Come Crashing Down...part 2. DON'T READ UNLESS YOU WANT TO S

Azrael lay in his bed panting. He had throughly exhausted himself and his mate. He looked at the ceiling of their once again shared master suite. Every limb was sore. He had used every ounce of energy he had, and, as they used to say in his youth, heHe had spent himself. And the smile on his face showed it.

He turned his head slightly to the woman lying next to him, sleeping. His mate, his woman throught out the ages. He had seen her in The Garden and wanted her for his own. He had given up his wings to have her, and she inturn gave him part of her lifeblood. They were MADE for one another. Although the way The Maker had intended it, and the way they lived, the Angel was fairly sure, were two COMPLETELy different paths.

He turned slightly to gather her into his arms. He loved her, he always had, even when he thought she had hated him, or he despised her. He had to admit here and now
"I have always loved you My...Beauty. I have always found peace in your arms, even when I was sure I would find none. NEVER leave me, ever again." He said to her still form, his tone posssesive and slightly threatening.

"If someone dare try to take you from me, or take my place of supremecy in your heart, then I will destroy any that would take you from me, or try to keep us apart..Any...And ALL. I Must be first in your heart!" The jealousy lighting his eyes would have been plain for anyone to see.

He smiled abit, though it had no kindness in it.
"But sharing your sweet body in my bed, or us entangled with another, that is quite another story.."

He stretched a bit and whispered to her, "Lilly..Your Pet, MY Boy is even more pleasing then he was in the House of Wolves, there we had to force him into accepting our..attentions, I even had to hold your hostess down. But here...He is WELL and truly involved in our sport..He is a DAMN fine fuck! And the sounds he can drive from your lips, rival ONLY those I can coax from them."

He rolled back on his back and chuckled.
..."I wonder, Gee seems to think he can bring Byn into our circle willingly, perhaps that is not the most...thrilling way for any of us. Perhaps one night, under the moons sweet cold glow, we will.. introduce her to our world? What would you say My sweet Mistress? Should we force Lillith's little Bynnie into our bed? Or coax her into it? Or should we keep this our own little secret?" He began to kiss her as puntuation, all along her jaw and over the beginning swell of her breasts.
"Only Lilly...and Gee... and Azzy.. know.. the.. truth?"

The woman next to him began to stir. His kisses like drops of molten lava on her skin. She turned to him and wrapped her arms around his neck before she opened her eyes.
"Wake up..I long to see your eyes shining at me. I NEED to see their fire." he murmured as his hands began to roam her body.
"We are alone my only love, and while I am have been well and truly satisfied this morningtide, I would welcome your attentions again eagerly." His lips captured hers and his tongue forced it's way into her mouth, she did not fight it at all instead she seemingly melted next to him.

Azzy realised it was NOT Lilly kissing him. IT was Lillith! She in that instant felt his body stiffen and pull away a bit. Lillith's eyes flew open and looked into the eyes that should have held her Beloved Angel's soul in them, instead she saw the taint. The taint had taken over once again.

Lillith shrank from him, and in that instant, remembered what had happened in that room, just a short while ago. Lilly had been in out again, Lilly who was drawn to Azrael's power, and was happily a companion to his tainted wicked ways.

Lilly who had seduced Rardy when Lillith had picked him as a protector for her daughter, Lillith had allowed her, other to do that to keep him from finding others, she knew as long as Lilly was keeping Rardy busy, he would not have time to persue either others, or worse her Byn.

Yes Lillith loved the boy too, both as a man, giving her body to him whenever he had wished it. And as a future member of her family, as she hoped one day Byn and he would fall inlove, Lillith had always intended Rardy for Byn.

Lilly had other ideas. And there was part of Rardy that somehow responded to Lilly differently than he had to Lillith. That part of him, the corrupt, cheating, manipulative part, found a mate in Lilly.

That part schismed from Rardy one night in the House of Wolves.

Lillith had allowed Azrael to use ANY method to gain control of Rardy, after she had freed Azrael of his bonds to Gerard. That night, Rardy would never forget, he still had nightmares about it. Gee called them fantasies or sweet dreams.
That was the night Gee was born.

And the night after, Az forced Rardy to take Lillith. Those two events ...Gee considered them, his Birthday and his coming of age. They were what formed him, and made him who he was.

Lillith felt remorse for her part in each. Although the night she was raped, she had allowed herself to be tortured so, to prove to Azrael, who was fully engulfed in his taint, that Rardy was indeed trust worthy.

But at this moment she saw no such need. They were all on the same side were they not? Azrael was suppossed to be leading their team against Moki in heavens quest. But as she looked into the eyes before her, she saw NOT her Beloved Azrael, but the tainted one, a monster.

"YOU!..You let it happen again!" "I heard no complaints from either of you..Besides your precious Byn is already blaiming the boy..Why should we not enjoy each other, if she already assumes we are? She is TOO cold for him..I, however, had begun to melt that icy exterior..She has fire in her..What do they say..The apple does not fall far from the tree?" He chuckled, deep and throaty.
"Come now dearest, once she wears his band..What harm will it do as long as we all enjoy ourselves?"

"And what if she does not WANT you? If she wants ONLY her husband? She LOVES Rardy!"
Azzy's face clouded with anger.
"She LOVES ME TOO! Or have you forgotten how she tended to me after the loss of my wings? When My WIFE and bond mate abandoned me?"

"That was NOT you she cared for! Not the tainted, selfish, heartless being that I see before me..She..Loves..My Husband, MY Angel. She loves the noble selfless soul within you. This is your taint talking! Just as Lilliy was with you and..." the horror on her face clearly showing as she remembered what had happened in this bedroom just a short time ago. "GEE!!..This morning past! OH!! May The Maker have mercy on us..We ..Seduced him again!..When we KNEW he was trying to stay true to his promise to her..He wants a LIFE with her, an eternity! And You and I ..we keep leading him into temptation!" Lillith covered her face with her hands sobbing, her hair falling all around her nude body covering her as she wept.
It was in that moment, that pose, that Azrael fought to push his taint down, to bury it deep within him.

The Angel saw His Beloved crying, he knew what he had allowed himself to do..Now he had to face the possibilty, that because he had let that taint have free reign, that not only Byn, but Rardy and Lillith and the others as well, would all suffer.

Because of his selfish desire to be the one that everyone wanted, he may infact lose them all.

He sat up and reached for his Garden Blossom, his only ageless, love. The sorrow clear in his eyes.
"Heart of My Heart? I..I cannot take back what I did...I have failed you, and him and Byn once again..How can I ask you to forgive me? But I beg you too..I beg you to NOT take your love from me..? Do Not abandon the one who has loved you since the beginning of time.."

Lillith raised her tear-stained face to look into his eyes. "How could I? I could sooner will my heart to stop beating than stop loving you..I could sooner make the heavens fall from the sky than truly ever abandon you, with out you I have nothing, no life..no existance.."

"Yes Beloved it is as such for me too! The truest part of me, the Gregori who first saw you in The Garden, and loved you before he event knew that he could love..He ceases to be.
With out you, I dissappear."

