Chapter 8: Normality

Caliope woke up and found herself in bed, a blanket covering and giving her warmth. She looked around and there were no signs of Amra. She sat on her bed and took a deep breath, pondering about recent events. Did she dream it all? No, it was real, she knew it was real. She could still feel his perfume, his arms, the warm sensation of his voice and how special she felt now.

"You are awake."

Her face lit up with a smile, as she saw him watching her from the small living room. She patted the seat next to her and he walked into the room to sit by her side. She hugged him tightly, not wanting to feel that emptiness when he wasn't there anymore.

"I thought you were gone... I almost thought it was all a dream."

"I am here, I won't go without saying goodbye."

She smiled, parting from his chest to look up at him.

"I am afraid to ask but, how much 'real' time was I asleep...?"

Amra chuckled "I said I can't control it always, but I am learning it again... you make me work hard for it... it is Saturday afternoon, you probably slept about 7 hours. Good enough?"

"I don't want to but we should let Miss Clark know you are here, she could get worried... worse yet, she could come here with Pronab."

Amra laughed and caressed her cheek with special tenderness. She blushed and laid her head on his hand.

"Oh she knows I am here. She is not happy but she knows. Are you afraid of Pronab?"

"He is strange, polite but strange... I don't know how to act around him."

"You can trust him, and you can trust Elaine too. Now you should eat something."

Amra smirked, as if he had something planned. She raised an eyebrow and looked at him.

"Ok, I am a bit hungry, I can cook something... I guess."

"No, you don't need to, I took care of it... come with me."

He offered her his hand and then led her to the living room. On the table next to the sofa, there were some boxes with the special salad on two plates. She smiled at him and squeezed his hand. They both sat on the sofa, and he let her be in charge of putting the sauce over both salads. They ate smiling to each another, then had some juice. After finishing, she picked up the plates and boxes and cleaned the plates into the garbage. He smiled at her as he watched from the door.

"How did you manage to bring this food? Did you called the delivery yourself?"

Amra chuckled "I am not a child Caly... I know how to do a thing or two humans do."

Caliope turned around to face him with a smile and her cheeks blushed.

"No one has called me that besides my friend Vanessa... it feels special when you do."

"I know. You and her have been friends for long, I saw it."

"Can you also see the past?"

"If I have to, and I have not done that with you, I would feel as if I am invading something private."

She smiled and blushed more, walked to him, and held him tight in a hug. She smiled up at him, feeling as if they both were in a bubble.

"I think we are both safe to come out, maybe walk around. I know you might have many questions and I will try to answer some of them."

"I have a billion questions, but I am in no rush. I want to stay here with you longer."

"Then we shall stay."

He laid sideways on her bed, and she snuggled there in his arms. There were no second thoughts, she didn't think about what could happen. She felt everything was so simple and special. He held her lovingly, brushing his lips on the top of her head as she closed her eyes. Even though they were silent, they were both happy. She didn't have to worry if he was bored or if he might want to do something else, she just knew it was ok.

When she decided to speak, it was already nighttime. It might have been only minutes or hours for the world outside, but it wasn't important to her.

"Will Miss Clark be upset with me?"

"Among all the questions you could ask, I did not see that one coming."

He chuckled and pulled back a smile to her. She glances up at him blushing, looking up at his magnetic eyes where she seemed to get lost in.

"I respect her, and I don't feel comfortable without talking to her, knowing where we stand now... after I have found out all about you and them."

"You can still work for her. But just... please don't call me her son anymore."

"I might, just to tease you."

He smiled and moved his thumb to brush her lips. She blushed again and felt nervous and anxious. Whatever reason she felt so drawn to him was only a little fraction of how much she felt drawn to his lips, even though she never thought about it until now. He watched her reaction and shook his head slowly, closing his eyes.

"I need to be careful with you."

"Will you break me...?"

That question made him open his eyes in surprise. And she was surprised as well, as the question came out without her thinking at all. Amra could have the secrets of the universe, and share them with her if she wanted, but right then, right there, the only thing that worried her was if getting closer to him would hurt her, would break her emotionally.

"Do you fear I could harm you?"

She shook her head "I want to know if you trust me too."

"I am here, I told you what I am... I trust you."

"If what I understand is correct, you are here because you feel something special and unique for me. And I had stop thinking about anything else... since I felt the way I feel when I am with you... I am afraid it might end. If you might leave... me... alone."

He shook his head and held her face in his hand with extra tenderness. His eyes dark and worried, locked on hers. His thumb brushed her lips.

"This only happens to us once in our lifetime... do you understand how unique that is?"

Caliope blushed and nodded, her heart was pounding fast, the meaning of his words were of such importance, she knew her world would never be the same.

"I..." He took a deep breath. "I would never hurt you. Or would ever let anyone harm you, as long as I can.

I promise."

"Thank you."

