**Quote: "Quit yer bitchin' and do something." ~~Unknown**

Chapter 12

All I can say is that I was more than surprised when he ended up flying me back to the underground training room again. Looking at his sportswear I'm suddenly worried that fighting was exactly what he had in mind. Why he would choose this spot and situation to say our goodbyes I have no idea. Maybe he thinks kicking my ass will make me remember him more.

When he takes off the light jacket he was wearing I notice again the two almost unnoticeable slits going down the back.

"Do all your clothes have that?" I can't help but ask and point to the oddity, wondering if every angel dressed like this, I could easily identify them.

He looks down at his jacket and then up with a smirk only saved for infants who know little about the world. "Not all of them no. It would be to obvious in the daylight with nosy humans walking around staring at us. But when we know we are going to fly we wear these." He holds up the light jacket with slits and then turns around so I can see the same slits in his t-shirt.

"And if you spontaneously need to fly you just have a awkward situation?" I walk to the middle of the large cavern with him and crack my knuckles as a nervous habit. I now had no doubt that fighting was in our schedule for tonight and my sparring partner could probably chunk me across the whole room if he wanted to.

"Haven't you noticed the way Eliza and Lily always dress?" He looks at me with the patient eyes of a teacher and I can tell that I'm going to be tested more often than not. I've always loved pop quizzes.

I close my eyes and try to think back. Since these memories of the past few years with my friends haven't been lost it's not hard to recall what they were dressed in, no matter the season, during our time together. Suddenly my eyes pop open and I turn to Nate with realization clear in my eyes.

"They always wore really thin, light clothes. Even in the winter I thought they were going crazy because they just wore these flimsy long sleeves."

"Exactly, the thinner the shirt is the easier it is to just rip off. Although the women have established a sense of modesty in that situation. Remember, if humans had the strength that just resides in our wings they would be able to punch a Ford truck into a tin can. Now, I believe I brought you down here for a specific reason. Go and get your Twins and come right back here."

I practically choke on my own tongue at what he just told me to do. "My what?" My reaction must have been hilarious because he can't contain the snicker that follows.

"I forgot you don't remember your nickname for the daggers." He points to the two breathtaking daggers that I had looked at only a few days ago with Jem. There hilts still shine and glint their fiery red flames that stay frozen in the glass. "They were identical and you found the need to give then a name. So it's the Twins."

I roll my eyes at my own childishness. I couldn't pick up a rock without feeling the need to name it something. Trying to hide my my embarrassment I quickly jog in between two pillars and grab "the Twins". Remember what happened the last time I got distracted with a lethal angel in the room I keep my eye on Nate.

"So do you mind telling me why you got me up in the middle of the night to come here and spar?" I'm careful not to get to close to him and I know that I shouldn't get even the least bit cocky over the fact that he's weaponless.

"Some of our best memories were made training together, it only seemed fit to make one more memory for you before I leave in a few hours."

I don't know whether it was the hyper feeling of being awake in the middle of the night or the fact that he brought up that he is going to leave me without my Guardian and best friend, but I get the sudden feeling to punch every damn Fallen that ever started this war. But since there not here...

I vault at Nate with more speed than I thought I could ever posses but instead of going for his face I drop into a slide. Using the power in my upper body I twist so my right foot comes up and connects with the back of his knee. He, having more of a sharp eye than I, sidesteps to avoid me.

Rolling a little farther away from him I bounce back up and try to hide my excitement. In the years that I hadn't even know about angels I had never once shown any ability to fight. But now that I was trying to remember, the skills were coming as naturally as riding a bike after a long amount of time.

I widen my stance a little and I focus on the way Nate is standing. His left foot is slightly ahead of his right meaning that his power is in his right hook. This time I wait until he makes the first move as I hold the Twins up to my face, their cold blades pressed against the under side of my arm.

When he takes two measured steps to the right, each bringing him closer to me, I move to his left side and duck from an oncoming blow. Easily I dodge under his arm and try to slice at a tendon in his upper arm, but he easily grabs my hand, twists my wrists, and disarms me of one of the Twins.

Yanking away I hold my throbbing wrist close to my body and glare as he tucks my dagger into his waistband. My breathing is coming harder now that I've been thoroughly pissed off. Nate just turns to face me with a easy grin and a smart-ass look on his face.

"Stop trying so hard. It's like you're going too much by the book. Just," he stops to block another one of my punches and pushes me back a few steps, "try fighting naturally. You're weak and short compared to most of your sparring partners."

