“But he said he couldn’t get me pregnant. He said his body wasn’t capable of it.”
“He lied,” Michael said. “He didn’t want you to know that Lucifer was going to kill him. He wanted you to be happy in the time you had left together.”
“But I take birth control.”
Michael laughed, “I don’t think birth control pills are much of a match for Archangel sperm.”
“Did he know the first time we had sex that I would become pregnant?”
Michael nodded, “He knew.”
“Then why did he do it?” she cried. “He could have lived.”
“He did it because he loved you, Dani,” Michael said. “He was willing to give his life to be with you, even if only for a few days.”
“He couldn’t have known for sure that Lucifer would kill him,” she said. “Gabriel had Lucifer on the ground. If it wasn’t for Raphael, Lucifer wouldn’t have had that chance to stab Gabriel.”
“Gabriel knew he was going to die, Dani,” Michael said. “All of the fathers of the Daughters of God die; we told you that. Gabriel knew it would be no different for him. It usually happens in the last couple of months of the pregnancy, but that wasn’t an option in this case.
“The only thing that can kill an Archangel is another Archangel,” he explained. “Raphael was too weak to face off against Gabriel, and I certainly wasn’t going to attempt it. Lucifer was the only one who stood a chance of defeating Gabriel, and he wasn’t going to wait until you were in your third trimester to rise up.”
“So Gabriel is dead because of me?” she mumbled.
“No, Dani,” Michael said and took her hand. “Gabriel chose this. He loved you more than anyone has ever been loved. The first time he made love to you, he did so with the full knowledge of what would occur.
“The price of loving you was worth it to him. And I had never seen him as happy as he was when he was with you. You gave him a purpose in life. You made him…better. What happened to him was not your fault. ”
“Then why do I feel so guilty?”
“Because you loved him, Dani,” he said, lightly squeezing her hand. “The guilty feeling will fade in time. And you’ll soon have his child to remember him by.”
“A baby,” she said in wonder, laying her hand on her stomach. “Will you stay with me until it’s born?”
“No,” Michael said with a smile. “I’ll stay with you for the rest of your life.”
“You don’t have to do that,” Dani said. “I know you have responsibilities in Heaven.”
“I do have to stay with you. I made a promise to Gabriel,” he said. “And I can fulfill my duties in Heaven and still watch over you. And I would have watched over you even if I hadn’t of made a promise to Gabriel. You made my brother happy, and for that, I love you, Dani. I’ve never had a sister before, but I have one now.”
Dani jumped when there was a knock at the door.
“It’s your friend,” Michael said. “I’ll give you two some time alone. You can tell her whatever you want, but I ask that you not tell her what I am. To her I’m Michael Jenkins, a home health care nurse. I’d like to keep it that way.”
Dani nodded. Michael vanished and she went to answer the door.
2.
“It’s about time,” Donna said, giving Dani a hug. “You slept forever. How are you feeling?”
“Horrible,” Dani said. “And I’m pregnant.”
“You’re what!?”
“I’m pregnant,” Dani repeated.
“Holy shit!” Donna said. “Is it Gabriel’s?”
“Of course it’s Gabriel’s,” she said. “Who else’s would it be?”
“Should we be celebrating or crying?”
Dani gave a tight smile, “I’m thrilled about the baby, but Gabriel’s gone.”
Donna’s eyes narrowed, “Gone where exactly?”
Dani did what Gabriel told her she shouldn’t do. She told Donna about who Gabriel really was. She told her the whole story from the moment she’d met Gabriel, up to when he died three days before.
Donna listened to the whole story without interrupting her.
When Dani was done Donna gave her a pitying look, “Oh, honey. You really think he was an angel?”
“I know he was,” Dani said, beginning to wish she hadn’t told Donna about Gabriel. “And he wasn’t just any angel, he was an Archangel.”
“Sweetie, his name may be Gabriel Angel, but he’s not a real angel. Surely you can see how crazy that sounds.”