Lillith sobbed and threw herself into his arms. They clung to each other, softly sobbing. They both owed Rardy an apology. Reluctantly the Angel released his wife.,with a heavy sigh he sadly held her gaze.
"We must not allow this to happen again. We must protect him and her from any and all, even ourselves, even, in his case, his other...as MUCH as I hate to admit it..HE, Rardy held back the taint in me, and believe the Only way I can help him to control Gee if to be linked with him...I surrender Lillith my Dove. The bond MUST be reinstated..It may be our only hope."

"But what about Lilly? She too must be stopped."
"Lilly needs a leader..If Both of our Others, Gee and the tainted Azzy, are undercontrol, she will have no one to follow..She will be harmless. You will easily control her."

He spoke as he took her face in both his hands.
"You are fierce My Dove, stronger than you know. You are like a lioness with her cub, you will do anything to protect your Byn, I have seen it..I do not have any doubt in you..You must not doubt yourself. YOU will protect her, No matter what the cost."

Lillith dropped her eyes from his and slowly pulled away. She left their bed, pulled on a flowing silky coverup, and walked towards the door.

"I must find him, I must make him understand we were not ourselves..I just hope he understands.." she said with such sorrow he could almost see her heart shatter.
"I cannot bear to think he will not forgive us..What if he takes Byn away from me..From us..What if he wants nothing more to do with us?" Lillith walked away from the door way afraid of the answer.

The blonde lay back into his bed, one of his hands behind his head, the other slowly brushing against his own thigh. A slow smile spread across his face..
"Then WE will just have to CONVINCE THEM to stay.."

*GROOOOOOAN* UUUGGGGGHHHHHH NOOOOO I KNEW YOU WERE GONNA DO THAT!!!! THERE WERE SO MANY CHUCKLES IN THERE!! AND I KNOW HOW YOU FEEL ABOUT "CHUCKLES" ....

'specially Az chuckles. *scowls at Zomb* you see what you have done?!

.....*scowls at Lis-UH* Lis - UGH! .... FOR SHAME!!

Lillith rushed toward the stairs. Her footfall so light that no one else in the house heard it. She stood for a moment at the top of the stairs and looked around unsure where to search for him first. He rean to his bed room, yes she COULD have used the passage way back in the master suite, but that meant facing Azrael again.

And Lillith was unsure that she would be able to tear herself away from him again if she had to do that.

So she headed for the door of Rardy's room the proper way.
She knocked softly, and waited for a reply. None came. Lillith was concerned.
"Shall I open it?..No..What if he is..not himself..OR not alone. BYN!? What if Gee has seduced my Byn?!!"

Lillith's sense of decorum was overwhelmed by her mother's instinct to protect her child. She opened the door.

The room thankfully was empty. But that just worried her more. She rushed to her daughter's room. Again she knocked, and waited, and paniced. Again she opened the door. Again it was empty.

"WHERE are you Rardy? And Where have you taken my Byn?"
Lillith said outloud to an empty room. She slowly turned and headed down the the stairs. Her sorrow weighing on her with every step.

She thought first of heading toward the kitchen, to make herself some tea to calm her nerves. When she thought of the the sketches Rardy had givenShe and Azrael as a house warming present, she thought perhaps a glance at them may do as much if not more for her than the tea. She needed to remember happier times. To remember and focus on them, perhaps will them back into exsistance.

She turned into the room to find Rardy and Byn sleeping on the couch. They looked at first glance to be peaceful. But then as Lillith looked closer, she saw a look of almost, pain, etched into his sleeping brow.

"Please...just go away.. she doesn't love you..have..I have to protect-"

Lillith shook him gently, whispering, "Rardy?..Rardy I have to speak with you..it's urgent."

His eyes flew open, instantly awake. He looked down at Byn. He whispered hoping against hope that it was the truth.
"I didn't hurt her I swear!"

"Rardy come into the kitchen..We MUST talk." He was about to fight Lillith. To tell her to go to hell and take Az with her!
But then he looked into her eyes. He saw such sorrow, remorse even that he had to give her a chance, after all they were all at fault. Even the real Angel was no angel in this case.

He sighed heavily and nodded.
"Give a minute, then I'll be in..I don't wanna wake her. She's been through enough."

Lillith stood and left, as quietly as a soft breeze.

Rardy looked down at Byn's sleeping form. He whispered trying to apologise without actually waking her. She'd know, on some level how sorry he was, and how much her loved her.
He would make things right. Come HELL or high water!
"I never meant to hurt you, Byn..I swear I didn't. I'm gonna fix this..I have to put a stop to it before it touches you..It won't happen ever again."

He kissed her as softly as he could on her brow and slipped out from underneath her. He turned and pulled the cover around her tighter, cocooning her. Then he stole out of the room and headed toward the kitchen.

He found Lillith in the kitchen stairing out of the window.
"Lillith is it REALLY you?" The moment she turned to the sound of his voice and he saw the tears in her eyes, he knew FOR SURE it was. He walked stright toward her and took her in his arms. Even though he hated how they could all potentially hurt Byn, with what they had all done, he was still concerned for Lillith.

There was still a part of Rardy that genuinely wanted to protect Lillith, EVEN from herself and he and AZ.

"I am sorry." She wailed. "Truly sorry! I cannot ask your forgiveness, only that you not take my daughter away from me."

"Byn..she, she might be safer away from ALL of us..But I'm NOT going to take her away...She needs her mom, her REAL MOM. But we have to find away to stop Lilliy and Gee and..Azzy..I can't say NO to him, especially when you are on his side. Liullith, Lillth PLease help me figure this out. I don't wanna hurt Byn..
What if you're wrong about me? About me being her protector?"

Byn in the music room began to stir. She looked down to where he'd been lying next to her.
"Rardy..? Where'd you go..?" She lay there for a second and listened the house was quiet. She sighed, atleast it didn't sound like "they" were "Busy".
"I guess I'd better start on dinner." She got up and walked the few short steps to the pantry next to the kitchen.

At the top of the stairs, a silent robed Azrael watched her go.

Lillith looked up into his eyes, his sorrow mirroring hers, she whispered to him.
"No..I am not wrong about YOU Rardy. I Always Knew..." She was found she had no more words and she lay her head on his shoulder, silent tears streaming down her face.
He took one hand and softly smoothed her hair down the back of her head. His cheek resting on her soft hair,
"..Maybe, maybe We should push her towards Frank.."

WHAT?! OH *HELL* NO!

FUCK no Rardy that is NOT a fucking good idea!! NO NO NO NO NO!! And no Lis, this is NOT meaning i like it... i DO. NOT. WANT. FRYN!

sorry Zomb, but i just DONT!

HEY!
Just cause someone chuckles does NOT make it my fault...

