The last of the Thanksgiving leftovers had been placed in storage containers and refrigerated and the last piece of china had been placed in the dishwasher and Alex leaned back against the counter and sighed, "That’s the only bad part of a huge meal. The dishes!"
Monica chuckled softly as she folded her dishtowel and hung it on the oven door to dry, "At least we didn’t have to wash them all by hand," She pointed out with a little grin, "Dinner was lovely, Alex. Thank you."
"No need to thank me, honey. Everyone pitched in and helped, so getting it on the table and eating it was the easy part. My favorite part comes tomorrow with the leftover turkey for sandwiches. But today was a good day, and I certainly have a lot to be thankful for," Her blue eyes sparkled as a smile formed, "I’ve been blessed more than I could ever imagine. With Paul, with our two angelic dearest friends, with the farm and the house in the city. More than I could ever ask for."
"I know what you mean," The little angel replied, but Alex detected a far away look in her dark eyes that she didn’t understand.
"Sit," She ordered, pointing to the kitchen table. Andrew and Paul were busy bringing wood in from outside to build a fire, so she opted to take the opportunity for a little girl chat. Sliding into the chair next to her friend, she eyed her sternly, "Something has been bothering you all day. Is it Andrew? Is something wrong between you two?"
"Oh no!" She shook her head firmly, "No, everything is perfect…better than perfect," She smiled, thinking of her angelic husband. Even knowing he was no further than the other room, she missed him, but was also very thankful that a room away was the only distance this time.
"What is it then?" Alex persisted, watching as the angel lowered her eyes and drew an imaginary circle on the table with her finger.
"It’s silly, really. Not even worth mentioning…" Monica began, but her friend was quick to cut off that way of thinking.
"Nothing that is bugging you is ever silly, Monica and I believe your two protectors in the other room would tell you the same thing."
"Yes, I suppose they would," Monica replied with a faint smile, "I just…sometimes….sometimes I’m envious of you and Paul and I shouldn’t be. It isn’t very angelic."
"Envious? For heaven’s sake, of what?" She grinned to try to cover Monica’s discomfort, "Not that we don’t have it all, because we do," She winked playfully, "But so do you and Andrew."
"I know that. We do and I don’t have any right to want anything more. God has already given us so much…" She looked up as Alex covered her hand with her own, and she struggled to say the words, "Sometimes I envy having a place to call home," Her voice was a whisper, feeling guilty for even voicing what she had been keeping in her heart, "I mean, we do…heaven is always going to be Home, but-."
"But it isn’t a place that you and Andrew have filled with memories of your love for each other," Alex finished for her, understanding filling her eyes. It had never dawned on her before, as Monica was an angel, but now she realized something else. Monica was also a female and these things were important to them. She gave the angel’s hand a squeeze but remained quiet, seeing that her friend was about to share more.
"It’s so hard, Alex. Marriage is the best thing I’ve ever felt and when I’m with Andrew, everything is so wonderful," She smiled even as her eyes shone bright with tears, "But those times when we are assigned away from each other…the not knowing when or where I’m going to see him again…sometimes it feels…impossible."
"Yeah, I suppose you two corner the market on long distance relationships when that happens. Makes me wonder what all those other couples are bitching about."
"It’s always been this way, even when we were just friends. I hated being away from him for very long, but now, loving him the way I do, it is so much harder."
"Have you told him this, sweetie?" Alex had a feeling she already knew the answer, and she was knew she was right when Monica immediately shook her head.
"I can’t, Alex. There isn’t anything he could do about it other than feel badly and I don’t want that." She smiled and wiped at her eyes, "There isn’t anything he wouldn’t try to do for me, but this…there just isn’t a solution. I just have to accept it."
"Surely you two are not still doing dishes."
The sound of Paul’s voice caused Monica to duck her head in order to get her emotions under control as Alex immediately spoke up, "No, we’re all finished, honey. Just shooting the breeze for a few minutes is all."
