Floating higher and higher, I felt safe in his arms.
“Oh, Angelo,” I sobbed. “I’ve missed you so much.”
“My love, I missed you too.” His voice was choked with emotion. He kissed me again.
“Tell me this isn’t some sort of joke?”
He chuckled. “No, Ella. I don’t know how, but it’s no joke.”
“It was all Aria’s doing.”
“Then I have another reason to love her. She brought us back together again.”
“Nothing will separate us again,” I cried.
“We have until the end of time.”
“Forever and a day.” I always wanted more.
“Forever and a day it is then.” He smiled at me.
“Good enough,” I replied. “Now, take me down, I want you to meet your daughter.”
Angelo lowered me to the ground, just inside the white picket fence. His wings disappeared then he knelt and wrapped his arms around me, resting his head against my stomach.
“Are you ready?” I asked.
He didn’t answer me, but I knew why.
Aria was standing on the porch watching us.
“Daddy,” she yelled, barely able to conceal her excitement.
I looked down at Angelo, but he couldn’t speak.
Tears ran down his cheeks, but he smiled.
What must he be thinking?
This adorable little girl was our creation, and for the first time, he was laying eyes upon her.
“Angelo?”
“It’s okay, Mummy, I know Daddy’s pleased to see me.”
Were they talking telepathically?
“Yes, I know he’s pleased to see you. You’ve both waited such a long time.”
Angelo rose to greet her. He held out his arms and his wings appeared, radiating with colours. My heart could have burst with happiness as she dashed down the porch steps, her little chunky legs carrying her as fast as they could.
“My child,” he cried, out loud.
I squealed in delight, then shock, as Aria leapt high into the air, luminescent blue wings, the colour of her father’s eyes, bursting forth majestically.
My daughter appeared to take the appearance of her wings in her stride.
Angelo leapt into the air to greet his daughter, arms open wide. Aria crashed into him, throwing her arms around him.
“Daddy,” she cried. “I’m going to be the boss one day. Did you know that?”
“I didn’t know that, my beautiful girl,” Angelo said.
“Shush, Aria,” I said, holding my finger to my lips.
Angelo covered Aria in kisses, spinning around and around in the air.
I’d never seen my daughter as happy as she was at that moment. The age-old adage, you never miss what you never had, was wrong, in Aria’s case at least. She needed her father’s love and devotion. It had been the one thing missing in her life, and for what she would inherit in the years to come, having her family around would stand her in good stead.
Many years from now, our daughter would become the most important person in existence. I was scared for her, but even at such a young age, I knew Aria was up to the task. She would watch over the universe with humility and compassion.
That was many years into the future.
Next stop was Earth.
I was excited. I’d missed my family, but when the time came, I knew I’d return to my home here, and we’d all be together again.
“My home,” I said. “Every journey starts here.” I remembered Angelo’s words.
If people could see how magical the Heavens were, there would be no fear of death.
I looked to the skies and smiled—my heart full of love.
Father and daughter were finally together, and all was as it should be.
Angelo watched as Aria slept.
He appeared transfixed by his little girl, but what else was I expecting? It had been five years and I knew he grieved for the time he’d lost.
I approached, placing my hand gently on his shoulder.
“How are you feeling?” I asked.
“Happy,” he offered, then added, “and sad at the same time.”
“Because you missed so much?”
“Yes!” He paused. “I’ve lived for a long time, but these last five years have felt like an eternity. I knew where you both were, but you were just out of my grasp.”
“I’m so sorry.”
He shook his head. “Do you know how hard it’s been?”
“Yes, Angelo, I was here with our daughter, fighting for us, remember?”
“You never gave up, but I had to, knowing what the repercussions of further disobedience would bring.”
“Angelo. You’re here with us now, where you belong, so there’s no point dwelling on it.”
“I know, but…”
“No buts,” I said. “Let us enjoy what we have now.”
“You’re right.” He kissed Aria gently on the forehead and stood up. “Goodnight, my little miracle.”
His gaze lingered on her.
“Come on, let her sleep, tomorrow is a big day.”
I held out my hand and led him out of Aria’s bedroom and into ours.
“I never gave up hope, I need you to know that,” I tried and failed to keep my emotions in check. “I never stopped questioning.”
“You don’t have to say that to me, Ella.” He touched the side of my face. “I know you by heart.”
“These five years without you were hard, but I had to keep it together for Aria’s sake.”
“I wish things could have been different, but I sinned.”
“You loved me, it was no sin.”
“Yes, and I never stopped loving you, but there had to be repercussions for my actions.”
