She didn't know exactly when or how she'd gotten where she was- it seemed that it had been a very sudden transition, yet like it had taken a very long time. All she knew was that the setting was very familiar, but she felt very disoriented.
She tried to remember the instructions she'd been given- she would be staying with a Believer, Josephine, who'd provide her with whatever earthly things she may need during her stay. And she'd be able to have contact with Heaven still, but through thought only, until it was time to return.
~~~
With some gentle guidance from Michael, Avalon was able to find Josephine's house. She wondered how things like this were set up, that a human- who she'd found to be very leery of new things- would just trust a complete stranger in their home. Michael explained to her that the True Believers found it a privilege to assist, whether they understood the circumstances or not. Avalon would be staying in Josephine's home, and working with her business, and that was how she'd meet Nickolas. That much had been set up for her- whatever happened once she and Nick had met- was all up to her.
~~~
Avalon lay in bed, trying to get used to the feeling of the soft mattress beneath her and the soft fluffy covers over her body. The entire day had been one mind-reeling experience after another. Josephine was a beautiful older woman- Avalon could see why she'd been chosen as her hostess- who was very pleasant and loving. Her entire house was decorated with an angel theme- Josephine told Avalon she'd believed in angels since her husband, James had died, she knew she'd seen an angel at his bedside. She made Avalon feel instantly welcome, and asked no questions about her past, thankfully, since Avalon would have had nothing to really tell her.
During their first meal together- Avalon's first meal entirely, roast beef and mashed potatoes that she found rather delightful, Josephine had recieved a call- a new client- and Avalon's first assignment. A woman named Jane Carter, who Avalon recognized as being Nick's mother, called Josephine because she'd heard many good things about her and the service. Jane explained to Josephine that her son's fiancee had been killed a few months ago, and he'd become completely withdrawn since then, and while she understood the need to mourn, she felt it was time he moved on, and thought that a clean house would be the best place to start, since she knew her son would have done nothing to clean it up. As soon as Josephine hung up the phone, she immediately bowed her head in silent prayer, though Avalon knew exactly what she was praying- blessings for Nickolas.
Josephine and Avalon finished dinner, and then Josephine retold the phone conversation to Avalon, and began to tell her the details of her job. Since she knew Avalon had no prior experience as a 'professional organizer' (a term Josephine preferred over 'cleaning lady'), Josephine gave Avalon a full description of everything she was to do. Normally they worked at a house one day a week, but from what Mrs. Carter had told her, this was going to be more than a one day job. Josephine had wished Avalon goodnight shortly after their discussion, saying she liked to get up early to take a walk and pray before she got her day started.
Avalon continued to think late into the night, the need for sleep not having taken her yet, trying to come up with ways to get Nickolas to talk to her. She figured he likely had no idea she was coming, what she knew of Jane led her to believe this was probably her idea and would be a total surprise to Nick- and that he wouldn't react well. But she could deal with that when the time came.
~~~
Avalon stood on Nick's doorstep, feeling something she couldn't quite identify- a little jittery, like her insides her jumping around- she guessed that it might be nervousness. She yawned again, an action that had taken her by surprised earlier in the morning, and realized maybe her all night pondering hadn't been the best thing. She clutched the bucket of supplies in her hand a little tighter when she heard footsteps approaching the door, and then the door slowly began to open.
Nick was wearing the same shorts and t-shirt that had practically become his uniform for his long days of moping at home. He looked curiously at Avalon, wondering why this girl- a very attractive girl, he noticed, had he cared about that sort of thing anymore- was standing on his doorstep with a bucket of what looked like stuff to clean with, and a box filled with more things near her feet. "Um, hi... who are you and why are you here?"
"I.. um...I'm from.. Josephine's Professional Organizers... a .. um.. Mrs. Jane.. Carter made an appointment with us.. for me.. to um.. clean this house..." Avalon stammered. She thought something about him looked different, but she couldn't quite place it- he seemed to be exactly the same, only something about her perception now was telling her he looked different.
Nick rolled his eyes and muttered something under his breath she didn't quite catch. "That doesn't surprise me... probably said something about it was time I moved on, right? Whatever.. come in.. do what you have to do.. just stay out of my way." He opened the door the rest of the way, and then walked off, mumbling to himself.