Feeling warm and gentle hands on her shoulders, Monica blinked once more to clear her eyes before she leaned her head back to look up into Andrew’s loving green eyes, "Everything all right, angel?"
"Perfect," She smiled, knowing that much was true. He was here now, and that made it so.
"Well, it’s still snowing outside and the fire is hot and ready."
Alex raised her eyebrows in mischief at her husband’s words, "Got that right."
Monica smiled as she laid a hand over her husband’s, "Can we go for a ride? It’s so beautiful out."
"Of course we can," He replied, giving her shoulders a tender squeeze. He could sense something was troubling her just beneath the surface and he hoped the ride was simply an excuse to talk, "You two care to join us?"
"Nope," Alex grinned, looking over at her husband slyly, "You two go ahead. After that meal, I’d just like to cuddle in front of the fire."
Bending to kiss her cheek, Paul whispered into her ear, "Talk, my ass."
****
The two angels had been riding for close to an hour as the snow fell around them. At Monica’s request, they had only saddled up Scout and she was now resting contently up against Andrew’s chest as her eyes took in the snow-covered scenery. It gave a whole new look to the lands she was so familiar with, blanketing it all something pure and untouched, as the earth seemed to lie so still and quiet. It filled her heart with peace.
"Something’s bothering you," Andrew stated softly, once he had urged Scout to head back in the direction of the farm. He was able to feel an undercurrent of sadness in his wife’s heart and he would do anything to alleviate that feeling.
"It’s nothing important, Andrew," She replied quickly, already knowing she was going to have to say more, "I think that the times we are apart just makes being with you a little more emotional for me sometimes, that’s all."
He kissed the top of her head reassuringly, "I’ve been most thankful all day, angel, just for having you with me. This last separation was hard." It had been two weeks as the holidays were unfortunately a difficult time for many humans, which made his job heartbreakingly constant. People were traveling more so there were more accidents, not to mention the deaths that were intentional.
Monica nodded. She had felt the sadness in his heart yesterday when he had arrived at the farm, from having to take so many Home before their time. She had known him long enough to know how heavily the holidays weighed on his heart and she had not minded, nor been surprised when their first night back together, they had simply held each other and fallen asleep in each other’s arms. Today, she had made every effort to make sure he was smiling.
"I’m glad you’re feeling better," She tilted her head up to look at him and felt his lips brush her forehead.
"Being with you always makes it better, Monica."
The rest of the ride was in comfortable silence and they rubbed down Scout in the barn, they talked about how nice the day had been and how much they enjoyed the Gatlin’s company. They walked up to the house hand in hand and Andrew helped her out of her coat, before hanging it up, along with his on the rack.
Taking her hand once more, they walked into the living room, surprised to find the fire blazing, but Paul and Alex nowhere in sight. Andrew released her hand and glanced up the steps to their bedroom door, "Their light is out. They must have gone to bed early, though it is ten o’ clock," He stopped, a slow smile spreading across his face, "Don’t move. Stay right here."
"Andrew? What are you up to?" Monica was smiling, clearly able to see the mischief in his eyes. But he only kissed her quickly before heading into the kitchen.
He returned a moment later with a bag, which he set on the floor, "No peeking," He stated and then he was off again and up the stairs. He returned a minute later with the comforter from their bed and Monica’s nightgown, which he tossed into a chair, "You won’t be needing that for awhile."
Her eyes grew wide, even as a nervous laugh escaped her, "Andrew! Paul or Alex could come down here…"
"They’ve gone to bed, angel," He assured her as he spread out the comforter on the floor in front of the fire.
"But they could wake up. I don’t think-."
He cut off her protest with a kiss that rendered her helpless, "You think too much, sweetheart," He whispered against her lips as his hand settled on the back of her head.