Just for that I flip my dagger in my hand so the blade is being gripped by my finger tips and I chunk it at his chest. Of course he just stands still and with the speed of a friggin ninja he catches it with just two fingers and tucks that into his waistband as well.

My reaction to his words was a big mistake because now I've lost both my daggers and his devilish smile tells me he's not going to let my sensitivity go. "Your also a little human, which means you're not nearly as strong as we are."

With a very un-ladylike growl I move towards him and fake a left so he shifts just slightly with me like in a game of basketball. Twisting so forcefully my ponytail whips around, like a pinwheel, I bring the heel of my left foot up and kick him in the ribs. Not expecting that the wind is knocked out of him and he backs away from me quickly. I can't help the sudden naive smile that spreads across my face as I realize I just gave him a nice sized bruise. Finally! I was starting to be the only one to start looking like a very purple Barney.

Only he doesn't cringe or hold his ribs at all. He just rolls his shoulders and gives me one of his dangerous smirks. "You're also very hot tempered." With just a blur of color he is suddenly slamming me into the ground, his knees on either side of my ribs and his hands are iron rings around my wrists.

Nate leans very close to my face and let's his gaze travel down my face since I can only squirm. "But you are very fast and again small. So for your larger opponents that means you can get under their guard and stab them. I'll help you with that. Oh and just so you know," he leans over to my ear so his minty breath ruffles my hair slightly, "I let you have that kick." Seriously?

A sudden anger floods through my veins and like an acrobat I arch my back to set him off balance and I wrap one of my legs around his throat, throwing him backwards. Before he can jump up from his back I grab one of my knives from his waistband and push it against his throat.

"Don't you dare treat me like a child. When we fight I don't want any free punches. Understand?" I glare at him with every ounce of resentment that I hold against men acting softer towards women because they think they may break us. That kind of thing seriously boils my temper.

To his credit he nods calmly and looks me straight in the eye. "Understood. Oh, and very good, Marie...but not good enough." Suddenly I feel a pinch in my side and when I look down I find the second dagger gripped in his hand, digging into my side right over my kidney.

I don't know whether it's the fact that we both are holding very sharp objects to very sensitive places or that in less than a minute he had managed to piss me off, but we both just cracked up into laughter. I roll to the side so we are laying side by side and I hold my stomach as our laughter bounces off the walls of the cavern. I hadn't felt this carefree is so long.

Sure we had bloodthirsty Fallen after my heart and my friends head's. But when it came down to it I would take moments in between all the darkness, that showed me something so beautiful and bright nothing could hurt me, then some life where I have nothing to worry about other than taxes and the next season of Sherlock. This life holds the people I actually care about.

It's only a few moments later that we start to breathe more evenly and our laughter dies down. The weight of what lies just around the corner makes the both of us just stay there. On the floor. Laying next to each other. Breathing in rhythm. And that was the thing. I was so attuned to every move he made, to every breath he took and it was driving me crazy. I believe every thing that they've told me so far and there was no doubt that we had a past. I could feel old feelings awakening inside me every time I looked at him. My heart did a familiar pitter patter every time that smirk curled his lips. My stomach twisted like a pretzel anytime we so much as brushed in contact.

Every time he was around these feelings and reactions were as familiar to me as the theme of Doctor Who was. I'd never forget these things about Nate even if I was brought down as a human a hundred times over.

But the memories were still fuzzy and I didn't know our whole story and I wanted to remember. I want to remember so badly it gives me a migraine just trying to distinguish when and where that I want to reflect upon.

Turning my head to the side to look at Nate I find him already staring at me. Something shines in his eyes that looks like regret and wariness. His mouth is set in a thin grim line when he looks at me and I can't help but feel that I'm the only person he shows this slight weakness to. As one of the highest ranking angels I'm sure he doesn't have the privilege of showing anything that may make him look easily defeat able. In a selfish way I am almost glad that I am the one he can turn to.

He turns on his side and tilts his head to the side as if to see me from a different view and I feel the butterflies in my stomach start to beat at my sides. I may not have had many different experiences with boyfriends in this life but it was common knowledge what a man is thinking of when he has that look.

For whatever reason I feel myself start to clam up and any boldness I may have had raging through me before has left me with nothing but my self conscious mind. Only armed with my insecurities, in this situation, is a very dangerous thing. So I hop up quickly and brush off imaginary dirt from my shirt and I pivot on my heel so I'm standing over Nate.