And who says I like Fryn? *looks at siggy* Oh...that's right...I do! O_O


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Robyn walked into the pantry using the hallway entrance, gently clicking on the hanging light. As she reached for something, perhaps some rice to make Chinese food, she heard her mother’s voice coming through the kitchen entrance to the pantry.
"No…I am not wrong about YOU Rardy. I Always Knew..."
Robyn held her breath, listening for Gerard’s response. It was clear to Robyn that her mother wanted him, the emotion in her voice made it seem perfectly clear to her. She just hoped that Gerard would give the right answer.
"…Maybe, maybe We should push her towards Frank…” Gerard’s voice sounded husky as he spoke. She couldn’t tell if it was sorrow or lust.
‘Please Rardy…’ she thought to herself, wanting him to only want her for a change.
“No,” Lillith hissed, “she wants you…and you…”
“I want what’s best. Maybe it just best that she be with him…away from this place…and us. Maybe we…don’t need her to be here.”
Robyn sank to her knees, her ear now pressed to the door to the kitchen. What did this mean…did he really not want her after all? Robyn let a small sob escape her throat, wanting but not wanting to know the truth. Suddenly she heard movement in the room, they were walking away.
“Let’s…lets talk about this outside,” Gerard muttered, “I don’t want Robyn to wake up and find us this way.”
Robyn heard the sound of the back door opening and closing softly, but it didn’t seem to matter much…anymore. She allowed the flood of tears to over take her as she pulled herself into a tiny ball with her back to the kitchen door. She didn’t understand what she had done to push him away…was it because she didn’t trust him earlier today. Or could it be that she was right…that he was sleeping with her mother. She dreaded to think it could be true, but what other answer was there.
“Why,” she asked her knees as she sobbed against them.
“Because, he doesn’t deserve you.”
Robyn looked up and saw Azrael looking at her with burning eyes. Before she knew what was happening he had swooped down on her, wrapping her in his arms and allowing her to sob against his chest. In the comfort of his arms she told him about her dream…and what she had heard Gerard and her mother say.
“Please Az…please tell me I am overreacting…tell me it isn’t true.”
He knew he could lie to her…or made her feel better some other way, but a soft voice speaking in his ear told him that this way he could have much more fun. Azrael smirked against the smoothness of her long soft hair. He stroked it lovingly, comforting her as best her could as he whispered to her, “I do not know.”
She clung to him harder than before, her breaths now coming out in harsh gasps.
“What…what did I do wrong?”
Azrael pulled her face from his chest, studying her features thoroughly before finally landing a soft kiss on her lips. She tried to pull away, not wanting to hurt anyone the way she was being hurt, but Azrael insisted.
“Please Janna…let me comfort you…”
He moved for her lips again, and again she pulled back looking slightly afraid.
“What if they find us…I still l-love him.”
Azrael smirked, “oh dear Janna…I doubt he would mind sharing.”
Azrael took her moment of shock to capture her lips, pulling her closer to him. Robyn resisted him as long as she could, but soon sorrow and anger over took her and she relented falling into his arms. She felt his tongue brushing against her lip and allowed him to deepen the kiss. She felt his arms snaking around her, one brushing against her right breast, the other moving toward the zipper of her hoodie. She could feel the warm flesh of his chest against the tops of her breasts as his busy fingers worked. Robyn felt her head swim as he moved his lips from her’s down her throat, burning a slow path.
‘I hope he finds us…I hope they both do and I hope it kills him…like what he did is killing me…’
Robyn felt tears threatening to come again, a bevy of sobs catching in her throat.
“I…I can’t…” She breathed softly as she took Azrael’s face, which had been burning a trail ever closer to her breasts, in her hands. He looked at her with his frightening burning eyes, moving his face closer towards her to silence her worries with his lips, but she stopped him.
“Please Az…j-just stop. I don’t want it…not this way.”
Azrael stood from her, his eyes still too hot, and moved toward the door.
“I am sorry Janna, forgive me. I will return shortly, please stay here and wait for me.”
Robyn nodded as he left, zipping herself up and then silently folding into herself again waiting for him to return.

Azrael walked from the pantry to the kitchen, a smirk playing on his face. He knew what would help ‘His Janna’ now, and it was not the boy who was at this moment probably lamenting their bad luck with lust with his wife. He walked to Lillith’s spice cabinet, pulling out all of her tea herbs and looking through them. He needed a specific one for this cup. He pulled aside the one for sleep, knowing it would be needed as well, and then proceeded with the hunt. Finally he pulled one from the bunch, the label was peeling and cracked with age, but when Azrael smelt it he knew that the label rang true.
‘Memoria,’ the label read which in Latin meant ‘memory’. Azrael smirked at his own cleverness; he would make her a tea to take all memories of this day away. Lillith and Gerard wouldn’t like it, not at first, but it was for the best. After all, she needed to trust them and with this tea she wouldn’t know any better than to trust everything.
Once the tea was made he walked quietly to the pantry again, holding the tea out to Robyn.
“Here dear, drink this and you will feel so much better.”
Robyn took the tea in her hands, breathing in the oddly familiar scent. Not like the other teas she had had, but then again…Azrael was different too.
“What’s in it?” She asked softly.
Azrael smirked, “something to help you sleep, you need it dear. I promise…once you wake up everything will seem a lot clearer.”
--------
Muhahahaha!!!!

Byn began to drink the soothing warmth down. It's scent reminding her of happier times.
But it seemed somehow stronger and sweeter than when Lillith had made it for her. Almost TOO sweet.
"That's it Janna drink it down," he said soothingly, "all of it. Everything will be alright again."
He, even with his angelic reflexes, barely had the chance to catch her as she slumped over, where she was seated on the floor of the pantry. The cup rolled out of her hand and was ignored by the angel, as he picked her up and carried her upstairs. He lay her in his bed, expecting when she awoke, his scent and his face would be the first ones she was a aware of.
Gerard and Lillith came back into the house. They had not argued, there was nothing to argue about. Gerard loved Byn, as did Lillith, albeit in different ways. Neither of them wished her to be hurt.

And Lillith would hear NONE of this Frankie business.
"You love her, she loves you. Heaven made you for one another! Heaven will help us to find a way to resist these..MONSTERS in side of us."
Gerard wasn't so sure though.
"You mean like heaven made you and Azrael for each other? He scoffed, "If they are going to help us,
..I wish Heaven would help us now! Our world's come crashing down!!!
His hands went into his hair, he paced as he spoke wanting to tear his own hair out, not knowing how to 'fix' anything.
"Byn is the one suffering because of a horrible night thousands of years ago Lillith! AZ's Taint, Lilly, Moki's influence in you lives. It ALL stems from that night!!"

He stopped his pacing and stood directly in-front of her. His jaw set as he was determined to protect his love. His tone was matter of fact. This HAD to be done.
"We NEED to destroy both MOKI and SENOY and ALL his allies. Otherwise, Byn just isn't safe. No safer than Sari was..Maybe even less so!"

Lillith nodded. "I may have to ask The Archangel's for help. Although I love Azrael with all my being, well Most of my being." she said as she could not help but carress Rardy's cheek. He leaned his face into her hand.
He was both annoyed and pleased that he still held even a small spot in her heart.
"I AM sorry, But there is a part of me that will ALWAYS love you...But, My Lord Angel is ONLY a Gregori..Perhaps His resistance to this taint is truly more than he can bare. Perhaps, we have put too much on his shoulders."

