A/N: Just a warning, there is a trigger topic mentioned in this chapter. It is in no way graphic and is literally a mention only, but if mention of rape is troubling for you, be warned.

Three still figures sat on the roof of the Diner as the night wore on. Sometime, midnight came and went, inconspicuously marking the beginning of Christmas day; something that Bob hadn't failed to make a smart comment about. Tessa sat by herself, silently surveying the terrain from the back of the diner. Like Michael, she knew what was likely coming, but she wasn't afraid, not yet, anyway. She figured when the moment arrived she would be, but for now the world seemed almost normal. Mere hours earlier, she'd held Michael in her arms, pretending that this wasn't happening. Now, he was downstairs, helping to deliver mankind's last hope for survival.

She knew she should be right there beside him, but Tessa couldn't force herself to move from her perch on the edge of the roof. The memories that had been dredged up made that impossible. She had nearly forgotten certain aspects of her life before, like her family. The possessed boy downstairs had woken those memories almost painfully. His soft-looking blonde hair and rounded face brought to the fore memories of beloved nieces and nephews, as well as the jealous desire to hold a child that was her own. A desire that had been more powerful than anything she had experienced in her short life to that point. On the other side, the boy's scornful brown eyes had served to remind her of crushing betrayal and heartbreak.

That dream of her own child had been crushed the same time her mortal life was snuffed out. Truthfully, she didn't even know if angels could bear children; she'd never thought to find out. The memories of wanting a child of her own had been buried along with many of the memories of her life before. The instant they returned to her conscious thoughts, she couldn't even bear to look at Charlie anymore. The pain was too great. So now she sat on a rooftop in one of the most inhospitable places she'd ever been while her lover delivered another woman's unwanted baby. Oh, the cruel irony.

She looked up at the sound of soft footsteps approaching behind her. Sighing, she turned slightly, just enough to see Bob standing a few feet from her. He cleared his throat, but her gaze didn't waver. She was far past caring about her past philosophies about men. All she wanted now was for her torturous memories to give her a moment's peace. At the moment, the best way to accomplish that was to engage in conversation.

"Something on your mind?" Bob coughed a little, not quite expecting her to speak first. Since she'd arrived, the angel had only really talked to Michael, if you didn't count the odd word here and there. The owner of Paradise Falls cleared his throat again.

"That was really somethin', the way you went to help Audrey. I've never seen anyone fight like that." Tessa felt the corner of her mouth quirk a little as she looked back out across the desert.

"Thank you. It is what I do, though. I'm a soldier, fighting is what I am." Bob seemed a little disconcerted by this. He shuffled a bit.

"You don't like us very much, do you?" It was simple statement, one that Tessa had been expecting at some point. She had, after all, made no secret of it. She took a deep breath.

"You, personally, I don't mind to much; the crustiness is a little trying, as is the skepticism. The others here, I like them well enough, I suppose. It's mankind in general that I'm not fond of."

"This might come off as a bit rude, but isn't that the same attitude that 'God' has at the moment." Tessa thought for a moment, taking in the man's words, disregarding his lingering disbelief. In a way he was right; she had lost faith in humanity a long time ago, at least, she thought she had. Now—

"I suppose. But I have been trying. Sometimes it's hard to escape one's past. Nevertheless, I am trying." She fixed him with another stare, this time watching him digest what she said. Nodding, he returned to Jeep's side, satisfied with her answers, something resolving itself in his eyes. Tessa couldn't help but smile faintly. Bob was yet another flawed soul who was desperately trying to find the light again. Only he was, ironically enough, looking for something to believe in.

Tessa stood and stretched, pacing a bit before settling again, this time a little closer to Bob and Jeep, half listening to their quiet conversation. Every now and then, a cry of pain from Charlie below them pierced the quiet of the night. Tessa couldn't help but squeeze her eyes shut against the phantoms of her own past pain as the wails faded into the night. So she clung to the quiet thread of conversation between Jeep and his father. That didn't really help a great deal either as they were talking about Charlie. Eventually they too fell quiet.

The silence of the night was broken when a horn bellowed across the bleak desert, seeming to emanate from the very bowels of the earth. Bob, who was already standing, looked around in bewilderment while Jeep jumped to his feet. Tessa froze, the fear that she had been waiting for descending upon her.

