This is the final part to this story. If you like it, reviews generally let me know that. Heh!

Kudoes and thanks to my reviewers. The next story will start in a few days.

Part 12

The ceremony ended and they left the church to go to the restaurant where the reception would be held. As they came into the large room where they would have dinner, Christina stood with Jeremy as the guests greeted them and filtered inside. She looked around the room and could see that the band had already set up their equipment.

Christina and Jeremy had the chance to greet each of their guests individually, and the last of those to arrive were Tess, Monica, and Andrew. "You look so lovely," Monica said softly.

"I'm so glad you're here, you can't imagine how blessed I feel in knowing that you could be here with us," Christina said smiling. "This is the greatest day of my life."

Andrew smiled, "just be sure you save me a dance. But only if that is alright with Jeremy."

Christina's husband nodded as they shooed the angels into the room. Once everyone was inside, and the speeches had been made, the band started playing music. Olivia stood and watched as Christina and Jeremy danced song after song with each other. Everyone was having such a nice time, and she felt a little isolated there. After some time of contemplation, she went back to the table and sat down and continued to watch quietly as the people danced.

"Why are you sitting here by yourself?" A voice broke into her thoughts and she looked up to see that Andrew had made his way through the crowd and was now standing near where she was seated.

"I don't know, everyone looks so happy and wonderful," Olivia said as he sat down.

"But you don't feel either of those things, do you?" He asked. "I think you're worried about how to cope with the situation with your family, aren't you?"

"What all did you tell Donna about me last night?" She whispered.

"I told her only a little bit," he said gently. "I didn't want to hurt you, but I also knew that you needed some support and one of the things that I understand about you is that you have always seemed willing to sacrifice your future for the sake of your family. A family that refuses to sacrifice anything for you."

"I guess you knew all along that when I told you last night about my mom being sick, you knew that I lied," Olivia said softly.

"I know you did, but I think I understand why," he smiled at her, but took her hand gently in his.

"You know, she's not really sick, well, maybe just a little depressed, but the reason she isn't working is because she won't learn English and most jobs here require that the people at least speak some English. It's easier for me to make excuses for her and tell people that she's sick than to actually tell them the truth and say she doesn't want to." Olivia's green eyes filled with tears and she looked at him. "I-I'm sorry I lied to you."

"It's OK, all is forgiven," he smiled gently and put his arm around her shoulder. "It's not easy for you to take on all this responsibility, is it? You're only 16, and you're still a child yourself."

She nodded and looked down at her lap unable to meet his gaze. "I'm going to go back to school, Andrew. Donna and Daniel are going to help me so I don't have to work all the time and they told me they would be with me when I tell my mother this."

"I think that's wonderful," he said gently. "You have found your way, then."

"It was my prayer, I asked God every night to help me find a way to live, but also to learn. You see, my grandfather was a doctor, and when I was little, he told me that he would be proud if I were to become a doctor as well, carry on a family tradition and help people. I read every book I could find about medicine and helping people, but I knew that without an education, all the books in the world weren't going to help me accomplish this and make my grandpa proud. I just knew that I couldn't accomplish my goals in life when I am living my life as a high school dropout." The tears streamed down her cheeks and she finally found the courage to look at him.

Andrew leaned over and brushed the tears gently from her face. "You've known this for a long time, haven't you?"

The girl nodded, "I just never had the courage to say what I wanted or what I felt. I thought I was supposed to do what my mom wanted of me. I thought I had no alternatives, but then last night, I saw you again, got to know Donna and Daniel, and I met Christina. Because of you and her, I realized that I didn't have to continue as things were." She looked at him. "I guess the only thing it doesn't change is the fact that I'm so scared."

Andrew smiled gently. "I know you are, but do you know what? You're never ever alone, Olivia. You will always have someone on your side, someone who will stand by you, and no matter how hard it is for you to speak the truth, God will give you the strength to do so. All you have to do is ask Him and trust in Him."

"You make it sound easy," Olivia said softly wiping the tears from her eyes.

"It's not easy, but it's easier than running away and trying to work 20 hours a day to support a person who is not willing to support herself," Andrew smiled gently. "God is proud of you for finding to courage to tell people what you want, and I think it's a sign of strength that you demonstrate this as well."

The girl nodded and wiped the rest of her tears away. "You know what? I'm glad I got to see you again, and I hope that one day you'll take me home to my Papa."

Andrew smiled gently at her. "I hope not for a long time, Olivia."

She smiled, "that's OK, I have to at least get through medical school first."

He nodded. "Seeing as this is a party, and everyone's dancing. How would you like to give it a whirl?"

"You mean, you want to dance with me?" Olivia asked.

He nodded and offered his hand. "Sure, I'm not such a bad dancer." She accepted it and stood up.

They walked out onto the dance floor and Andrew began to lead the shy young girl around. She smiled for the first time that day, and felt herself floating as the angel led her from one dance into the next.