"NO. Azrael IS strong enough to do this. I KNOW how much he loves you Lillith. I've FELT it, when we were bonded. I KNOW how he needs you. Even if he has forgotten." Gerard was trying to think this through..He HAD to find away to save them all.
"I wanna try to convince him to re-bond, and quickly. I KNOW we both have.., issues. His 'taint' , my...'Other'." Lillith could see his embrassement of his schism. He recognised it was there, and that what that part of him was capable of. He was showing himself to be the protector Lillith had seen him to be.
"We kept each other in check, in.., balance before. Maybe we can do it again. Maybe at least until we can find away to get rid of them forever. Maybe 'they' can fight each other for control."
He finally looked straight into her eyes and a determined glint glowed within his. "And in the process the men that love you can regain control of themselves."
Gerard was acting more and more like the nobel part of her Angel with every step.
Lillith finally noticed the cup laying on the floor. She picked it up and sniffed the contents. As she did her hands began shaking."He..Azrael, would have been VERY proud of you you know.."
"Lillith you speak like he was dead."
Bright tears shown in her eyes as she looked back at him, as she had recognised the scent. She walked into the Kitchen and he followed her. She looked at the canisters and saw what he'd left on the counter. She inhaled the scent again and looked at the amount of leaves remaining in the bottom of the cup.
"Perhaps MY Angel is. This is not Azrael's work. This is his taint's."

Rardy stared at her for a moment. "This tea, it helps one to forget. It allows ones memories to fade if mixed properly. However if not, it whipes them away completely, sometimes permanently. And, for a few souls it brings up, rather than suppresses memories...
My Sweet Bynnie, she Always had strange unexpected reactions to this one. I would only give her the barest minimum. And then ONLY when nothing else would calm her."

"Wait.., you and I didn't drink it. Byn doesn't touch any of your..mixes. Why would Azrael make himself a tea to forget..Unless he was sorry for what he'd done?"

"Or he did not make it for himself..."

(kay sorry cliff hanger I know, but I gotta stop will finish post tomorrow)

Azzy lay Byn down in the master bed room's large bed. He sat in a chair close by, watching her. He assumed that when she woke up, the first scent she'd smell, and the first face she'd see would be his. It was simply a matter of gaining her trust. Byn was basically an innocent now thanks to Lillith's tea. This would be Almost TOO easy..

Lillith and Gerard shot up the stairs. They had a terrible feeling they knew what their Blonde lover was up to.

As Lillith opened the door she gasped at the fairly peaceful scene.
"Do you know what you have done?" She said in an outraged whisper. "What harm you may have caused her?"
Rardy rushed to Byn's side, brushing her hair off of her face. "Byn Honey? Can you hear me?" He waited for a moment and tried again. "Bynnie girl?..." He swallowed hard in fear.
"Crazy girl? Oh By The Maker! Please! PLEASE! Wake up!"
She didn't stir.
Rardy turned and glared at the Angel.
"IF you've hurt her...I will make your eternity a living hell! I SWEAR it! I don't care what I have to do! I will bargain with Lucifer himself if need be!"

The blonde scoffed. "I have done nothing of the sort..I simply helped her to forget a rather disturbing dream she had...One about Lillith, and YOU...And I...She was beginning to.. suspect our connection was MORE than spiritual...She was asking too many questions. I simply helped her forget what was troubling her..."

"NO ..Byn does not...react well to that spice...The tea you made for her...It may have been TOO potent.. She...She may forget far more than you intended." Lillith's eyes glistened with tears.
"You MAY have finally done what Moki always wanted. You MAY taken my daughter from me. And Senoy may not have even be the slighest bit to blame."

The blonde looked over to the still figure laying in the middle of the big bed.
"NO!...No ..I...I did NOT..she was ONLY suppossed to forget.." His voice seemed to change some how and his eyes showed his confusion.
"It was NOT meant to harm her...I could Never really HARM her.."

Rardy placed a soft kiss on her forhead and left Byn's side. He didn't want to upset her, incase she could somehow hear all of this.
"Who The HELL are you kidding?! Back at the House of Wolves? You were after her..HELL in that CAVE you almost raped Her! You...You DRANK from her and you KNEW how weak she was...She had Just come out of the hospital!"
"No.. That was you..."
"But we were bonded at the time and YOU..This...Taint in you Az...It was in control then and it's in control now...But I KNOW you can hear me Azrael stealer of Souls...Angel of Death Come forward and hear me!!! Fight for your rightful place..your Control!! Fight for all of us..With out you we CAN'T beat Moki..Byn will be lost. Lillith will be heartbroken and cease to exist..and Me...Only The Maker knows what I will become! What the Spirit in me is capable of..HELP US Azrael!!..Fight for your Garden Blossom..You made her a promise now keep it!" Rardy had gotten progressively louder the more upset he got. At the end he was yelling so loud Lillith was afraid of who might hear them.
Azrael stood there shaking his head, as if trying to clear it. Rardy was SURE there was a war going on insdie his friend and sometimes lovers head and heart. Good verses evil. Azrael verses his Taint.

Rardy had Gee. He knew well the battle Azrael faced.
Lillith did too. Lilly was always lurking beneath the surface. She was always looking for a way to take control.

Both of them felt empathy for the Angel. But they also needed him, perhaps now more than ever to remember. To start fighting again.

Byn began to whimper in her sleep. "But...Mam said..to sit tight...I don't wanna go...Please Red..I don't want Mama to worry.."

That stilled the entire room. The three of them looked from one to another and back to Byn.

"Do you see? She's DREAMING about Red!..About you DEAR friend Moki! The friend that tricked Lillith into giving her daughter to to her to keep her safe..The Friend..YOUR LOVER, that wants Lillith devistated..That WANTS Byn DEAD!"

"NO!! I would NOT harm her! I couldnot hurt Lillith that deeply I-"

Suddenly a very small voice filled the room.
"Mama? Please don't fight!..I hate when you argue..And why is the man Red took me to see yelling at you?" her voice seemed even more frightened and confused as she looked at Rardy. "And why is there two of him?"

Lillith left where she stood between the once arguing twins and went straight to her daughter's side.
"Bynnie my darling, how do you feel sweetheart?"
"Alright I guess mama...Mama is the dark haired one Good? Cause the light haired one told Red something she didn't like, and she went away..really mad."
The blonde shook his head at first slowly and began to step backwards away from the bed. His taint didn't want Azrael to remember this day at all.
"Mad child? What did he say?"
"Yeah Byn? What did he say?..I won't hurt you...I am a ..friend of your mom's...I want you to tell us if you can what he said."

"Sweetheart Please...This is, this is VERY important..This one.." she looked at Rardy.."He is here to help us."
"You mean like an Angel?"
Lillith's eyes filled with tears and her voice caught in her throat. "Yes Bynnie girl Very Much like an Angel."

Rardy looked at Byn as gently and calmly as he could. This was BEYOND bizarre.

