling away from Gloria and kissing her forehead.

"I love you too, sweetheart. I'll give you a hug before I leave, I promise." With that, Monica got up, leaving Tess and Gloria alone.

Gloria contemplated going over and sitting with Tess, but something stopped her.

Tess gave Gloria a loving smile, but made no moves to try and get her to sit with her. She knew Gloria would come to her when she was ready.

Gloria sighed, which made Tess believe that something was wrong.

As the elder angel watched Gloria's body language, she rolled her eyes.

"Gloria, it's only for a couple of days. Monica will be back before you know it. Besides, you and I are overdue for some quality time together."

"So the Father's sending Monica to Canada because…" Gloria left the sentence unfinished on purpose.

Tess caught on right away and gave Gloria a look.

"The Father is sending Monica to Canada because she has an assignment to complete. Like I told you before, we're overdue for some quality time together."

Gloria nodded, but Tess could tell the youngest angel wasn't convinced.

"Remember what happened the last time we spent some "quality time" together." Gloria reminded her superior, rolling her eyes.

Unfortunately for Gloria, Monica who had just come back from checking her suitcase, caught the end of Gloria's statement as well as the eye rolling.

"Gloria!" Monica gently admonished her case worker.

Gloria tried to put on an innocent face as she met her supervisor's slightly stern brown eyes.

"Hey!"

Monica shook her head. She wasn't going to let Gloria get away with that by any means.

"Don't "hey" me anything." Monica retorted, sternly.

Gloria nodded and blushed with embarrassment. She averted her gaze to anywhere but to where Monica was standing. She was busted and she knew it.

"Listen to me. Give Tess a chance. All right?"

Gloria nodded as she met Monica's eyes. The expression of sternness was gone, which made Gloria feel more at ease.

"It's not like I'm leavin' ya with the enemy." Monica reasoned, smiling slightly at Gloria.

"I know. But I'm just…" Gloria's voice trailed off as she stared at the floor.

Monica could tell Gloria was just upset, so she did the only thing she could think of. She held her arms out to her distraught case worker who was more like a daughter to her.

"Gloria, come here." Monica said, knowing Gloria wasn't looking at her at the moment.

Gloria didn't need much coaxing. She threw herself into Monica's arms, clinging on for all it was worth.

"Aw, little one, it's gonna be okay. It will. I'll be back." The Irish angel assured her frightened case worker who was more like a daughter to her.

Gloria let out a sob, which made Monica's heart break.

"Gloria, I'll be back." Monica tried again, hoping and praying she would get through to Gloria this time.

Gloria nodded, but she made no moves to let go.

Tess gave Gloria an understanding look.

"She's just gonna miss you, angel girl." Tess told her former case worker.

"I know. It's gonna be okay, sweetheart. I promise, I'll be back before you know it."

Gloria let out another sob as she tried to calm down.

Just then, a question came to the Irish angel's mind.

"Did you ask Tess yet?"

This got Gloria's as well as Tess's attention.

"Ask Tess what?" Tess inquired, giving both younger angels a suspicious look.

Gloria shook her head.

"Not yet." She replied, referring to Monica.

Monica nodded.

The youngest angel then turned her attention to Tess.

"It's nothing really." She said, trying to get out of asking Tess for what she wanted.

Tess shrugged.

"All right. If you say so." Tess responded. She started leafing through a book just then.

Monica sighed. She hated when Gloria got like this. She just wished she would ask Tess and be done with it. The Irish angel knew that Tess would most likely comply with Gloria's request. She only prayed that a wee bit of coaxing on her part would help Gloria come out of her shell.

"Gloria, come on. Pleas,? Do it for me." Monica coaxed, praying Gloria would listen to her.

"Okay." Gloria consented, getting a smile from the Irish angel.

"All right. Thank you. Aw, I love you, little one. I'll see you later, okay?" With that, Monica gave Gloria one last hug before standing up and making her way to the front door.

"I love you too." Gloria replied, giving Monica one last hug.

"You're gonna be fine." Monica assured her. "Tess will take good care of you."

It took ten minutes, but both Monica and Tess finally convinced Gloria it was okay to let go.

Monica ruffled Gloria's hair gently before giving her one last hug and kiss.

"I love you, little one. BE good for Tess, all right?"

"I'll try." Gloria assured her supervisor.

"That's all I ask." Monica replied, smiling at Gloria warmly. She then turned her attention to Tess. "I love you too." She gave Tess a hug before whispering something in her right ear. "Go easy on Gloria. She's just scared."

Tess laughed softly.

"We'll be fine, Ms. Wings. Gloria will be in one piece when you get back."

Monica giggled, knowing Tess was telling the truth.

Picking up her suitcase, Monica gave both angels a smile.

"Since I won't see you two until after New Year's, Happy New Year to you both."

"Same here." Gloria echoed, giving Monica a shy smile.

"Happy New Year to you too, angel girl." Tess replied, hugging Monica once again. "Be careful."

"I will, Tess." Monica assured her former supervisor.

The Irish angel was about to leave, when she felt something small and furry rub up against her. She giggled and bent down to scratch Snickers behind the ears.

"See? Snickers is gonna miss you too." Gloria told Monica, smiling slightly.

Monica grinned.

"Happy New Year to you too, Snickers. Take care of Gloria for me."

Snickers meowed as if to assure Monica she would keep an eye on Gloria for her.

Monica laughed as she pet the cat once more.

After she set Snickers back down on the floor, the Irish angel left for her assignment.