“His last name wasn’t Angel, because he didn’t have a last name. He was the Archangel Gabriel.”
Donna gave Dani a speculative look, “So you believe you were impregnated by Archangel Gabriel?”
“Yes.”
“And you think this Archangel killed Lucifer for you before he died from his own wounds?”
Dani nodded, “Yes.”
“And you believe that he killed Lucifer because you’re the last child of God and the death of you would destroy mankind?”
“I’m the last Daughter of God, but yes,” Dani said, cringing at how crazy she sounded. “I’m the reason Gabriel was sent to Earth to kill Lucifer.”
Donna just stared at her.
“You think I’m insane, don’t you?” Dani asked.
“No, I don’t think you’re insane,” Donna said. “I think that this man brainwashed you into believing some crazy shit, and then bailed on you when you got pregnant.”
“He helped you win $15,000! He practically forced you to buy that ticket!” Dani said. “How do you explain that?”
“It was just a lucky guess, honey. He said so himself,” Donna said, shaking her head. “People win big money from scratch offs all the time.”
“But…”
“Dani, stop it,” Donna said. “You have to go talk to someone about the way you’re thinking. It’s not healthy for you or the baby…if there really is a baby.”
Michael chose that moment to walk through the front door, “Danielle, what are you doing out of bed? You know you’re supposed to be resting.”
“Oh, thank God,” Donna said, turning to Michael. “Is Dani pregnant? Is Dani on any medication that would make her delusional?”
“Yes, she is pregnant, but she’s not on any meds that would cause delusions,” Michael said. “Why?”
“Because she thinks an angel fathered her child.”
Michael looked at Dani and rolled his eyes, “Sometimes the hormonal changes of pregnancy can alter the chemicals in the brain and cause confusion. I’m sure it will wear off as the pregnancy progresses.”
“Good,” Donna said, sounding extremely relieved. “I was afraid she’d snapped her gourd.”
“She’ll be fine eventually,” Michael said. “I’ll stay here and take care of her until she’s back to normal.”
“Thank you,” Donna said and turned back to Dani. “I have to go put the deposit on the building for my salon, but I’ll be back later to check on you.”
She leaned down to give Dani a quick hug and then left.
Michael smiled at Dani when the front door closed, “Gabriel tried to tell you what would happen if you told her the truth.”
“I honestly thought she’d believe me.”
“And now you know better,” Michael said. “I would seriously suggest you not tell your story to anyone else.”
“Don’t worry,” Dani said. “I won’t. Having one person thinking I’m a nutcase is enough.”
3.
Dani had an easy pregnancy compared to some of the horror stories she’d been told. She’d been warned by other mothers to expect everything from heartburn to hemorrhoids, but she hadn’t suffered from either of those.
She hadn’t even suffered from morning sickness. And the only food craving she had was for ambrosia, which Michael brought to her on a regular basis.
She was even able to work through most her pregnancy. She had started working at Donna’s new salon and hadn’t taken her maternity leave u
ntil she was well into her eighth month.
Now she was lying on the couch with Michael at the other end, rubbing her feet. Donna was sitting in a chair on the other side of the coffee table.
“I’m bored to death,” she complained to Michael from her end of the couch.
“You’re growing a person,” Michael said. “How can you possible be bored?”
“There’s not exactly a lot of activity involved in growing a baby,” she said. “And I look like a beached whale.”
Michael laughed, “You looked beautiful, as always. And it won’t be long now. You’re due in two weeks.”
She tried to get up from the couch, but it was getting more and more difficult to move around.
“What are you doing?” Michael asked.
“I’m thirsty.”
Michael slid out from under her feet, “I’ll get you something. You just stay put and relax.”
“Marry him,” Donna said when Michael left the room.
Dani laughed, “We’re not really compatible in that way.”
“Are you kidding me? That man has a deep love for you. He waits on you hand and foot,” Donna said. “And he seems more than willing to be a father to your child. He’s just as excited about you giving birth as you are.”