From her embrace in Jeremy's arms, Christina smiled. "It looks like Andrew is having yet another impact on another young lady."

"Man, what a Casanova, huh?" Jeremy said smiling. "Hey Andrew, buddy, what's your secret? How does it feel to have such a lasting effect on the ladies?" He shouted across the room and Olivia could see that Andrew was blushing. A number of people began to laugh.

Christina began to laugh as well and it emerged so hard that she nearly tripped over the train of her gown. "You're awful, now look he's blushing. Don't make him want to disappear again, I still haven't gotten my dance with him, yet."

"I think you'll have to wait in line, Lindsey's waiting, and even Laura seems to be anxious to dance with him. I don't think my dance card would fill up that fast," Jeremy said smiling. Before he could say anything, a hand came to rest on his shoulder and he turned around and was looking at Monica. "You want to dance with me?"

The angel smiled and nodded.

Christina began to laugh and backed away from Jeremy and Monica so they could dance. "Watch out, Monica, Fred Astaire he is not."

"Oh very funny, but the secret's out, she didn't marry me for my dancing abilities," Jeremy began to lead Monica across the floor and Christina watched them dance.

"Thank you Father, for this wonderful day," she whispered under her breath as the music continued and she began to sway to the beat.

The floor once again filled up and she watched as Lindsey got her turn to dance with Andrew. Jeremy's right, Christina thought to herself, Andrew does have an effect on all kinds of women. As she watched she did not notice until Simon's voice had interrupted her thoughts and she realized that he had come over to her. "Christina?"

"Hi, you want to dance?"

"Uh, not yet, I just wanted to ask Olivia, but I'm afraid she'll say 'no'," Simon said.

"Listen, you just go over there and ask her. Nothing will be accomplished if you run away," Christina said smiling. "She's a nice girl, I'm sure she'll say 'yes'."

"It's just that I'm not as slick with girls as Andrew seems to be," Simon said noticing the many guests who were waiting to dance with the angel.

"You'll do just fine, now go over there and ask her. She ripe to be asked, look she's sitting over there alone. Now you go and ask her already," Christina said.

Within moments, Simon had made his way over to Olivia, and within moments, he flashed her a 'thumbs up' sign and a grin when he led Olivia out onto the dance floor. She reached down and picked up her glass of water and took a sip.

"You've got talent when it comes to motivating people," Tess said as she joined Christina.

"Maybe, but I only do that because I know that sometimes people need an extra push," Christina said. "Are you having fun?"

Tess nodded, "of course I am, honey."

"I'm so glad you're here, Tess. It's special to both of us."

"This is a special day, Christina, a gift to you and Jeremy from the Father, because He loves you both so much," Tess said.

Christina smiled and nodded. As soon as the music ended Lindsey smiled and waved to Christina before walking over to the band. Andrew came over to where she and Tess were standing. "May I?" He offered his hand to Christina.

She smiled and followed him out onto the dance floor. The band began the introduction to the song 'Angel' by Sarah McLaughlin, and as the swells of music filled the room as Christina and Andrew danced, she couldn't help but smile at the irony of the song which she and Andrew were dancing to. "In the arms of an angel, fly away from here..."

When the song ended, Christina hugged him tightly and gave him a kiss on the cheek. "Thank you for being here. It means the world to me to know that my very best friends are here to celebrate our special day."

Andrew smiled as Laura came over and grabbed his legs from behind. "My turn," she said enthusiastically.

He smiled weakly. "You really do have an impact on ladies of every age, Andrew," Christina said softly.

He blushed and picked Laura up in his arms and began to spin around the room with her. Christina watched as Laura giggled and them she turned to see her husband was now standing next to her. She wrapped her arms around him. "I feel like I'm on top of the world tonight, Jeremy."

"You and me both, and this is the beginning of our wonderful life together," he said smiling. "Today, I finally found my place in this world."

"I always knew that it would be with you," Christina said. "Friends are wonderful but nothing can replace the feeling I have with you."

As the lights dimmed, Christina watched as Tess, Monica, and Andrew waved a final good-bye to them before leaving the reception hall. "I wonder if Andrew managed to dance with all the girls who wanted to dance with him?" Christina asked, with her hand still over her mouth and stifling her giggles.

"Mommy, Andrew is gone," Laura's voice emerged as she came over to where Christina stood with Jeremy. They could both tell that the little girl was saddened with the departure of their angelic friends.

"One day when you least expect it, he'll be back," Jeremy said as he ruffled her hair.

"I know, that's what he said, but he asked me to give you this," Laura said and handed Christina a sealed envelope.

She opened it, and inside was a card with the word, 'blessing' embossed on it, and when she opened it, she could see that someone had drawn a family tree, and connected Jeremy and Christina's families. The names of their friends was somehow also connected, and all around it, was a heart. Underneath this were the words: 'A gift of the Father'.

Jeremy nodded and took both Christina and Laura in his arms. "Amen," he whispered giving his wife a kiss.

The End.