The girl turned to look at the blonde man. "I don't know what he said mama, but what ever it was ..He made Red mad..I couldn't understand the words..they were like those funny songs you sing...But when she left he said ..He said I looked like you....He said he wouldn't hurt me... He said-"

"I cannot because of her..I cannot WILL NOT Hurt her so..." This time the sad voice was UNMistakeably Azraels that filled the room. Both Lillith and Rardy breathed a sigh of relief, he had managed to fight his way back. He walked slowly over to Lillith and she reached back and grasped his hand.

"I told him my name mama...I am I introuble Mama?"

"No Bynnie..I think everything..will be fine...soon...Rest baby..Rest."

"Sleep Byn...Everything will be better in the morning." Rardy said not knowing how anything could be right ever again.

Wrote this while falling asleep...night...

-_- zzz

--------
While Gerard and the rest of the house were wondering what to do with Robyn and her memory loss, Vanessa was wondering what to do with herself period. After leaving the house with Raphael the day earlier the two of them had gone back to their apartment at Apollo’s and contemplated their situation silently to themselves. At least that’s what Vanessa had been doing. Not only that, but also the fact that the same cruel men that killed her, and wanted to hurt her sister, had killed someone so sweet and kind as Izzie right under their noses. How would they ever be able to protect anyone, especially Robyn, if they couldn’t even save her.
She was still pondering it the next day as Raphael came back into the apartment to let her know it was safe for her to come back downstairs.
“Robyn left…looked kinda tired…a bit disturbed.”
Vanessa sighed softly, she wished that she could talk to her sister…help and be more hands on rather than just a shadow to her. Perhaps less than that…Robyn probably didn’t even know she was helping her. As Vanessa walked towards the door Raphael took her arm, stopping her and pulling her into the room allowing the door to close softly.
“V…how are you feeling?”
She looked up at him with watery eyes, “bad Raphy.” She let out a watery sigh as Raphael held her close to him, “I don’t know what to do…how to help anyone. What if I fail?”
Raphael chuckled knowingly, rubbing her back and resting his chin on her head.
“You won’t fail V. I know you won’t.”
“How,” she whispered against his chest.
Raphael tilted Vanessa’s face toward his, brushing his thumb across her cheek as he whispered, “I know your strength, I know your power, but mostly I know your heart. You would never fail someone you love.”
He ended the statement with a soft kiss that she melted into. When they parted she clung to him again, “if you believe in me Raphy…then it must be true.”
Raphael smiled, “I know its true.”

Later that afternoon, after Mikey and Zooey had gone through the whole apartment at least twelve times Mikey asked if someone could drive him home. Frank muttered something about needing to head home himself, so Vanessa jumped at the idea.
“We can take you Mikey, I mean…Raphael and myself…we should talk to Azrael and Lillith anyway.”
Mikey looked over at Raphael for the ok, and he gave it with a curt nod. Soon the three of them were in a car that Raphael seemed to have bought or rented for moments like this, boxes of Izzie’s old things littering the car’s backseat. The trip to the house was short and soon the three of them were carrying boxes into the large house.
“Hey…where is everyone,” Mikey asked as he noticed no one come to the door at his entrance. Upstairs Vanessa heard movement and suddenly a dark feeling welled up in the pit of Vanessa’s stomach.
“Byn…something is wrong with Byn…” she muttered as she heard feet on the stairs.

After her mother told her to rest, Robyn took a final look at all of them, then around the room slightly puzzled.
“Mama? This…this isn’t my room…where are we?”
Lillith gave her a concerned look, “well dear. We have moved and…”
Robyn sat up a little straighter, looking concerned, “Oh no mama…did…did I lose time again? Red said I would…cause she was mad but…I didn’t think it would be this bad?”
Lillith held her daughter closer, trying to calm her fears.
“I hate forgetting mama…I wish Red would stop it.”
Gerard hated hearing Robyn talking like this…like she was a child and ‘Red’ was someone that could be trusted. It sent shivers down his spine to hear it. Just as Robyn’s soft sobs were quieting they heard a sound downstairs.
“Hey…where is everyone?”
It seemed that Mikey was home and had invited whoever had driven him in the house too. Robyn looked up from her mother’s arms and frowned.
“Are you having a party mama?”
Lillith shook head slowly, “no dear…just something I need to attend to.”
“L-Lillith…why don’t I take Byn to her room,” Gerard said. He did not really want Robyn in this bed if, when she woke up she remembered again.
Lillith looked up at Gerard thoughtfully before nodding.
“Come on kiddo…I will personally escort you to your room.”
Robyn gave him a bright smile as she took his hand and headed toward her room with him. Once there she leapt on the bed like always, and looked over at Gerard expectantly. He crossed the room, trying to fight off the urge to climb in bed with her like he use to. Instead he sat next to her.
“Um,” Robyn started, looking nervous, “could you…stay with me. I mean…if you want…I am a little scared of this place. Please?”
Gerard swallowed hard, fighting his other half as he nodded. He laid down on top of the blanket, he loved her , he wanted to comfort her. He WOULD keep control of his other.
“Sure kiddo…anything for you.”
As Robyn snuggled into the bed she laid her head on his shoulder, sighing comfortably. She wasn’t sure who he really was…but he felt okay to her…plus, like Sari said…he is very handsome.

oh gs this is what writing on an empty stomach and very little sleep with a dash of wiki gets you...

Lillith paced as she listened for any noise from above. "She has forgotten. Everthing it seems for ..I am not sure how long."

"She remembers the cave. She remembers Moki trying to tempt me into destroying her. I could not do it. No matter HOW much Moki incited me too, I could not. I WOULD NOT, in part because she was a child, but for the most part it was because she resembled Sari, and Her Mother too much. I could not hurt you My Beloved, not that deeply. I KNEW her loss would truly destroy you."

"I rememeber that day too. She told me about the blond man, that spoke to her. Lillith you had gone to get icecream for the two of you, I couldn't go that day because Gena, had already made plans. Azrael, she wasn't afraid of you. She heard you speaking in the old tongue and you spoke of Lillith. She assumed you were someone that knew and loved Lillith. 'That man, he knew Mama, he said I looked like her.' She had whispered to me. We KNEW Gena wasn't fond of the fact that I prefered to be at Lillith's house then our own. 'I think he LIKES mama.' Even at what, 9 or 10 she KNEW the truth. She saw it even though you wouldn't admit it."
"I bet that refusal rankled Moki."
"It did. She was Not pleased to say the least." He walked over to Lillith and hestitantly reached to cup her face, he was afraid she would shrink from his touch.
"But I could not, WOULD NOT do as she asked. Despite my claims of hatred, I abhored the thought of causing you the kind of pain, I knew Byn's loss would bring you. I too still mourned our Sari's loss, though in secret, I wanted Moki to know of no weakness within me."

Lillith saw the genuine raw emotion he was clearly NOT trying to hide, and hurried to embrace him. His arms wrapped around her quickly, his wings unfurling and wraping around her too as they shared the pain of Sari's death once again. As if it were mere moments before.

He whispered to her, the rest of the witnesses forgotten.
"I am SO sorry My Dove. If it were my will, BOTH of your daughters would be safe and I would have destroyed Moki's spirit the FIRST time I had tried. I should NEVER have brought her into my bed. NEVER have been SO weak!" His whisper was harsh and FULL of self-loathing.
"I should have been by your side day and night. And Never have allowed you to suffer, let alone be the direct cause of so much of it."