“We lost five years.”
“And gained so much more in return.”
“I’m sorry.”
“He always has a plan, and I had to trust in that, even through my own heartbreak.”
“You never gave up hope, did you?”
“No, not once. I knew I would see you both again.”
“But how?”
“Because love conquers all, Ella, and Aria was borne of that love.”
“Did you know what she was?”
“Not at all, but I did wonder how and why it came to be. We were always warned about angelic children.”
“But, she isn’t an angelic child, is she?”
“No, she is anything but.”
“Then what is she?”
“She is our daughter.”
“But don’t you care what she is?”
“It is not our job to question Him, but I believe Aria is something entirely new, something never seen before.”
“Will she be able to do what He wants?”
“Yes.”
“You seem so certain of that.”
“He is never wrong.”
“Then I have to accept it.”
“What else are you going to do? It is set in stone. Our daughter will take His place and it’s our duty to make sure she grows up to understand how important her role will be.”
“We’ll be with her all the way.”
“Yes, but forget all that for now, and kiss me.”
His request shocked me.
“Are we allowed?”
Angelo laughed. “We’ve already broken the rules, what are the powers that be going to do?”
“Well if you put it that way.”
I threw my arms around him, feeling his hard body against me.
“Oh, I missed you.” My lips crushed against his, so I wasn’t sure he understood what I’d said.
He looked at me and I could see the longing. “I missed you too, Ella.”
We kissed again.
He tore at my blouse, and I could feel his sense of urgency.
I helped him, slipping out of my clothes.
Standing naked, I watched as he too shed his clothes.
He was as magnificent as I remembered.<
br />
“You are beautiful.” He swept me off my feet.
We kissed again, then he lay me on the bed.
He was ready, but I wanted so much more from him.
I melted at his smile.
Parting my legs with his fingers, he wasted no time in burying his head between them.
I felt his tongue enter me, revelling in that exquisite feeling I’d never experienced with him before.
I pulled the pillow over my face and moaned loudly, not wanting Aria to hear, as he pushed deeper into me, the orgasm flooding through me.
He didn’t stop and took me to heights of ecstasy I’d only dreamed of.
“My love,” he said, his voice like a Sirens call. I moved the pillow but couldn’t speak.
He crawled over me and kissed me again. I could taste myself on his lips.
“Make love to me, Angelo.”
Epilogue
“Will it hurt, Mummy?” Aria asked.
“Oh, no, my darling, not at all,” I replied, trying to soothe her nerves. “All you have to do is hold onto my hand and look at all the pretty colours as we fly past.”
She held her arms in the air and Angelo swooped her up, covering her with kisses. “You’re my big brave girl.”
Aria began to cry.
“What’s wrong?” I asked, as she buried her head into Angelo’s neck.
It broke my heart to see her in such distress.
I looked at Angelo as he stroked Aria’s hair.
“Come on,” he said. “Look at Daddy and tell me what’s upsetting you.”
“I’m going to miss my friend.” Her chin wobbled.
“Your friend?” Angelo asked.
And suddenly, I got it.
Angelo looked at me with a quizzical expression.
Him, I mouthed, silently.
“He has a name, you know,” Aria said, precociously, wiping her tears away. “But I’m not allowed to tell you. It’s a secret, just between us.”
“Really?” I said, surprised my daughter was reading my thoughts. “That’s a pretty big secret to keep.”
“I’m good at keeping secrets,” she replied. What else is she keeping from me? “Well, He didn’t tell me what it was. I kinda guessed for myself.”
“You did?” Angelo asked. “Then you’re the cleverest girl in the whole of the heavens.”
“It was really easy.”
I have a feeling our daughter is going to continually surprise us.
In fact, the past twenty-four hours had been one big surprise after another and they kept coming.
It seemed Aria had kept a lot hidden from me, but I wasn’t upset about it. She had her own destiny she had obviously come to grips with, even at such a young age.
After all, years down the line, she would become humanity’s guardian, but looking at her now, she would perform her duties with kindness and benevolence. I just had to focus on what was ahead for us, and that was returning to Earth as a family.
For Aria it would be a traumatic time. She had no experience of my home planet, so it would fall to Angelo and myself to ensure she felt safe and secure in a world she knew nothing of.
There was also the big secret we would all have to keep.
As for me. I was nervous returning to my old life. Would I still feel the same? I didn’t know, but one thing was certain–I’d missed my parents and sister so much and couldn’t wait to see them again.