"What the hell was that?" Bob's voice was afraid, which was as it should be, considering the meaning behind the supernatural blast of sound. Tessa tried to swallow her fear, managing to push it aside as she slowly got to her feet, standing precariously on the ledge of the roof. Both of the men with her turned to face the angel, their eyes searching for answers. She could only manage to whisper one thing.

"He's coming." In an instant she was down through the roof hatch.

* * *

Audrey knelt in front of Charlie, her arms full of the items that Michael had told her to collect as Charlie's voice had instructed her where to find everything. Charlie's time was getting closer, but for the moment she was calm. The last contraction had faded, and it would be several minutes before another came. Audrey sat with her arms wrapped around her knees, watching Charlie's damp face smooth as she rested for a moment.

"Thank you, for saving me." Michael looked up at the teenager, meeting her earnest gaze. He nodded once in response, dabbing at Charlie's damp face with a cool cloth.

"That was a very brave thing you did. You gave no thought for yourself, despite the risks." Audrey gave him a cynical smile.

"I didn't do a great job of it. I ended up hiding while you came to rescue me."

"Nevertheless. It is an exceptional quality. Tessa wouldn't have followed or tried to help you for anything less." Audrey frowned, her questions about the other angel surging to the forefront of her mind. Before she could stop, one of them slipped out.

"What is with her anyway? She always seems so angry and—sad." Audrey didn't mean to add the last word, but, like the question itself, it just slipped out. Michael considered her for a moment, dabbing at Charlie's forehead again. The waitress had fixed her eyes on the former angel too, silently echoing Audrey's question. Michael sighed before beginning to tell Tessa's story, pausing every time Charlie's contractions came.

"Teresa was born in the mortal world several centuries ago to a devoutly religious family. She was a good daughter, and grew up loving God and dutifully adhering to His laws as was expected in those times. When she was old enough, a little younger than you, Audrey, she was married to a respectable man, and settled into the role of the gentle, obedient wife." Audrey couldn't help but scoff a little, and Michael nearly smiled as well. Tessa didn't really fit that profile anymore. "She cared for her little house and lived to please God and her family. She was expecting her first child when things changed. One of the local magistrate's sons got it into his head that she wanted him and pursued her. One day, when her husband was away, he broke into her home and forced himself on her. She tired to fight him off but he overpowered her."

Michael's voice darkened as he spoke, remembering the fury inside him when he discovered what she had endured. It was part of what had compelled him to be the one to guide her soul to Heaven. "Her husband came home to find her ravished and turned her in for adultery, never even pausing to hear her side of the story. It was a bitter blow, for she had grown to care for him deeply." Shock and anger appeared on the faces of the women beside him, but Michael continued.

"She swore that she had tried to fight her attacker off and that he forced her. Even when they tortured her, trying to get her to confess she never gave in. But the Magistrate's son insisted she tricked and bewitched him to sin. Unfortunately his word held sway, and Tessa was convicted of adultery and witchcraft and sentenced to be burned at the stake, which was a very long and very painful way to die. Before the week was out, they executed her, ending her mortal life." Audrey looked horrified, and the blood had drained from Charlie's face. Michael was silent, his jaw clenched.

"But what about her baby?" Michael sighed, remembering the pain on Tessa's face as she dashed to the roof when Charlie's contractions started.

"She miscarried soon after she was attacked, and they used that as evidence to convict her. That's where her bitterness towards mankind stems, from the loss of her child at the hands of her attacker and the merciless torture they subjugated her to, trying to make her lie about what happened. Her faith helped her strength to endure and it never dimmed. She has always been a devout follower of God, even after what they put her though. Her faith in Him never weakened, even when they tied her to the stake and set the fires that destroyed her body." Audrey shuddered. Charlie groaned as another contraction hit her, but she tried not to cry out, Tessa's story still fresh in her mind. Michael squeezed her hand in reassurance, his mind wandering to the woman on the roof. Audrey was thoughtful for a moment, hugging her knees tighter to her body, not speaking until Charlie's contraction passed.

"That's why she said her mother never had the chance to blame her." Audrey's voice was so quiet that Michael almost didn't hear her. He sighed. He'd heard about what Sandra had said to her daughter.

