Baylias + Angel

Everyone always seemed to naturally think they married an angel.

Bayley knew if she told someone that, she wouldn't be exaggerating.

Well, technically, he had been an angel but still- she wouldn't be lying.

"Do you remember Heaven?" she asked, running her hand down a faint pink line of mottled scar tissue. "Like really remember?"

This was the sort of late night conversation that they always seemed to have.

Elias had always struck her as an odd duck. He never let anyone get too close. Bayley just assumed he was an introvert but still, there was something about him. She found herself intrigued both by him and his energy.

Even though he was strange, she made it her personal mission to get to know him.

You're never going to leave me alone, are you?

Nope. I've worked with you way too long without actually getting to know you. Besides, people can't be grumpy around me.

What do you want to know?

He must have liked that way of thinking because after that, they began to spend more and more time together. What started out as genuine curiosity ended up becoming more.

She'd thought Elias felt the same.Yet, instead of reacting, he disappeared.

"Vaguely? When you give up that kind of thing, you almost always forget on instinct." He began to chew on his lip as he contemplated his explanation. "It's beautiful. It's quiet. It's boring."

Bayley's eyes widened, surprised by the description. She'd never really thought about it. Heaven boring? What could possibly be boring about Eternal Paradise?

"Nothing ever happens. You just sit around, being calm until it's your turn to experience human life or you're lucky enough to be assigned Guardian duty."

"Really? How do they decide who gets to be a guardian?" She always had been curious about what came after.

"Don't know- they never explained it to me and I never asked."

He disappeared, wanting to run from her. She hadn't understood why. Everything seemed to be going well. What could possibly cause him to just run?

She knew the cause of the shift in his behavior.

In the midst of one of their friend dates, the stars aligned just right. Maybe it had been the fluorescent lighting or the wine cold and sweet. Neither of them could remember exactly what spurred them on. Regardless of why, they kissed.

"Do you regret leaving?" The words caught thick in her throat. Part of her didn't want to know. She thought she knew the answer but she hadn't ever wanted to know the truth. She didn't like to think about it.

"No," he said, speaking in a firm, clear voice.

"Well, I- wait-what?" Bayley gave him a baffled look. She couldn't have heard him correctly.

"No." He reached over, caressing her cheek with the underside of a calloused finger. "I don't regret it."

She leaned into his touch, fighting back a purr of contentment. She loved his touch and the meaning behind it. "Really?"

"Yeah. It's nice but it's too quiet. Nothing ever happens." His hand drifted down to her barely-swollen belly. "We don't get miracles like this."

Bayley knew he wanted to say more but for whatever reason, he held back.

"Would you go back?"

A logical person would have accepted his disappearance as a blatant brush off. Her logical side suggested she admit that he just wasn't that interested.

Bayley had never been known for her logic.

She always had a sixth sense about people. She knew he loved her but refused to admit it for whatever reason. She would only find peace when she began to understand him.

I guess my disappearing wasn't obvious enough to you.

I'm bad at taking hints. If you really want me to leave you alone, I can but something tells me you don't want that.

You know me too well.

I know- it's scary. Want to tell me what's going on?

"If I went back, I wouldn't have you." He stared at her, his hazel eyes now dark and serious. "I wouldn't have this amazing life."

Tears welled up in her eyes. Of all the things she'd expected, that hadn't been one of them. "You're terrible!"

"Why?" He reached up, brushing her tears away with the underside of his hand.

"You made me cry!" She sat up, wrapping the sheet tighter around her body. "That's the sweetest weird thing anyone has ever said to me."

"I speak the truth!" He held their twined hands up, the diamond on her ring glistening in the moonlight.

You will never believe me.

My ex-boyfriend was a demon. Try me.

That's a terrible thing to say about Finn.

No- I mean literally. Balor's a demon.

I'm an angel.

Bayley snickered, remembering her reaction. Her eyes wide with confusion- she couldn't believe someone would willingly blurt out something like that. It had taken Finn ages to trust her with the secrets of Balor.

Now the new guy tried to convince her he was an angel.

"What made you finally believe me?"

Her eyes drifting up, she inhaled as he exhaled. "I saw your true form. You showed me- black tipped wings and all. What's it like to fly?"

If she closed her eyes and thought hard about it, she could just remember taking in the sight of his glorious chestnut colored wings, tipped with black. Her fingers tingled, as she remembered touching them, and the way they tickled.

"Hard to explain. You're weightless. You have no worries. Just you and the air." He cleared his throat, as he carefully contemplated his words.

"And you gave that up for me?" Her eyes widened in awe.

"Yep." He reached out, lightly tickling her ribs. She giggled at the feel of his callused hands. "Your laugh made it worth it."

"What?"

"Your laugh gives me the same feeling." He cleared his throat. "That's how I knew I made the right decision."

She nodded, tears brimming in her eyes. How many people could say their spouse had (literally) given up Heaven for a chance to be with them?

"Rest well." He pressed a kiss to her forehead.

"Night." She stifled another yawn. "Love you."

"Love you too." He tightened his grip on her.

Snuggling deeper into his arms, she fell into a deep contented sleep.

The only thought echoing in her mind was a singular realization.

He gave up Heaven for you.

-fin-