“He will be the father of my baby, but only because Gabriel is dead,” Dani said. “And I’ll never be with another man because Gabriel is the only one I’ll ever love.”
“You have to stop with this Gabriel shit, Dani,” Donna snapped. “He’s not dead, he abandoned you. You have to come back to reality and see the beautiful man that’s in front of you. You better snap Michael up before someone else does.”
“Gabriel didn’t abandon me. He loved me more than he loved his own life,” Dani said, using her elbows to push herself up. “He would never have left me volu…”
“What is it?” Donna asked, seeing the pained look on Dani’s face. “What’s wrong?”
“My water just broke.”
“Shit,” Donna gasped, and then screamed, “Michael! Dani’s in labor! ”
Michael sprinted back into the living room and picked Dani up from the couch.
“Start the car,” he ordered Donna.
She grabbed her keys and ran from the house.
“It’s going to be okay,” Michael said in a panicked voice. “Women give birth all the time. There’s nothing to worry about. We’re going to be okay.”
“We’re not giving birth, Michael,” Dani said through gritted teeth as a labor pain hit her. “I am.”
“Right,” Michael said nervously, as he carried her out to Donna’s car. “I knew that.”
He put her in the back seat of the car and climbed in behind her. The ride to the hospital only took fifteen minutes, but seemed to take forever. Once her water had broken the labor pains came hard and heavy.
“Just breathe,” Michael instructed. “Slow deep breaths, in and out.”
“I am breathing!” she growled at him. “It’s not helping!”
Things happened quickly once they reached the hospital. They had barely got her into a birthing suite before the baby’s head crowned.
“Push,” the OBGYN instructed.
Dani only had to push four times before the baby slid out of her.
Michael was smiling from ear to ear, “It’s a girl.”
Michael cut the cord and laid the baby across Dani’s chest. She got one long look at her tiny daughters face before the exhaustion from giving birth pulled her into unconsciousness.
Chapter Twenty-Three
1.
Gabriel’s consciousness rematerialized before God. He had no body, but he was awake and aware. He had no idea how much time had passed since he’d died, but his first thought was of Dani.
“Gabriel,” his Father said.
“Father,” Gabriel replied.
“You did well in your mission,” God said. “I have decided to give your life back to you and allow your re-admittance into Heaven”
“Thank you, Father.” Gabriel said.
God smiled at him, “But first we must talk about the relationship you’ve formed with my daughter.”
“I will not stay away from her,” Gabriel declared.
“I could put you in Hell,” God said.
“And I would dig my way up to her,” Gabriel said. “If You don’t want me to be with her then I beg You to return me to my death. I do not wish to live without her.”
“You have served me well. You are worthy of my daughter,” God said and waved His hand. Gabriel fell, his body reformed, to the foot of his Father’s Throne. “Go be with your wife and daughter. Re-seed the earth with my blood.”
“My daughter?” Gabriel said in wonder. “She’s been born?”
“Only hours ago,” God said and tilted his head. “She has your eyes.”
“Thank you, Father,” Gabriel said and kissed God’s foot before rising to his feet.
“You must still perform your duties for Heaven,” God commanded. “Never forget what you truly are, Gabriel.”
“Yes, Father,” Gabriel said and turned to leave. He turned back before leaving the Throne Room. “Can I come back to Heaven to be with Dani here when her time on Earth is through?”
God smile down at Gabriel, “You could have come home whenever you wished, Gabriel. I would have forgiven you anything.”
Gabriel looked at his Father in confusion, “If you would have forgiven me before, then why didn’t you?”
“Because, my son,” God said, still smiling. “You never asked me to.”
Gabriel smiled back at his Father, nodded to him and left to return to Dani’s side.
2.
Gabriel fell to Earth in the large empty field next to Gateway Hospital. He walked into the hospital, invisible to all that were inside the waiting room. He acquired a pair of scrub pants, became visible again, and made his way up to the Maternity Ward.