Azrael was suffering now. Now that he once again saw clearly, free for the moment, of the taint's control of him.
"I should have found another way."

"IF you had, perhaps Byn would not exsist." Lillith said sadly.
"Or she would be-" Azrael stopped short of voicing his greatest regret. That he was NOT the only being to give Lillith a child.
"No she TOO is part of The Maker's plan. Remember..!," he began to smile suddenly.
Mikes thought maybe the guy had finally gone mad.

But Raphael KNEW he was right. He stopped Mikes as the young man stood shaking his head, he drew him off to the side.
"Izzy beleived in him. Now you must. HE will lead us to bring to divine justice those respondsible for Izzy's death. Not only was he quite fond of Iz, But they, were respondsible, I believe for Sari's death as well, and.." he stopped and looked at Vanessa,"other's as well. I will follow his lead. I know Angels are not suppossed to want revenge. But then again, we are not suppossed to fall inlove either."

Azrael's face lit as he pulled back from his mate just far enough to see her lovely, worried face.
"Remember, when we had that house on the cliffs? When we were on the isle of Kallistē? When we live among the Kepchu? Do you remember? Before the great explosion?"

Lillith's face lit up. Obviously it was a time when they were quite happy.

"Kallistē? Kepchu? What is he talking about?"
"AAAH Only the biggest volcanic eruption of all time. Santorini, although then it wasn't called Santorini. It was called Kallistē...the beatiful one.. They lived one the island, in Greece. That is where Sari was born ..and died. Some wonder if it was her death that caused the exploison, that even years after her death, Azrael in his fury was actually the cause of the destruction. A whole civilzation was wiped out..The Minoans, although the Egyptians called them Kepchu...you might know them by a different name." Raphael tried not to laugh as Mikes eyes grew wide in disbelief. This was all TOO crazy for him.

Vanessa rolled her eyes at Raphael, why did he and Azrael love doing this to the poor mortals? Was this part of the Angels sense of humor? Vanessa had to admit, being around as long as they had, seeing the awful things we, devinely made beings had done to each other, often in the NAME of religion, you HAD to be able to laugh.

"Yes Mikes...The Egyptians called them Kepchu, you know have heard their stories as legends of Atlantis." Mikes looked at her like she was as crazy as the rest of them.
Which just made Raphael struggle all the harder NOT to laugh.
He took a deep breath and pulled himself together.

"They were Minoan's and their island was destroyed by a volcanic eruption, who ever or what ever caused it. But it wasn't sudden...Alot of their people got out alive. Unlike Pompeii, there were no bodies found in the ash."
"IF it was Azrael, he gave them PLENTY of warnings and time to leave." Vanessa still wasn't convinced it was Azrael's doing.

Mikes turned back to Azrael and Lillith. They had dreamy looks on their faces as the remembered their small villa and the warm breezes off the Agean. Lillith had been full with his child when Azrael spirited her to this new land. The Minoan's quickly began worshiping the couple. He with the appaerance of young god, she that carried his offspring. It appeared, that she after drinking a potion he had given her, she gave birth with labor, but no pain. Truly the Minoa beleived they must be divine.

They had no IDEA it was mearly some of her herbs she had brought with her from Egypt, in anticipation of Sari's birth.
And too Lillith was thrown out of the garden BEFORE Eve had brought the curse down on herself and her children. Until Byn's birth, she wasn't even sure she COULD feel that pain.

"Yes My Angel. I remember those days. Untill Byn came into my life those times with our little family were the happiest of my days."

"But do you remember Sari's...companion, the one we could not see? The one we assummed was made of her own desires to have a sister? Yes? Do you remember her name My Dove?"

Liullith looked at him, the memory dawning on her face.
"Her name..Yes.. I named my daughter Apolloina because of you, but that was why I used that endearment. BECAUSE of Sari's wish."

"NO Heart of My Heart, not BECAUSE of, IS...Ro'Byn..Is upstairs. It was Byn, Robyn's Spirit that visited and played with Sari. Your daughters are linked. They have been, for only The Maker knows how long. Perhaps Sari can help us to bring Byn, the Byn that is SUPPOSSED to be, back. Perhaps she can help her father undo the wrong he has done."

No one had noticed Rardy come down the stairs."Wait! Do you think that's possible? Can we get OUR Byn, MY BYN, back? I'm in LOVE with HER!! And She thinks she's ten and I am an Angel..She thinks I am her Guardian..I Can't sit there..HE wants me to.....I Love her too much! Please if there is a way to bring her back..WE Gotta!"
"She should not be alone. Vanessa darling, I know it has been difficult for you to not have contact with her. Would you like to sit with her? If she is ten then talking to her sister, would be common place. Tell her, YOU will always watch over her..Tell her what you could not and never thought you would have a chance to."

Vanessa looked first at Azrael, who nodded in agreement, and then at Raphael. "Go. This might be your only chance."

"But remember, IF we find away to bring her memory back, she may think this was all just a dream..She may not even remember you what you say today to her at all."

"To see my sister again, to hug her and tell her I love her...I'll take that chance."
Vanessa practically flew from the room, to head upstairs.

Azrael extended his arm to Rardy as he kept the other around his mate. "Come..we will figure this out together." He waved both Raphael and Mikes into the circle too.

"We have been given a task, a Mission. If we remember our love and our alliances, Heaven help us, we will make MOKI's plans for all of us
Come CRASHING Down!"

Okay...I am sick...I hope this makes since.

-----------
Vanessa walked up the stairs quickly, but once she reached the landing the enormity of the situation hit her. She was about to see her sister, see her and speak to her for what could be the last time ever. What could she say? Nothing seemed good enough, and even if she thought of something, she didn’t really look the same as she did when Robyn was ten and she was twelve. She just prayed that Robyn was sleepy enough and the room was dark enough.
As she crept up to Robyn’s door she gently pressed it open, looking inside to see if Robyn was awake. She heard Robyn’s heavy breathing, letting her know that she was still asleep and that if Gerard’s leaving had disturbed her she had not let it bother her much. Smooth as a breeze she slipped into the chair that Gerard had vacated and watched her as she slept. Robyn’s chest rose and fell slowly in sleep as it did when they were kids. Watching her Vanessa remembered all the slumber parties she and Robyn had had with Lillith, the countless tea parties, and the thousands of good days the two of them had had together when they were both living with Gina. She gently brushed the hair from her sister’s face as she watched her, hoping she would be okay soon. As Vanessa watched her sister she felt the weight of what the two of them had been though. Not only had they lived through the ‘death’ of Lillith, but also Vanessa had left Robyn alone when she died. She knew how hard that could be on someone…her own father had died when she was very young. The only thing she remembered about her father was the constant smell of smoke and scratchy bread kisses. She hoped that Robyn wouldn’t forget her like she had nearly forgotten her father.
“I am sorry Byn. I should have been smarter or something. I should have tried harder to stay with you. Still…if I did I wouldn’t be able to help you like I can now.”
‘Not to mention I wouldn’t have met Raphael.’
Vanessa didn’t mention that to her sister, but she did move closer holding her hand now.
“I really miss you kiddo. I just want you safe…”
Vanessa sighed, resting her head against the bed and allowing her eyes to close slightly.
“I just hope that we all make the right choices for you…” Vanessa muttered as she dozed off.