"She has always believed that her mother blamed her for what happened. Whether she did or not, I don't know, but what they did to her stained her family's reputation. Unrighteously so, but it did nonetheless. In her love for her family and grief at their pain, she took the blame onto herself, even though she was guiltless on all counts." He was interrupted as Charlie gasped before crying out in pain, a particularly powerful contraction ripping through her body. Michael locked eyes with Audrey as he helped Charlie brace herself against him. The teenager had unfolded herself and was once again kneeling between the waitress's legs.

"It won't be long now. Get ready to do what I say." Charlie gripped Michael's hands as another cry escaped from her lips, as Audrey began to look panicked.

"Wait, just because I'm a girl does not mean I know how to do this!"

"Stay calm and do exactly as I tell you." Michael's voice was a little sharper than he intended, but he was still on edge with worry and from the reminder of Tessa's pain. Audrey didn't seem to take it to heart though.

"How do you know what to do?" Her voice was incredulous as she stared at the angel. Charlie continued to cry out, almost sobbing with the pain, her body tensing as the contraction intensified. She was gripping Michael's hands so hard that her fingernails were digging painfully into his skin. He didn't seem to notice though, as he was too intent at getting Charlie and the baby through this as quickly as possible.

Suddenly out of nowhere a deep, reverberating horn sounded, startling the trio in the diner as much as the trio on the roof. The very building seemed to vibrate around them as the horn echoed through the night.

"What the fuck is that?" Audrey yelled over the sound of the horn, barely able to be heard. Michael looked up at the ceiling in worry before speaking, echoing Tessa's words above him.

"He's coming." He looked at Audrey for a moment before turning his attention to the woman leaning against him. "We need to hurry now, Charlie." Audrey was floored.

"Whaddya meant 'hurry'! This isn't exactly something we can hurry!"

"You're going to want to." Tessa raced past them to the front window, sparing a glance at Audrey as she passed. Michael glanced at her with concern, but when she refused to look in his direction he turned his attention back to Charlie.

"I need you to push now. You push like you've never pushed before. Push!"

"Michael, who's coming?" Audrey was still looking at the former angel in pure, terrified confusion. He just ignored her, continuing to tell Charlie to push. The waitress yelled as she struggled to comply, nearly delirious with pain. Tessa forced herself to look around, meeting Audrey's eyes for the briefest of instants before locking on Charlie. The horn sounded again, louder than before, snapping Tessa out of her trance. Lights began to pulse outside, illuminating Tessa's face with an eerie backlight as they undulated across the desert. Hordes of the Possessed were encircling the lonely building, yet not one made any move to attack. They all stood as still and quiet as statues, seemingly impervious to the night's chill or the sound of the horn echoing across the landscape. They were here to stand witness. The girl was looking from one angel to the other in panic.

"Michael?!"

"Gabriel." Audrey didn't hear her, but then, Tessa had mostly whispered it to herself, fighting to keep her own apprehension at bay. Turning, she headed back up to the roof, finding Bob and Jeep staring out at the possessed with fear in their eyes. She came to stand on Jeep's right, exchanging a glance with both of them. Down below, Charlie cried out one last time.

Audrey lifted the baby away from his mother's body, wrapping it in the tea towel she had ready and waiting on her lap. She grinned foolishly as the baby wailed, flailing its tiny arms. Michael looked at the child almost impassively, relief coursing through his body. Now humanity would have a chance. Audrey tried to hand the baby to its mother, but her smile faded as Charlie turned her head away, refusing to even look at him.

"Here's your baby. No, it's okay, your baby's fine. Look."

"She's alright. Give her some time." Michael's voice was quiet, and distinctly sad as he gently pushed the baby deeper into Audrey's arms. The confusion on her face was heartrending, and for that reason he was glad Tessa had once again retreated to the roof. It would've broken her heart to see this exchange. Audrey stood, clutching the baby to her chest as she began to pace around the diner. Michael continued to hold Charlie as silent sobs wracked her body. He watched as Audrey sat beside her mother, showing her the baby. He couldn't help but be pleased for the teenager when Sandra began to speak to her softly, recalling when Audrey was a baby before trying to apologize about earlier. It was a tender moment, one that went a long way to begin healing the rent Sandra had torn in their already rocky relationship the day before. Michael helped Charlie to sit on her own before shifting his own position, ignoring the way his muscles protested. He was tired. He sat leaning his back against the counter, trying not to think about what was sure to come. The waitress curled up against the same counter, only with her back to him.

