**This quote has nothing to do with this chapter, I'm just watching my favorite show ever! If you recognize the quote and the person saying the quote, then you, my friend have awesome taste in TV shows.
Quote: "Damn that mother chucker!" ~~Blair Waldorf**

Chapter 8

By the end of my cardio I can't feel anything other than my ragged lungs dragging in and out sloppily. My legs feel like jello and a painful stitch in my side has me doubled over. What I really need now is a full box of sweet tarts.

I am starting to wonder how much trouble I would be in if I killed a Guardian Angel.

"Ok, wheezie over here!" I grind my teeth together and straighten up from the stooped position I had tried to catch my breath. Jem is running her eyes over the many swords hung on the wall.

Something in particular catches her eye on the right. She leans up on her toes and snags two rather short Greek looking swords. The hilt of each has a design of a woman's face with snakes curling around her head like hair.

"I got these beautiful swords from the Ancient Lands a couple of decades ago." Jem says. "They were handed to me by a really grubby looking trader and see this symbol." She points to the woman's face with the snake hair. "That is Medusa. An old folks tale told in Greece. It was said she had been so beautiful that she had entranced the god Poseidon and when they offended the goddess Athena, she turned Medusa into a terrible beast that all men feared!"

She is gazing at the sword like a girl would stare at chocolate and I realize how much she loves talking about these stories.

"So the Greek soldiers would put her face on their swords and shields to scare off the enemy. I personally respect her." She traces the outlines of the monsters head and I follow her finger with my eyes as something occurs to me.

"This is history." Her head snaps up and she raises her eyebrows indicating I should continue. "Well, I mean you said that it took you decades to get that sword, and then that the sword had been made back when the Greeks were in power. So I can only guess..." I trail off as I spin slowly around looking at all the glinting weapons. Each one isn't just here for training and gutting someone. They are here to tell stories of past lives."

Spinning back around I point to the two swords in her hand. "Did an angel bare those weapons right after they were forged?"

Jem's smile confirms my theory. "Didn't take you as long as I thought it would." She winks at me before continuing. "But yes, you are correct. It was actually a rare set of angel twins who disguised themselves as Greek soldiers. They used these swords to fight the mutant Veelu-"

"Mutant...what do you mean mutant!"

"They haven't told you yet?" She says this with a only-devil-may-care expression. And of course she doesn't elaborate, leaving me in a cloud of confusion.

"Care to go a little further with that?"

"Oh come on! What is life without a bit of mystery? Besides, those creatures have been extremely rare for a few years. You would have to be very unlucky to run across one." Jem walks closer to me with the swords in hand. "Now I can feel your heart rate has calmed down a bit since the end of your run. I want to see if I can trigger any more of your old lessons from when I first helped continue to train you. One of the first lessons that you insisted on was sword fighting."

"Why?" I can't help the curiosity at my old self of when I was an angel with powers of speed and strength that passes anything my human body now can do.

Jem tilts her head to the side almost like a dog would do when interested in something. "At the time you and Nate were hitting a rough patch in your relationship. So even though you could take down any soldier in a hand-to-hand combat, you thought it may help if Nate was impressed with your sword fighting skills. That is his chosen weapon anyway."

"Chosen...you mean you only choose one weapon and you stick to it? Without ever changing or using anything else."

I stare at her with a questioning look and she seems to find my question hilariously funny as she throws her head back and laughs.

"I'm sorry- actually no I'm not! That was just too funny if you are in my position." Her eyes are squinted in her attempt to stop laughing and after a few seconds she seems to calm down. But amusement still lights her eyes. "I would tell you why that was so funny, but it's more of a eighteenth century inside joke. Really we just pick a weapon we are the best at and we perfect it until nothing can get in our way." Just saying that seems to somber her up. "No one in any country could even come close to beating Nate at a sword fight except for me since that is my choice in weapon.

"So it was only logical to pick that as his choice. Pepper decided on a bow and arrow since her arms were so quick and strong. Royce took a liking to what he likes to call a ninja sword. It's his baby really. Eliza couldn't help herself when she saw these two battle axes. And you my friend picked something that made me proud."

Jem points with the sword in her right hand to a wall closest to the tunnel that exits out. It's like a magnet drags my eyes to a certain pair of daggers about the length of my forearm. Their hilts look as if they had been made by lightening hitting sand and creating a breathtakingly curved glass design. It was completely see through with all shades of red twisting and twirling around like fire caught in time. It reminds me of an old drawing I had done of Eliza's fireplace. The blade is long and thin.