Extending my hand to help him up I feel my face burning from what I'm too afraid to do. Oh, he grabs my hand alright. But only to pull me straight back down to him. And since I was standing right over him I land right on his chest with a hard thump. He looks me straight in the eyes and smirks, humor in those dark iris's. "Coward." Then with the fluidity of someone who's done this more than a hundred times he threads his fingers into my hair and pulls my face to his.

Any exclamation I could have made is now dead in my mouth as his lips capture mine with the gentleness I didn't know a guy with such strength could possess. I truly consider myself a very attuned person in this world, aware of everything and everyone around me, but the moment his lips touched mine everything faded. I didn't hear anything except for the constant loud thumping of my own heartbeat. I didn't see anything for my own closed eyes. I didn't feel anything except for his fingers gently weaving their way through my hair, which sends goose bumps crawling over my arms, and the soft persistent push of his mouth on mine. David Tenant could have walked in the room, asking if I wanted a ride in the Tardis, and I could have cared less. Which in nerd-girl terms means A LOT.

And then it was over. Like that he pulled back from our embrace and with no after affect of the total nuclear bomb he just initiated, he pulls us both to our feet.

Correction: he hops to his feet with me, practically like jelly on noodle legs, limp in his arms.

Sparks of heat and desire still jump across my skin in ways that make me want way more than a five second kiss and somewhere a lot more comfortable than a stone floor. But when I manage to lift my head and look into Nate's eyes I can tell that he wasn't so unaffected by that kiss as I first assumed.

A raging flame flickers in his eyes making them seem more golden than black and I can tell that if he hadn't stopped himself there then he would have ran over and crushed any stop sign that may have been held in his way. Sometimes I seriously forget that this guy has been waiting for me for so many years and now that he has found me he has to take things slow. At least until we either know each other longer or I die and regain my memories and power. Whichever comes first.

Taking a seriously reluctant step backwards I try and regain my senses. "I've never been and never will be a coward." My words come out slightly shaky but I cross my arms anyway and try to look serious.

Nate throws his head back and pulls me back to him in a tight embrace. "You're adorable when you try to look tough, you know." He whispers into my ear.

"Oh get off!" I push him away but instead just link hands with him and pull him with me to the tunnel exit. Putting the Twins back on the wall we walk through the tunnel and into his living room.

As Nate slides the fireplace back together I finger the golden ring on my thumb. Even in the dark it seems to glow, outlining the etching of the wings. I'd had my goodbye with Nate and by tomorrow morning he and Eliza would be gone off to meet Royce.

When I felt Nate's stare on me I look up and smile. "Just take care of Royce, will you? Eliza can take care of herself but I'm not sure about my nerd buddy. And, um...don't get killed okay?"

Nate nods his understanding and tries to give me an encouraging smile. Slowly we walk back outside. He opens his arms for me to hold on to. Gratefully I fold myself in his arms and I ignore the small voice in the back of my mind saying this could be the last time I see him.

By the time my alarm goes off there are already siren-y shrieks echoing in the house. For a second I think someone may be torturing a mouse but when I hear Pepper say actual words I relax. Hitting the snooze button to quiet the unearthly beeping I let my head sink back into the pillow. This is why I don't spar with gorgeous guys on a Monday night. It sucks the energy right out of me.

Pepper seems to keep up her insistent wails of annoyance and I know that if I don't shut her up now I may just resort to using a frying pan and duck tape.

Trying to roll out of bed I unexpectedly find my legs tangled in the covers and lacking my usual quick reflexes I crash to the ground. Good morning indeed.

Crawling back up i ignore the many mirrors reflecting the bags under my eyes and I move through the hall and living room to enter the kitchen. There Lily stands with her hands up in the universal 'calm down' sign. Pepper on the other hand stands with her feet spread apart as if she about to go into battle. Well into battle in her rosy bath robe and furry slippers.

Talking through a giant yawn I address Pepper, "What's wrong Pep?" Mmmmm. That's coffee I smell. Shuffling over to the black liquid I silently thank Lily for getting the strong kind.

Grateful that Pepper seems to understand I need some java before she goes on her rants I grab a mug and then turn to hear what's got her so upset. Her dark eyes are sparked with anger and she seems to have steam coming out of her ears.

"What's wrong? What's-" she looked so offended that I had no idea what problem was plaguing her and so I patiently waited for her to tell me. "Well of course you wouldn't know, your to busy having little dates with your soul mate and now Eliza and Royce are gone without so much as a goodbye! I wake to find Eliza's bag gone and a note saying to keep an eye on her machete collection. What...how could she...this is ridiculous. So many years of upsetting me and she hasn't learned a damned thing..."