"Are we safe now?" Her voice was fearful, though exhaustion permeated her words. Michael didn't even shift his gaze to her, shaking his head.

"No." He gazed at nothing in particular, his thoughts turning to each person left in the diner in turn, lingering on Tessa. "No. But now at least the child will have the chance to grow up. A chance to lead the world out of darkness."

"What happens until then?" Now he did look over, still focusing on nothing in particular, waiting to see if the waitress would turn to face him. When she didn't he turned his gaze to focus on her still form.

"You need to show him how." She shook her head slowly, her voice angry, though that resentment was focused on herself.

What makes you think I can do that? What makes you think I want to do that?" Michael just watched her, seeing more than the bitterness she was showing. She was scared and doubtful; she truly didn't think she could. She truly believed she was destined to be a bad mother. He lowered his gaze back to the floor, which was now streaked with dirt and blood. "If he's so important why don't you take him?" Michael withheld a sigh. If only it were like that. She still didn't understand how important she was. She was so much more than just the woman to birth man's hope. He leaned closer.

"Because this journey is yours." Standing, he rested a hand on her shoulder for a moment, trying to reassure her in anyway he could before giving her space to think.

From the roof, Tessa, Bob and Jeep could hear the baby cry. They watched as the possessed began to stir, discomforted by the sounds of the baby's wail, some even letting out their own anguished cries. Once again, Tessa descended into the diner, leaving Bob and Jeep to stare out at the masses in confusion.

* * *

Audrey sat leaning beside her mother, deep in thought as the baby squirmed in her arms. Michael knelt beside her, laying a hand on the baby's head. The teen looked up at the angel, meeting his pale blue eyes.

"You did well, Audrey." She smiled faintly, looking back down at the baby. She had another question about Tessa, something that had been nagging her. She looked back up at Michael, hesitating to ask.

"Um—if she's so bitter towards humans because of what they did to her, why doesn't she hate us or try to kill us like the others? Why is she taking our side?" Michael looked thoughtfully at the teenager, considering how to answer. But before he could speak, another did.

"Because despite the darkness I see, and have seen, despite what was done to me, I still see hope in humanity." Tessa paused, her longing gaze resting for a moment on the baby in Audrey's arms, "it took me a long time to see past my hatred and my hurt, but then I began to see and remember the good things humankind has to offer, even from the flawed souls," There wasn't a trace of sarcasm or cynicism in her voice, only resignation and acceptance. She knelt beside Audrey, slowly, tentatively reaching out to stroke the baby's soft cheek, a single tear escaping onto her own. Michael watched her, not understanding how it took all this to realize he loved her.

"I could not ignore what my heart told me."

"Which was?" They all turned to Charlie, who stood beside the counter watching them. Her voice was quiet, and her anxious eyes looked at the angel in a mix of fear and empathy. Tessa watched the new mother for a moment, a silent, unexplainable understanding passing between them. When she answered, her voice was just as quiet as Charlie's, but no less emotional.

"That humankind does not deserve to die."

The moment was broken as the horn sounded again from the deep, shaking the very foundations of the building. Michael stood, slowly, a distanced look descending on his features. Tessa watched him as he stood, her hand coming to rest on Audrey's shoulder as the deep, reverberating sound ceased into silence again.

Not even a minute passed before Jeep was walking into the dining room, Bob hot on his heels. Michael was already engrossed in the weapons arrayed before him.

"Something's happening. They're moving away." Michael didn't even look up as Jeep strode towards him. The angel continued to recheck and reload his guns. Tessa stood beside Audrey, an arm around the trembling girl's shoulder.

"We need to go. The possessed can't come near the child, but He sent someone who can, someone like me." Bob and Jeep looked stared at Michael. Tessa tensed, her arm tightening around Audrey's shoulders. She knew what was coming next.

"Like you?" Bob's voice was distinctly accusing, so Tessa suspected Jeep hadn't relayed what little he knew to his father.