Small tears fell from her eyes, but she was smiling, and he leaned closer. For the first time she saw a vulnerability in him. She held her breath, and he closed his eyes, just as his lips touched hers. Her heart pounded fast, and every cell in her body felt different. She was floating, a warmth covering her as tingling sensations ran through her. His lips felt warm, so warm, an intense burning sensation that became strong but delightful. She arched her body, her arms wrapped around him as the kiss became deeper, and he held her tighter. A hand on her face, as another brushed her arm and held her trembling body holding the kiss, prolonging it as much as he could.

She whimpered softly as he parted his lips from hers, realizing only then they both were breathing fast and heavy, and she was gasping for air. He smiled down at her and caressed her face slowly.

"You are... the most vulnerable and yet, the most powerful creature I have ever met. And I think that is actually an understatement."

Again she blushed, and slowly tried to catch her breath. She closed her eyes and pressed her face against his chest.

"Do you still believe I would ever hurt you?"

"It is hard... it was hard... for me to even begin to think of anything between you and me. But yes, I believe in you. And I -know- you won't hurt me."

He nodded and smiled, and they both held each other as she closed her eyes and fell asleep. When she woke up it was day again, and Amra was still holding her. His eyes closed. She watched him sleep so calmly, and she started to think that it would have never crossed her mind how an Angel would look like. He was perfect in every way she saw him, and yet, different in every vision she could have imagined of him. A small thought crossed her mind, in his eternity, she was only a fraction of a second of existence. A sharp pain in her heart she quickly struggled to forget, if she would ever had a final breath to give, she did not want to think about it, not now, when everything was so perfect.

That small unpredicted heart beat made him open his eyes. She smiled at him, squeezing his hand. "Are you ok?"

"I think we can go out for a walk now, if you think you can control that time thing again."

Amra chuckled "I think I already did."

She tilted her head and looked at the window, and then frowned looking back at him a little amused. He chuckled more and kissed her forehead, getting up from the bed and helping her up too. She stretched her arms then looked at the clock, it was just 6am, so she concluded time was running normally again. They slept together with time running its normal course.

"I want to take a shower before we go, can you wait for me?"

"I will contact Elaine and Pronab, for them, I guess time has been running too slow."

"Maybe, invite them for lunch, we could meet them. I really need to talk to her before I see her Monday morning and pretend like nothing happened."

"Go take your shower, I will take care of it."

She smiled and went into the bathroom. She did not know if he would walk inside or not, the possibility made her nervous and excited. She turned the water on, and slowly undressed waiting for the warmth of the water to begin. A couple minutes later, the water was warm enough, and she quickly washed herself. Once she finished showering, she wrapped a towel around her, blushing as she realized she had to leave the room to find clothes to wear, and he would see her. She hurried, noticing he was not there and locked herself back on the bathroom to get ready.

They left the small apartment building together, while holding hands as they walked. It was a bit cloudy outside, but to them it felt wonderful. He was taller than her, with a sculpted body, muscles and bones of a man who would probably not lose a fight if he was ever engaged in one. She on the other hand was smaller, curvy but simple, she felt so different near him. She looked up at him in admiration, and she decided to believe in her own special role in the universe if this Angel, her Angel, was in love of her.

They walked for a few blocks, then took a taxi together. Miss Clark was going to meet them with Pronab in a very exclusive restaurant near Central Park. She had mentioned to Amra how beautiful it was there and how much she enjoyed it the last time she went there with her friend, so he wanted to see it for himself.

They walked through the park enjoying the kids with their parents running around, some bikers here, and some people walking their dogs there. Amra looked at a tree and leaned against it, pulling her in his arms, and she rested her back on his chest, caressing his hands that were now locked on her tummy. It felt perfect, it felt magical.

They smiled and shared thoughts every now and then, neither of them felt pushed or rushed to say something all the time, they could just enjoy their silence as much as their small talks. He was fascinated at how simple it was to make humans so happy.

Then it happened again. She turned her head to catch a small group of cats and dogs fighting at a distance. They were further away from the people but others also noticed them, and watched with curiosity. Amra's arms tensed around her, she knew he was watching the same scene. A strange shadow of a man was close to the animals, but seemed amused by the scene. She shook her head and frowned. She could not distinguish the man, only see a dark figure leaning and apparently laughing against the tree that casted a shadow on the fighting animals. Too close to them, in her own opinion.

"This is the third time I've seen something similar happen in the last couple of months."

Amra was serious and tense, he nodded once and held her even tighter, enough to make Caliope aware of his changed mood.

"It is a sign... a bad omen."

"I would believe so, a sign not to stay close to them for once, a sign that guy clearly is not getting it."

Amra looked down at her with confusion, turning her face to look back at him. She worried after seeing him concerned.

"What... guy...?"

"Can't you see him? I see him standing almost next to those animals."

"How is he dressed?"

"I don't know, I can't tell at this distance, it is far. I only see his dark figure... he seems amused."

Amra returned his worried look towards the scene, Caliope did the same, and she noticed the figure turning his head to look directly to them. Chills ran across her body, and Amra became more than alert. The figure stood still and then quickly moved into the distance with an unnatural speed. She gasped and turned back to look at Amra worried. He closed his eyes briefly and started to move gently pulling her with him, an arm around her protectively.

"We need to find Elaine, now."