She wondered what he was dreaming about that caused the contented look on his face. His expression was almost as precious to her now as it had been when he'd pulled away from her, stopping their kisses, and shyly saying he thought they should stop before they got carried away, that she was too special to him to move that fast. She'd smiled and agreed, she wouldn't have allowed him to go much further, knowing if she didn't get the answers she was waiting for, she'd wouldn't have been allowed back into Heaven.
She tried to adjust herself a little, to make herself more comfortable. Her slight movement woke Nick, who despite being a bit stiff from sleeping in an awkward position, felt better at waking up than he could remember feeling in years. It seemed like he'd be aware, even while asleep, that she was there with him, and he'd been comforted, lulled him into a deep, restful sleep.
He shifted to sit beside her, and gently caressed her cheek. "I like waking up with you."
Avalon could feel a blush creeping to her cheeks, she couldn't even begin to tell him how much she'd liked waking up with him, or falling asleep feeling him laying against her. Or how much it was going to hurt her to leave him again.
There was so much she wanted to tell him, but so little time to do it. One thing, though, she thought was more important than anything else, and she wanted to be sure she at least got to tell him that. She leaned towards him and kissed his cheek, then asked, "Do you remember that conversation we had about soulmates?"
Nick nodded, "Yeah.. it really got me thinking."
Avalon turned to sit face-to-face with him. "It did me, too.. because I didn't really know what I thought... but I have an answer now."
"What's that?" he asked, interested in what she'd have to say now, wondering if she felt like he did.
"I think that there is only one perfect person for everyone. I think that people know when they find them, and are sometimes surprised at how much they feel for that person and it scares them, because they've never experienced an intensity like that. But how else could you possibly feel, when you realize you've found the person that you're supposed to go through life with.. sharing the joy and the pain and all that life has to offer with the one person that was created... just for you." Avalon answered, confident that she'd made her feelings as clear as could be allowed.
Nick looked at her, a little surprised, she seemed to have practically read his mind, and said-very eloquently- what he'd thinking. Part of him was almost terrified at what he thought he felt, and a little guilty- it all seemed too fast, too sudden- like it couldn't be real. But hadn't she just told him, that she felt the same- even though she hadn't specifically said him.. didn't she have to be talking about him? She had to feel it.. she came back...
Avalon watched Nick as he appeared to be having trouble sorting out whatever was going through his mind. She wondered if maybe she'd said too much. Before she could finish the thought, she felt a tug, and knew it wasn't anything around her, she was being told she had to leave now. She tried to fight back the tears that immediately sprang to her eyes, without success. She stood up, saying, "I just.. had to tell you that... but.. I.. I have to go now..."
"What? Why? When can I see you again?" Nick asked, standing up beside her, lightly grasping her arm.
"You.. won't." she said, looking anywhere but at him.
"Why not??" This was not going to happen again. She couldn't just tell him something like that and then leave him. He knew he couldn't deal with this happening again.
Avalon shook loose of his hold, and started heading for the door, "I can't explain it."
Nick followed her, "Avalon, No... Please don't do this.. I can't lose someone that I love like this..."
She turned around to look at him, "What did you say?"
Nick looked right into her eyes, her gaze penetrating straight to his heart as it always did, but this time, he was glad for the sense of being completely exposed, he wanted her to be able to see just what he was feeling. "I'm in love with you.. I know it sounds crazy..."
Avalon practically jumped into his arms, cutting him off with a kiss. She could feel the change, her every tie with Heaven being severed, and being given the history and life she'd never had before- exchanging eternity for a few short years on earth, to experience the passion for life and for love.
Nick held her tightly, his heart relieved that he finally told her. He was still amazed that he believed he could feel this way, but was willing to take the chance on the one who'd made him feel it.
~~~~~
Michael and Noelle stood side by side on the edge of Heaven, watching as Heaven lost one of their own.
Noelle smiled, despite her sadness at Avalon's leaving. "She's his one."
Michael nodded, "She was never meant to stay an angel.. that's why she got the assignment with him. I wish I'd known that sooner.."
"Why is that? Would it have changed how you dealt with her?" Noelle asked.
"I wouldn't have tried to keep her away from him." Michael answered.
Noelle shook her head, "No, you were right in doing that. She wouldn't have made the decision to fall had you not tried to keep her away, and he wouldn't have realized what he was going to be missing, if she hadn't had to leave."
Michael watched for a few more moments as Avalon and Nick seemed to get lost in each other more every second, and said "She is good for him."
"As he will be for her."
there's no one here
they want to hang around...
But if they knew you,
knew you at all-
then one by one
the angels would fall."
("Angels would fall", Melissa Etheridge)