Already her body was responding to him as she drew in a sharp breath, "Maybe you’re right…"
A moment later, he had pulled her down to the floor with him with never a break in their kissing. Monica’s hands were on his face as their tongues dueled hungrily and a shudder ran through her body as he caught her own and sucked on it gently. She felt as though her heart would surely burst as it was pounding so hard against her chest, but somehow her trembling fingers still managed to unbutton his shirt.
Her hands ran over him urgently, the feel of his solid chest against her palms nearly an aphrodisiac as she felt a pulsating begin deep in her core. She pushed the fabric over his shoulders, her hands working down his arms before returning to his chest and finding his nipples, rubbing and squeezing them gently even as she pressed her mouth harder up against his. She could already feel his need straining against his pants and she moved to unbutton them and lower the zipper. His breath caught as her hand snaked down his boxers to grip him firmly as he throbbed against her hold.
Nearly insane with desire for her, Andrew forced himself to relax a little as he reached for her hand and pulled it away, smiling at the whimper of protest from his wife. His mouth trailed kisses down her neck as he removed her blouse and bra, his hands settling on the firm mounds of warm flesh as he gently pushed her down onto her back on the comforter. His thumbs ran over her hardened nipples as he continued his exploration of her neck, kissing and nibbling, enjoying the quiet sighs and soft moans of pleasure that were escaping her.
Monica was so caught up in the incredible sensations that his mouth was bringing to her, she never heard the rustling of the bag, but she gasped a minute later at the sudden coldness on her breasts. Her eyes opened and she looked down at him, seeing the devilish grin on his handsome face. The leftover whipped cream from the pumpkin pie.
A giggle nearly escaped her, before his hot mouth was back, surrounding her nipple and bringing heat to what a second ago had been so cold. This new sensation made her cry out softly, her back arching to bring him closer as his tongue swirled around her peak.
As he enjoyed one breast, he rubbed the cream on her other one, hearing the sweet gasp once more at the sudden chill on her. He watched in fascination as the little bud hardened further under the cold and he could hardly contain himself before covering it with his mouth, suckling and lapping at her as his other hand moved to free her of the rest of her clothing.
His hand rubbed against the soft mound, and he nearly groaned at the wetness he found. She was nearly grinding into his hand, begging for his touch, for release and he felt his own need to take her growing. He parted her with his fingers and captured her cry with his mouth as his fingers ran across her sensitive nub. Her fingers were gripping his shoulders, kneading desperately and Andrew had a feeling if he didn’t complete her, she was going to do it without him. He had driven her nearly as high as she could go without taking flight and he was quick to shed what was left of his clothing and thrust into her.
There were tears escaping Monica’s eyes as she moved her hips against him, her fingers digging into his shoulders as she moved harder, encouraging him, not that he needed it. He stroked her shallowly, hearing her whispered pleading as he teased, before he could no longer stand it. With one long stroke, he filled her completely and her arms wrapped around his neck as she took in his length.
"I love you…I love you…" She whispered over and over, her hot breath against his ear as he picked up the pace, thrusting long and hard until he felt the heavenly tightening of her warmth around him. She had buried her face against the nape of his neck to contain the scream that wanted to escape and as he felt her body shudder, he quickly followed, completing himself into her.
They were both breathing too hard to move for a moment, before Andrew pulled away, rolled over and kissed her forehead, her cheeks, the tip of her nose and finally her lips, "I love you too, angel," He whispered, smiling as she laid her head against his chest and closed her eyes, a contented smile on her beautiful face.
The sun shining through the windows awakened them the next morning and Andrew felt his wife stretch lazily next to him beneath the comforter that engulfed them. He smiled as he pulled her closer. The fire had gone out in the night, and he was thankful that it didn’t sound as if anyone else was up, as Monica’s nightgown remained in the chair. He pulled away from her long enough to reach for it, before he froze, his eyes darting around the living room.
"Sweetheart, did you put the whipped cream away last night?" He was hoping for a nod, but instead her dark eyes grew wide.
"No…you didn’t?"
They exchanged a glance, before a giggle escaped her as she threw the comforter over their heads, as Andrew joined her in laughter.