I wasn’t going to slip back into my old life as a partying singleton. No, I would be a working mummy. It would be an adjustment returning to my old life as for the last five years, it had just been Aria and me.
“Look, Mummy,” Aria said, demanding my attention. She was pointing up at the sky.
I gasped as a bright light moved across the sky toward us.
“He wants to say bye-bye to us.”
Angelo dropped to his knees and bowed his head.
Rise, Angelo. You are the father of Aria.
The light settled in front of us.
“I knew you’d come,” Aria said. Her tiny face was a picture of joy.
“Of course, my child,” He said. The light pulsed as he spoke.
“I’m going to miss you.”
“As I will miss you, little Aria, but I’ll always be with you, and anytime you need me, think of me, and I’ll be there.”
Aria began to cry again. “Why can’t you come with me?”
“Because I still have a lot of work to do here.”
“Can I come back here and see you when I want?”
“This is still your home and you are free to return as and when you choose,” He said. “That’s if your parents will it.”
“Daddy will bring me,” Aria said. “He can fly too, you know?”
He laughed. “Yes, I believe he can.”
Without warning, He stepped from the light and Aria looked up, her face alive with joy.
I noticed the luminescence of His wings. They radiated beautifully, but still phased in and out of existence.
Angelo’s mouth dropped open. “Oh, my…” He didn’t seem to notice the wings.
“Friend,” He interrupted, taking hold of Angelo’s hand. “It is good to meet you in person.”
Angelo’s tears fell freely. “It is the greatest of honours.”
“The honour is mine, Angelo.”
“Don’t cry, Daddy,” Aria said, wrapping her arms around his neck and kissing his cheek.
“I’m not crying because I’m sad, but because I’ve never felt so happy.”
“Your father is right, Aria,” I said. “Daddy is just pleased to meet his oldest friend.”
He smiled. “It’s time for you to go.”
“Put me down, Daddy,” she demanded.
Angelo bent down and Aria jumped out of his arms, rushing straight into His arms.
“I’m sorry,” I whispered.
He shook his head and embraced Aria as though she were his own child.
I was witness to the most beautiful of miracles.
The creator loved my daughter without question, as she loved him.
My own tears fell.
“I love you,” Aria said, her tiny hand on his cheek.
He returned the gesture, his hand covering the whole side of her face. “And I love you too, Aria Montgomery.”
Aria wrapped her arms around His neck and the two embraced.
I was deeply touched at the strength of their bond and worried how she would cope when the time came for Him to take his own journey into the unknown.
I took hold of Angelo’s hand.
It was time to go.
“Aria,” I said. “We have to go.”
She kissed His cheek and dropped to the floor.
He nodded, and I noticed tears filled His eyes.
The light engulfed Him once more and without warning, He was gone
“Are you ready?” Angelo asked.
“Yes,” I said.
“What about you, my little one?”
“Ready, Daddy,” she said, excitedly.
“Then stand in between Mummy and I.”
“Okay,” she said, doing as she was told.
Aria held onto our hands, and suddenly I felt the strangest sensation.
“Oh, Mummy, they’re so pretty,” Aria said.
Angelo’s mouth dropped again.
“What?”
“Your wings are so pretty,” she said.
“My wings?”
“I think you’ve been given the most precious of gifts,” Angelo said.
“But, why?”
“You earned them,” he said.
“This means we can all fly.” Aria jumped up and down on the spot.
“But I don’t know how.”
“You will be fine,” Angelo said.
Aria grabbed hold of my hand. “I’m ready.”
The End
Acknowledgments
My family – you mean more to me than I could ever tell you.
Gloria Nuckols. The best PA
I could ask for. Well, here we are again, at the start of another journey. I must be crazy, but I wouldn’t want this journey without you beside me – Thank you!
Team Zane; Susan, Carol & Pat – Thank you for everything.
All of my friends and supporters in Zane’s Hangout, Zane’s Army & Zane Angels – Thank you for sticking by me and enjoying the ride. You’re all amazing!
Marco & Netta at Happy Ever After Publishing – I couldn’t have asked for a better publisher, or more support!
With Love…
Zane x
About the Author
Zane Michaelson lives in Cheshire, England with his Wife and two adorable children.
When he isn’t writing, Zane can usually be found at his local gym, or spending time with his family.
For more information or just to touch base with Zane you will find him at:
Official Website
Newsletter
Also by Zane Michaelson
Cammie - By Invitation Only
Forbidden Love The Series
There Are Two Sides to Every Story
Copyright © 2018 Zane Michaelson
All rights reserved.
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