Avalon watched him walk away, noticing for the first time just how good those basketball shorts looked on him. The thought surprised her, she was still continually realizing there was much more to being human than she knew. She thought it was odd, how her entire existance- since the beginning of time- how she could be watching people, and never notice things about them... but the gap between knowing and actually feeling and experiencing was bigger than she could have imagined.
Avalon lugged all her supplies in the house and glanced around. The house seemed huge to her now, and almost unfamiliar, despite her having been in it many times before. She guessed the reason was how her perception had changed- as an angel nothing earthly compared to the expanse of Heaven, and diminished everything she viewed, but now on earth, the celestial realm was like a memory, and she was seeing things as other humans did, and really, using Nick's words, this house almost was "too fucking big".
She surveyed the house- noticing for the first time how unkempt it actually was, and decided to start her job in the kitchen and living room- staying in the open areas, before venturing off into his bedroom and the rest of the upstairs, where she knew most of his memories were kept.
Nick had settled himself in front of his television as usual, wanting to lose himself in the adventures Final Fantasy- making Squall battle the demons and win.. something he felt increasingly helpless in doing in his own life. Only moments into his game, Avalon's presence in his house had completely slipped his mind.
***
After almost two hours of scrubbing the counters, the floor and cabinet doors, Avalon was thirsty, and found herself with a little problem. She knew it wouldn't be "professional" to just help herself to something, but she certainly didn't want to get in Nick's way, either. She decided just to see if she could find a little something in the refrigerator and then tell him about it later. She opened the fridge and found it was almost completely empty except for a bottle of beer, a jar of mustard, a half-eaten roll of slice-and-bake cookie dough, and some leftover chinese food that appeared to have been in there.. since... forever. Thinking back, she realized she didn't see Nick eat very often.
Josephine had given her money when she'd left in the morning to buy "anything she might need" while she was working at his house. Avalon knew she was referring more to cleaning supplies, but felt that this was more of a need than soap scum remover.
She returned from the grocery store a while later, still giggling. The entire trip had been amusing to her- something about picking out the food, and buying it had struck her as fun. She'd had to ask Michael to find Sophie to give her some ideas on what to buy, and she'd found most of them. She put things in the best places she could find for them, she'd ask Nick where they went later. She grabbed a bottle of juice that'd she'd bought for herself and went back to work.
***
Later in the afternoon, Nick heard something making noise upstairs, and after getting a little worried, remembered that .. that girl was probably still here. He also realized, having torn himself away from his game, that he was practically starving. He knew there was really nothing to eat in the house, he hadn't cared about anything enough to leave the house to find food or anything else, but thought that there was still cookie dough or something left somewhere. He went downstairs and opened the fridge, blinking when he saw that there was actually food in it. He opened the freezer, even more startled to find that it, too, was almost full- frozen pizza even. He closed the door, and wondered if he'd been that out of it, to have gone shopping and not even realized it. Unless it had been.. what was her name again? Had she even told him? But why would she have done that?
He walked around the kitchen, noticing the gleam on the counters and floor, and then through the living room... no dust.. no dirt... he wondered back upstairs, where he found her on her hands and knees scrubbing behind the toilet. He was a little shocked that he admired the view, she was facing away from him, her hips swaying slightly as she scrubbed. He cleared his throar, to give her some warning she had company.
Avalon whirled around to see Nick looking at her. "Um.. hi.."
He gave her a little smile, "Hey.. I wanted to apologize for earlier.."
Avalon stood up, her heart fluttering a little at his smile, "Oh, it's okay.. I mean, I know it was kind of a surprise.."
"Yeah, but I shouldn't have been rude, either way." He stuck his hand out, "I'm Nick.. thanks for doing this."
Avalon smiled at him and shook his hand, "I'm Avalon..and I'm just doing my job."
"Does your job include grocery shopping?"
Avalon giggled nervously, "Not generally, but I wanted something to drink and didn't want to bother you.. so I looked in the fridge, and you had.. nothing.. so I did a little shopping for you.. I hope that's alright.."
"Well, I'm not going to complain about it, that's for sure... thanks for that... and take a break whenever.. help yourself to whatever you bought.." he laughed a little, and then got the same somber look Avalon was used to seeing on his face all those days she'd been watching him. "It's just.. it's been hard around here lately.. for me.." he said quietly, and looked like he may cry. He turned and walked out of the room quickly, before Avalon could say anything else.
Avalon sat down on the edge of the tub, and pulled her rubber gloves off, brushing her hair out of her face. She was going to have to get him to talk to her somehow... but didn't even know where to begin.