HERE i am! and that was so schweet... Poor Vanessa

Azrael looked about his companions. He knew that the road they had ahead of them was going to be difficult, to say the very least.

But he also knew that they had to be victorious, Byn's and all of their happiness depended upon it.

Azrael looked at the trusting faces before him. He KNEW he had to find the strength to fight the taint within him. Rardy had Gee to deal with and Lillith had Lilly, they understood his struggle they would help each other.

Raphael was aware he could be a great ally, and Michael, he had just lost his love. He would understand that grief did strange things to a person.

"You all must help me find a way to undo the wrong I did, well attempted to do. Byn cannot be lost to all of us. Sari will help me, but I must ask her."

Azrael stepped back away from the circle and began to pace.
"And as such I will be vulnerable to Moki and Senoy. I must let all of my defences down. I must be completely open to her, completely available. I will be completely exposed spiritually. I must trust all of you immplictly. If any of you bear me ANY ill will. I must know now," he looked directly at first at Rardy and then his Beloved Lillith,
"as I would ask your forgiveness."

Lillith stepped infront of him to stop his pacing. "I know you Angel. I know you better than I know myself."
She reached up to him to caress his face. "I know all the horrible things you have done as you know all of my misdeeds. Do you love me any less because of the sins I have committed?"
"No My heart, I love you inspite of them. More today, I think, then even that first night outside The Garden's gates." He touched her cheek gently, almost as if he expected her to dissappear at his touch.
"I could not exsist with out your love. I KNOW you love me, But I need to hear that you forgive me. I need to hear you say those words."

"Then listen well My Angel. I forgive you. Now and forever, both for the things that you have done, AND for the things you will do. I accepted your ring on the beach that night not so long ago, but my heart has been yours almost since time began. And it STILL will be, until the maker decides time is no more, perhaps even beyond that."
Azrael pulled his wife into a desperately grateful embrace. He inhaled one ragged deep breath, and kissed her hair. "Thank you." he whispered almost inaudibly, but the woman in his arms heard him, and her acceptance of him was all important. She was almost all that mattered to him.

Only a handful of souls even mattered to him. Lillith was most important, then Sari, then the rest of the ones that did were present in this room save for three. And two of those were in a room upstairs.

But of the ones he needed forgiveness from, one was asleep in an unnatural slumber upstairs, a slumber he was responsible for.

The other was watching him quietly. He looked at Rardy over Lillith's head. He sighed once more in his wife's arms and then purposefully stepped back from them, and walked towards Rardy.

He knelt before him, and bowed his head.
"I have wronged you, and your mated soul. I tried to take her from you. I tried to make her mine. I have used you and your love for her, as well as your love for Lillith and I. I have manipulated you almost in every way possible. Can you forgive me?" Azrael finally lifted his face to look at Rardy's
"And If you can, will you chose to do so?"

Rardy looked down at the heavenly creature before him. The one who had brought him both Pleasure and Pain. The one who Rardy sometimes hated beyond all reason, and other times loved beyond all measure. Azrael was there infront of him, on his knees. Open and trusting and begging for forgiveness.
Rardy tried to speak.
"Azrael I..."

yoooou....... WHAT?! Spit it out lad!! Cummon Az's being NICE (for once Gs) ....

though i think that may be the dilemma... the whole "for once" thing...

DOOOO it!!

I have missed updating this story.
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Azrael was there in front of him, on his knees. Open and trusting and begging for forgiveness.
Rardy tried to speak.
"Azrael I..."
Gerard swallowed hard, trying to think of how he truly felt. Seeing Azrael kneeling in front of him, clearly sorry was enough to make him want to forgive him…and he did want to, but he wasn’t sure he could. After all, it was not like this was the first time he had done something like this to any of them, especially Robyn. If he forgave him how long would it really be before Azrael did something like this again? How long would it really be before Azrael let his lust get the better of him and try this again, or worse. Wasn’t it he that constantly forces himself on Gerard? Wasn’t it he who was the cause of Robyn needing to forget? And now he wanted forgiveness? The thought was laughable.

Still, he knew that he would have to forgive Azrael if he wanted Robyn back. Isn’t that what he said had to happen? If he didn’t what would become of her? Would she just have to live those lost years over? Would he have to wait another ten years to marry her for her to think herself old enough to be wed? He wondered if Azrael understood just what he had done to Gerard and Robyn.

After all, Azrael had never gone through anything like this before. Gerard could see Robyn, feel her, want her, love her, but she was not Robyn…not the same Robyn that he knew. This was worse than anything Azrael had been though, even when the two of them were bonded together, because then even though he couldn’t speak with Lillith, he could see her, feel her even if it was in Gerard’s arms, and Lillith loved him and knew him…Robyn didn’t know him at all now.
But Robyn…Robyn would want him to forgive Azrael his faults. He just didn’t know if he could, at least not at the moment. He sighed, running his hands through his hair wanting to pull it out as he looked down at Azrael. He finally nodded gently, for Robyn he would forgive him. Be it truth or not what harm could it do?
“I…I forgive you Az. But only for Robyn…I want her back. Please bring her back to me.”

Azrael looked back up at Rardy. He could see the confusion in his eyes, and sense the reluctance. Azreal KNEW the forgiveness, the True forgiveness he needed was not forth coming from Rardy. The boy had tried, his intentions were good, but he could NOT truly forgive him.

Azrael hung his head.
"Thank you for trying my friend. I can see the pain I have inflicted upon you and the resulting wounds run too deeply for you to truly show mercy. But " he looked up at Lillith,
"I fear I cannot wait for those wounds to heal. Byn needs help and time is of the essence. I will still ask my daighter's help, and if Senoy or Moki touch me then my brother angels must take me from you...Raphael, I have called to Harut and Marut as well as Nakir and Munkar. They are preparing a place in Hell for me should Senoy succeed in tainting me again. Michael and you Raphael, you two will decide if I need be imprisioned there. "

Lillith started to fly towards him in protest, he stood and took her in his arms.
"No my Dove, you will not argue me this. I love you too deeply to hurt you as I would should they succeed in invading my spirit. Have you thought of what they would have me do to Byn in her state? How much pain and torment I would cause you all? NO! If I am compromised during this attempt, then My LAST wish as the man I truly wish to be, is that I am restricted from ever causing you or those others I love any more pain. Do you hear me Heart of My Heart? I must be stopped."

Rardy's jaw dropped. Az was really talking about an eternal imprisionment. Angels didn't die. IF he surrendered himself to this, how would they ever know if it was AZ or the taint talking? They wouldn't be able to be sure. And from Az's memories that had been shared with Rardy when they were bonded, Rardy KNEW the Archangels would err on the side of safety, if they couldn't be sure it was truly Azrael, and that he was TRULY free of the taint, then they would NEVER set him free! Rardy could clearly imagine Azrael stuck in some small dark cell, going through the awful torment, of knowing he could never see or hold any of them ever again. And Angels, even the Angel of Death, could not will themselves out of existance.

