a/n: This is the final little section to this story. It started out as a one shot, but thanks to Kitten Kisses for the wonderful review that insipired this story to become one of my favorite Monica and Andrew attempts.

I hope that you enjoy reading this. I am rather pleased with teh ending and hope that you will all enjoy the additions.

Take care, and reviews are love.

Part 3: Andrew & Monica's Parallels

By this time, Monica had emptied the cup that Delores had brought to her. She glanced skyward and stared at the ceiling for several moments. "Thank you, Father, for sending someone who can remind us of what is important." She smiled as she realized to what extent the coffee had really hit the spot. She could feel herself relaxing and the sense of anxiety leaving her. Bernice came over to the table and retrieved the cup at that moment, her abrupt voice breaking into her thoughts.

"She's really something, isn't she?" She asked as she wiped the table with a rag and regarded the angel through gentle eyes.

"Yes, she is," Monica said with an affirming nod.

"You want another cup?" Bernice asked.

"No, thank you, I sort of promised my friends that I would cut back and only drink one cup per sitting," Monica said honestly.

"It's a good idea, especially when it is so late in the day," Bernice said. "Insomnia stinks, I know, I've had it for years. Oh well, if you change your mind about the cup; just give a shout to the back, my name's Bernice. I've got a mountain of work to do back there, and since you look the trusting sort, I'm sure everything will be OK here until I get done. Delores already took care of your tab."

"Thank you," Monica offered.

"Just do me a favor, if another customer happens to pop in, just give a holler in the back. I don't always hear the chimes, especially if the dishwasher is running," she said. "Also it would be great if you would say when you're leaving so that I can get back into the dining area before you go."

Monica nodded. "Of course."

Bernice went to the back and after about five minutes of sitting alone, the door opened and closed, the chimes filling the otherwise quiet air. She cast a quick glance to the back where Bernice was still working, the woman's attention obviously not on the fact that a customer had come in. She turned around and when she recognized that it was Andrew, she smiled as he ambled over to her, his hands stuffed in the pocket of his jacket.

She waited for him to sit down across from her and instead of calling out to Bernice, she looked outside through the pain glass windows and recognized Tess and Gloria both leaning up against the Cadillac and waiting. Gloria had apparently finished her assignment in record time and it was time for the angels to move on.

"Hey, Monica," he said softly as he sat down across from her. "How are you doing?"

"I was worried about you, Andrew," she offered honestly.

"I know, Tess fed me the riot act about making you and her worry so needlessly," he said smiling weakly. "You know how she sometimes likes to play mother hen for her two 'angel babies'. It's sort of like a family of sorts. A family within the family of God."

"I was afraid that you might have lost your faith," she admitted softly. "You were so angry when you left. You said the very same things I was feeling."

"Yeah," he mused as he began to fiddle with his pocket watch. "I suppose in hindsight, I did say some pretty terrible things. I was just so broken up about everything. I mean; kids losing their lives in the hands of a drunk, it is quite a chuck to swallow. You know it always happens when I see the senselessness of people's actions," Andrew said shaking his head. "I guess I needed some time to think about everything on my own. I didn't mean to scare you with all of that though."

"Are you at least feeling any better?" She asked.

"I'm still a little bit sad, but otherwise, I think I do feel a bit better," he said smiling bravely. "The time did do me some good. I also met and spoke with someone who helped greatly."

"Yes, me too," she said nodding.

"It's truly amazing how the Father sometimes sends people to help a couple of angels when things feel so out of balance, isn't it?" He asked.

Monica nodded and smiled as her friend continued to speak. "I truly wish you could have met her. She's the kind of person who can renew one's faith in humanity through a few simple words."

"Is her name Delores, per chance?" Monica asked, her brown eyes shining.

"Yes, but how did you know?" He asked.

The angel smiled. "I'm guessing that after she left you at the beach, she decided to come here."

"That's strange, she told me she was going home," Andrew said.

"In a way this is her home," Monica explained. "Delores has a special bond to this place as well as to her friend Bernice. That's the lady that runs the café. I suppose it is similar to the special bond I have with you."

"We've always been friends," he said.

"Except at the beginning," Monica mused. "Anyway, Delores said that a friendship is no accident, that it happens as a gift from God. It is during these difficult times that we discover how meaningful they can truly be. Perhaps those times when I give up on people, I find myself leaning on the friendship we share. I know that it seems odd for me to say so, but in the wake of tragedy, I am reminded of how important it is. I realize too that I should not ever take it for granted," she paused as she looked down at the flat tabletop. "Andrew, do you remember when we first met?"

"Yes," he nodded. "But why are you bringing this up, you're not jealous anymore?"

"No, I'm not, but its because I'm not afraid of you taking something away from me. You have selflessly given far too much for me to be afraid of losing something. Back then, I was afraid that you would take Tess away from me and that I would be left alone. At the time I didn't realize how damaging these emotions were, but after we went on a few assignments together, I realized that I couldn't imagine working alongside any other angel. I love working with you and Tess. Perhaps God sent Delores to remind me of that. But, Andrew, how did she help you?"

"She reminded me that being an Angel of Death is an honor and a wonderful opportunity to share God's love. Perhaps those people who see me and survive the encounter didn't forget," Andrew shrugged his shoulders. "I thought that perhaps they might have, but she met me sixty years ago and still remembered. She's been applying the lessons from that encounter to her own life all this time. The fire affected her appearance, but it did not affect her heart. When she told me that she remembered, it gave me hope and reminded me of God's love. I know that sometimes even an angel can forget these things. I don't always recover through the words of another angel, but rather through the actions of a person. It's strange, but I don't think that Tess could have helped us tonight, not in the way that Delores did."

Monica looked at him. "Perhaps you're right," she said with a slow nod. "That's sort of what she related to me as well."

"It looks as though we have met a human angel of sorts," Andrew said smiling. "Perhaps that is why the Father wants us to move on, because He knows that Delores has everything under control. This town will heal because of the strength of that one person."

"I'm glad we met her, its people like that who really give me hope for the world," Monica said.

"Yes," Andrew said and glanced towards the kitchen where Bernice was working, "and I think Delores' friend will help as well."

Monica and Andrew simultaneously stood up and when they were on their feet, she embraced her friend. "Next time we pass through town, I'll have to find out what brand of coffee Bernice uses, it's divine." Before leaving, she called to the back. "Bernice, we're leaving."

The woman waved as Andrew smiled. Monica is back to normal, he thought as they left the café, the sounds of the chimes clinging over their heads. For her part, Bernice came out of the kitchen and stood at the counter and watched as the bright red Cadillac drove away.

Without saying a word, she went over to the glass door, locked it turned the sign to read 'closed' and once more retreated back to the kitchen. "All in a day's work," she whispered under her breath, a secret smile crossing her lips as she reached her locker, grabbed her coat, and put it on.

The End.