Michael was standing in the hallway outside of Dani’s room. When he turned his head and saw Gabriel the look on his face was one of profound shock.
Gabriel smiled at him and asked, “How is she?”
“How is this possible?” Michael asked through his shock. “I saw you die, Gabriel.”
“God saw fit to bring me back to life,” Gabriel said, giving Michael a hug. “Now how is my wife?”
“She’s asleep, but she’s fine.”
“And my child?”
“Her name is Gabriella Mikella Anne Coulter,” Michael said proudly. “She weighs a whopping seven pounds nine ounces, and she’s beautiful.”
“Where is she?”
“She’s in the room with Dani,” Michael said, and turned and led the way into the room.
Gabriel’s breath caught in his throat when he saw Dani lying in the bed. He felt as if he hadn’t seen her in a millennia. Next to her, in a tiny bassinet was Gabriel’s sleeping daughter. He walked slowly over and looked down at her.
She was so tiny, and Michael was right; she was beautiful. Gabriel felt his heart swell with love. He had a child! And he would be here every day of her life to rais…”
“You have got to be fucking kidding me!” he heard Donna say from across the room. “You have some nerve showing up here!”
Gabriel had been so anxious to see his family that he hadn’t noticed that Donna was in the room. “I came to see my wife and child.”
Donna jumped out of her chair and proceeded to swing on Gabriel, “You drove Dani crazy!” she said between punches. “You have her convinced that you’re a God damned Archangel! A dead Archangel!”
When she tired herself out she stood back and glared at him, “Well, you too late. She has a new man now. One that takes care of her. One that makes her dinner at night when she comes home from work and rubs her feet when she’s tired.
“A man that held her hand as she gave birth to your child. A man that truly loves her. Tell him, Michael.”
“Uh…nooo,” Michael said, shaking his head in denial. “I’m not re
ally in the mood to die today.”
“Michael,” Gabriel said threateningly. “Donna better be suffering from a severe misunderstanding.”
Donna looked at Michael, “You know him?”
“Yeah,” Michael said. “I know him.”
“When I first asked you about him, you said you didn’t know who he was.”
“That wasn’t exactly the truth,” Michael said guiltily. “Gabriel is my brother.”
“Your brother?” Donna spat. “You knew your brother filled Dani’s head with bullshit and you didn’t even try to talk her out of it? You just said it would wear off!”
“It wasn’t bullshit. Dani was telling you the truth,” Michael said. “This is the Archangel Gabriel.”
Donna seethed, “That would make you the Archangel Michael, right?”
Michael nodded.
Donna laughed scornfully, “You’re both nuttier than a box of squirrel shit!”
“That’s enough,” Gabriel said.
He raised his hand and sent Donna sliding across the room and back into her chair.
“Sit down and pay attention because I’m only going to do this once,” Gabriel said, and then added, “And don’t pass out this time.”
Gabriel flexed his shoulders, unfurled his wings and declared, “I am the one and only Archangel Gabriel.”
Donna opened her mouth to scream, but Gabriel seized her vocal cords, “Don’t do that. There are sick people in this hospital that are trying to rest.”
Gabriel released Donna’s vocal cords just as his baby started to cry. None of Donna’s yelling had woken Dani up, but at the sound of their baby’s tiny cries, Dani’s eyes fluttered open.
3.
“Gabriel,” Dani said groggily.
She knew that Gabriel wasn’t there. The heavy pain medication that the hospital had her on was causing her to hallucinate, but she didn’t care. He looked real to her and she’d never been so happy to see him in her whole life.
“Hello, love,” Gabriel said, brushing a lock of hair from Dani’s eyes. “How are you feeling?”
“I hurt some, but I’m okay,” she said. “I miss you so much, Gabriel. I wish you were really here. You’d love to see you’re daughter, she’s beautiful. She has your eyes.”
When Angels Fall Page 24