"Gabriel." It wasn't a question. She knew it was his horn just as surely as Michael did, and she knew it meant he was coming. She had followed it to battle many times in the past, and had watched it strike terror into the demons she battled. All eyes shifted to her as she spoke his name, but Tessa didn't flinch. She couldn't change the truth. When she didn't continue, all eyes turned back to the archangel. He snapped a new clip into place, setting that gun down and picking up another.

"Yes, Gabriel. He's come here to do what I wouldn't." Tessa tensed even further, inhaling sharply causing Audrey to look up in bewilderment. The angel had suspected what Michael's orders had been, but she hadn't known for sure until now. Looking down at the tiny life in Audrey's arms, that task seemed all the more repugnant. After her, Jeep was the next to connect the dots. Then again, he was probably the only other person in this room who knew Michael had disobeyed his orders to come here.

"You were the one that was supposed to kill the baby." Shock stunned everyone in the roof as Michael sadly looked up from the guns in his hands. "That's the order you didn't obey." Movement from the kitchen caught Tessa's eye as Charlie stepped out of the shadows, an expression of betrayal plainly written in her eyes. Michael caught sight of her, not answering Jeep's question.

"We need to go." Charlie didn't respond to his statement, her eyes still fixed on the archangel.

"What is he talking about?"

"Gather up whatever weapons we have left." Michael brushed off her question as though it was nothing. Tessa took a step forward, her arm loosening from around Audrey's shoulders. Michael spared her a glance, gauging her reaction to his orders. She wasn't pleased either. Charlie didn't relent, quickening her pace.

"What are you talking about?"

"We need to go now. Now!"

"Michael, answer me!" They both yelled at the same time, staring at each other in a battle of wills. Michael could feel all eyes on him, waiting for an explanation . . . even Tessa. He took a deep breath, giving in to the combined glare of the mother in front of him and his lover behind her. The grief was obvious on his face as he began to speak, his voice wavering ever so slightly.

"The baby. The baby was never meant to be born." Charlie looked at him in mistrust, unconsciously backing away. Tessa shut her eyes in pain, willing her tears not to fall as Michael's quiet words cut through her. The archangel held out his hand to the waitress, his voice sad and pleading as he walked slowly towards her. Charlie continued to back away from him, tears beginning to fall from her eyes. Tessa pulled Audrey close again, trying to regain control over her own emotions.

"But the future has been unwritten. The child lives. And while he does there's still hope." Charlie looked at him for a moment longer, before spinning around and walking toward Audrey.

"Audrey, the baby." Charlie's voice was bordering on desperate as Audrey pulled away from Tessa, offering up the baby to his mother. He never reached his mother's arms.

The moment the baby was within reach, Sandra had leapt from her chair, snatching the baby from her daughter's arms. Michael immediately brought up his gun, coolly tracking Sandra without a hint of indecision. The deranged woman immediately circled toward the door, looking up at her daughter who stood staring at her, horrified at what she was doing.

"Audrey, come. Come." Bob stepped forward, just as aghast as Audrey.

"What are you doing?" Tessa could feel the rage building inside her as she realized what the woman wanted to do.

"You heard what he said. They just want the baby. I'm gonna give them the baby, then they're going to let us go." A wild light shone from Sandra's eyes. No one dared move for fear of what she might do. Sandra continued to gesture at her daughter. Charlie took a step toward her, her face alight with fury, pointing dangerously at the woman who held her son.

"You give him back to me right now!"

"Why?" Sandra had clearly lost her mind, "You didn't even want him in the first place!" The horn sounded again, infinitely louder than before, and a bright, blazing light burst through the slats behind Sandra, silhouetting the trembling woman. She didn't even look around. Tessa's eyes widened as she realized what was about to happen, her fury bleeding from her body as dread took over.

"Come on, Audrey. Audrey, come with me!" The girl looked devastated as she shook her head slowly, refusing to go to her mother. Sandra looked around wildly. Tessa began to tremble as the horn's call grew louder.

"It's just one baby." Sandra was trying to rationalize with herself more than the others, their impassive and condemning expressions shaking the resolve of her tenuous sanity. Michael held the gun steady. "It's just one baby." This time she whispered, her voice almost lost in the call of the horn. The light from outside continued to build, reaching its blinding apex.

"He's here." Tessa stated impassively, her voice oddly serene. With a deafening crash the door exploded in a shower of splinters, the light from outside pouring in.

A/N: Thanks for reading!

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