Pepper must still be ranting because her pixie mouth is moving at a dangerously fast past. I sorta blanked out as soon as she said 'date' and ' soul mate'. She had to mean Nate but mate meant much more than fiancé. As far as my knowledge allowed mate was a term meant for two paired souls that never separated. My head starts to spin.

Without wondering or caring if Pepper is still talking I interrupt, "What does soul mate mean in angel terms?"

For a moment Pepper just stares at me, with her mouth open in a strange way telling me that I probably just cut her off mid-sentence. Oops. With a fed up sigh Pepper dramatically threw her hands in the air and pointed at Lily. "You deal with her. She obviously doesn't care what I have to say." With that she flourishes into our shared room and slams the door.

Oh well, princess would have to get over it.

Grabbing a banana and a package of pop tarts I sit down at the large oak table and wait only a moment before Lily joins me. Slight wrinkles crinkle around her eyes from a combination of things; smiling, sun, and stress. Whether she had been through this a million times Lily seemed to always worry when one of us went away. Like a fluttering mother goose with grown ducklings. She can't always keep us in the protection of her wing.

She gives me a slight smile and reaches forward to pat my hand. Weird beginning to a conversation. "I don't suppose you remember a man by the name of Tom Eckling do you? He is an old friend of yours."

I try and search back in my memory but I can't seem to really place a face with that name. Defeated I lower my gaze and shake my head in frustration. Again Lily gives my hand a sympathetic pat.

"Well, he is my soul mate. You see when The Lord looked upon earth, what He saw did not make Him happy. Marriages were broken by lustful men and flirty young girls. Couples rushed into their relationships without much thought and soon separated. Some were forced to love, others never found a positive emotion to reflect upon their partner for life. The Lord was not happy and He decided that once He has chosen an angel He will also choose their soul mate.

"This soul mate was chosen so that there was to be no leaving your chosen mate. Once The Lord decided it was time for the mated pair to meet they would never look upon another soul again with the same affection they both share. Only The Lord knows who is perfect to be matched together. But even still more angels were becoming Fallen because of one moment of pure sickening weakness.

"They were unfaithful to their soul mate and they were punished. By becoming Fallen because they had defied to The Lord's trust by not believing that their mate was the only one they would ever need. It happens on a rare occasion thank The Lord." Lily smiles at the ceiling and I realize she was genuinely thanking Him.

"Of course He wanted all angels to realize the power of their bond so He used the most precious thing to us angels." She paused almost for a more dramatic pause. "Our wings. When we finally come across our soul mate we know immediately that we are to be together and following this realization comes a ceremony that permanently seals the bond. We share our precious wings. Eliza and Royce both share a navy blue as they were mated many years ago. I share a light blue with my love Tom. You and Nate are much more special than you realize. You didn't just share a color. You both gave a each other a piece of yourselves. Metaphorically of course. He has black wings and at the end they are white that come from you white wings. You have a splash if black at the bottom of yours that come from his wings. This combination of not one shared color but two shows the power of you as a couple." Lily finally stops and I can't help but feel overwhelmed.

And engagement was one thing but being mated for life...it means I get to annoy one very lucky man for the rest of my life. I can't help but smile widely. "But Nate told me I hated him when we first met. Why would we be mates if I couldn't even stop myself from punching him? And what about Pepper? She has no mate as far as I know."

Lily smiles slightly as if gifted of an old and happy memory. "The Lord decides when the mated pair will realize they are meant to bond for life. As for Pepper The Lord obviously decided that she was just fine on her own. Jem, I believe you met her, lovely girl, she has no soul mate either because she has never really believed in that sort of thing." She casually glances at the clock and then jumps out of her chair so fast I'm sure we must be surrounded by ninja Fallen.

"Get up! You're going to be late picking up Ivy and you need to get to school!" She helps at me as I look over at the two hands tick away my tardiness. Hopping up I plant a kiss on Lily's cheek and smile gratefully. This woman was the best.

Rushing back to my shared room I try and shove the newly given information away to think about later. I was already late, I didn't need my fiancé/mate/guardian on my mind right now. I mean 'mate'?

It made us sound like a bunch of animals.

**Quote: I love it when people underestimate me. Seeing the stupid expression on their faces after they see what I can really do is priceless." ~~Unknown**