He would suffer their loss, all of their losses, Lillith and Sari's, Byn's even his own, as Rardy did KNOW he was loved by Az, forever.

"NO! No you can't risk it AZ! Give me five minutes, just five minutes alone with Byn, maybe..maybe I can think things through a little better. I can't trade one of you for the other. Just let me sit with her for five minutes and then maybe when I come down, I can truly forgive you again." He statrted running back the stairs. He pointed back down at Az. "After all you've done to me and Byn and even Lillith, you owe Me this much! Just Five minutes!" and he disappeared down the hall.

Azrael stood there motionless. Whether the boy could forgive him or not, his intent was there. And that was enough for Az. he turned to Lillith with a determined glint in his eye.
"We cannot wait." Lillith let out one soft sob. She knew when Azrael had made up his mind, there was little even she could do to change it.

"Help me prepare, My sweetest.., first.., Garden Blossom?" he said with a sob in his voice.
Michael suddenly realised that he was watching Az make his own, almost seemed like, burial preperations. The Angel of Death didn't think he was coming back.

"Michael? I am sorry I could not stop them from harming Izzabella, nor stop them from taking what should have been a happy and long life together from the two of you..I will be eternally , profoundly sorry. Please, tell your brother, just as he could not chose between Lillith's child and Myself, neither could I baer the thought that I was the one that made him choose. What ever happens to my soul tell him, it was my own doing, and there was nothing he could say to make me...stay. I MUST try and save Ro'Byn, for his sake as well as her own and her mother's. And tell him, tell him I was never MORE an Angel, than when he and and I were bonded, he made me one." Azrael bowed before Michael and then took his wife's hand and started to slow climb up the stairs to their room.
"Wait..could someone bring that portrait Randy drew of us from the music room? I would like to see it one last time."

Raphael nodded silently, and then left the room to go and get it. Until Vanessa, he would not have understood what Azrael was feeling. Now, just the thought of what Az was risking would have been enough to make Raph's heart stop, if he had been human.

In his room Azrael stood before his wife. He took her small face in his hands once more.
"If I never can tell you this again, know this, I have loved you from the first moment I saw you. And I will go on loving you, despite what it may seem forever. The stars will all go out, and both the heavens and the earth and all that there is will fade away, before my love for you faulters even in the slighest. The Maker made me and My soul JUST for you, and Like a fool I have waisted so MUCH of the time he blessed us with. Forgive me My Dove, My Heart...Because I was Such a fool. But Know I will always love you, as long as I exist and even beyond that.." he kissed her as though he would never be able to do so again. His whole body, every ounce of who he was present in that kiss. His wings surounded them both and he held her close as if this was his last moment. Without her he may as well dissappear.

He stepped back abit, yet he refused to let her go just yet. "I must be prepared, time is against us. Ro'Byn, the longer she is away from Rardy, the more they both suffer. Not to mention your suffering."
Lillith said in an almost embarrssed tone.
"There is a part of my heart that wishes to not have her recover. I lost so much time with her."
"Because of me. Beacuse I insisted you return to me."
"No Because of Gina and Moki.., but I know this is selfish of me, everyone else, including Robyn, needs her time and her memories back, Rardy most of all. Even more than I...I just wish there was another way, perhaps I could brew another tea, try to bring her back that way, counter-act the one you had prepared?"

He shook his head sadly. "I used not only your herbs, but the taint in me, he used magic, Senoy's type of Magic. Your teas alone will not undo the wrongs I have done. I fear ONLY with heaven's help, through our Sari, will we have and HOPE of her recovery."

Lillth nodded her agreement. She was afraid to speak, otherwise she'd beg him to not do this. They could adjust, they could leave this place, as they had done so many times before, find some small isolated island, and raise Byn like some special child. If Rardy chose to come too, they could make sure that they were isolated to such an extent, that IF he broke down and ignored his own inner voice, that he would not be accussed of assaulting the poor girl by anyone.

They could live in their own little world and the rest of it could be damned. Lillith was sure she could persuade Senoy to leave them to that one little pocket of existance, and let he and Moki have the rest of The Maker's creation to torment.

But as she looked at the sad, yet nobel look in his husband's eyes. She KNEW she could not convince him to shirk, what he considered his responsibilities, no matter how much Lillith wanted him to.

If it had been any other soul but Ro'Byn's he would have.

In less than a blink of an eye.

But Ro'Byn meant too much to Rardy, to Lillith, and even to Azrael himself.

He looked down at his clothes.
"Help me My Love, lest I falter in fear and fly from what must be done."

Lillth let her tears silently fall as she undressed her husband, for what maybe the last time.

Soon he was as The Maker had made him, his wings covering most of his body. The were almost Pure white at the moment. he watched Lillith as shecovered their bed in a dazziling white sheet and then she ran to the dresser and took the flowers that had been in a vase there and crushed the petals over the bed. She went to the closet and pulled out a small box. Azrael recognized the ancient chest with markings on it so old that any museum in the world would consider it priceless.

He had given it to her, on the day she had been made a priestess in Heket's court. In their youth in Egypt.

They had been delierously happy. He was at the Pharoh's side. She finally a priestess and hand maid to the Nile's Jewel. Yet Azrael's Garden Blossom far outshone, in Azrael's eyes atleast, any other being, including Pharoh's mate.

Now she was taking out ancient and precious oils, to anoint and prepare him, for what might be the final time.

She looked at him. "If you insist on taking this risk, then so be it." She went to the door as Raphael was about to knock she opened the door and took the portrait from him.
She let him inside and locked the door behind him.

Both the Angels in the room trembled slightly at the look in her eye. "ArchAngel you are here as a witness. Nothing more. I am his wife, WE are bound by heaven and NO one will take him from me, not even an army of Angels unless I see the taint has him firmly in it's grasp."
Both Raphael and Azrael began to protest.
"NO! I will hear NONE of it! I am the nearest Blood of wronged party. I am Ro'Byn's Mother. I am next of Kin. I choose what happends to the party that wronged her, No ONE else!"

It was in that moment, that Azrael remembered why, in some of the places they had settled, she was considered a Goddess. Her fury was a thing of beauty to behold. AS long as it was not directed at him.

She dissappeared into the closet again for a moment or two and said some ancient incantation, then in what seemed like a less than a heartbeat, she re-appeared in a Golden cape over a white sheith dress. Her eyes and makeup done in the old style.

"If Isis can raise Osiris from the dead, than I can save my Husband and through him my Daughter. If heaven sees my interfearance against it's plan, then let The Maker stike me down, as I have no will to live with out them both in my life!"

Azrael smiled a soft smile for just a moment. The Maker had indeed made and exceptional spirit when he will her into exsistance. But now his smile faded. Azrael's Beloved, His Heart, she had set out a challenge, Lillith could just as easily be sniffed out by that same All Powerful Being.

"NO! My DOVE!!I-"
"Lay down Angel! Save My daughter and us all!"