I step closer to it and my insides twist at the sight of them. My thoughts flow into words as I reach up to touch the terrifyingly familiar daggers. "These are mine. I-I mean from before in my old lives. I remember seeing these in some of the flashbacks I have had. So these are my choice of weapon. They...they're beautiful." I feel like I'm meeting an old companion who had long since been missing and I feel a wave of comfort curl around me at knowing I am not defenseless.

Now if I just had some ninja moves like I did in my memories then I'd be set.

Turning to Jem with a new determination I open my mouth ready to tell her my desperate need to learn how to fight, when the shaft of a spear comes swinging right for my head.

Only my reflexes saves me from getting beheaded as I drop low to the ground. "Are you crazy? You almost took my head off!"

When I look up Jem stands there leaning on the spear, like she hadn't just done batting practice with my face. "You must always be alert with anyone around you. While you were getting all sappy with your old daggers I, silently mind you, put my choice swords away and picked this spear up. I even strolled over here. When I said we had a choice weapon and perfected it, that part was true.

"But after we finish with that, we practice ever other weapon known to man and angel. So don't always expect me to be carrying Medusa around all the time. Besides Nate mentioned that you have been remembering things. So the only way to bring all those dusty training memories back is to physically do them."

With caution I rise and stare at her like she isn't speaking English.

"So you are going to try and take my head off and hope that I know the move to stop you."

"Pretty much."

There is something inside me that is wanting to back up in a corner and just refuse to fight her. And yet the smirk on her face tells me she knows I'm most likely going to do that. So I use the pissed off side that is angry for the pinch in my side, and wobbly legs. I use it all to grab my daggers off the wall and face her off in what I assume is a fighting pose.

"Well are we going to stand around all day?"

"I don't want to ruin a perfectly good suit." She slips off her suit jacket and vest so that she is only left in a button up shirt and suit pants.

The only sign I get that she is ready to fight is the slight tension in her right hand that is gripping the spear, and I file the information back into my mind that she is a righty. The way she leans slightly to the left I can tell she favors her her right knee.

I don't even process her spear moving until I feel it connect with my legs and I go crashing to the ground. I don't spare a second before rolling to my left, and I feel the breeze of the spiked end, smashing into the ground right where my head had been.

She isn't holding back. Good.

I bounce up and I feel like someone else has stepped into my body. All of my dizzying thoughts disappear and a cold, calculating stranger steps into my bones. I feel like I'm made of steel. My old self must have been really serious about fighting. It both impresses and scares me.

This time when she swings the spike toward my midsection I wait just one moment before stepping to the left, and thrusting my dagger at the spear so it veers to the right. I had hit it with such force that Jem looses her grip and that's all I need.

I lean back slightly and kick at her hands with the intention of making her loose her weapon. To my surprise she drops the spear before my foot even collides with her. I realize to late what she is going to do it and I gasp just as she grabs my foot and twists. I flip around so that my foot doesn't break, and then she pushes forward so that I smash into the ground.

Jem slams her knees into my back, disarms me of my daggers and twists my arms behind my back.

Great, now I'm not only a weak human and a sucky fighter, but I will also have bruises the size of her knees on my back by tomorrow morning.

"Ok, you won. Now get off!"

She obliges and when I roll over onto my back I wince at the pain in my shoulders.

"Don't heal yourself." Jem says as she holds a hand out for me to grab. "It's better for you to remember these bruises so that you are more motivated to learn and win." When we are face to face she smiles and her light brown eyes crinkle slightly.

"You actually didn't get skewered so that's a plus, but you need to remember I don't need a weapon to take you down. You obviously thought that once I lost my spear I would be defenseless, but anyone can fight bare handed. Especially a Fallen. Your bleeding by the way."

To my embarrassment my nose is dripping blood from my overly-friendly greeting with the floor. I dab it with the tips of my fingers and try to hide the fact that I feel the soreness of each new bruise blooming on my skin at this very moment.

Today's events start to loom over me and I feel exhaustion crash into ever pour of my body as I realize today is Sunday and tomorrow I have to go to school. That's enough to make any sane teenager want to cry.

The emotions restricting my breath must show on my face because Jem grabs up our weapons, and with movements so fast they are blurred she puts them in the right position on the wall.

Grabbing hold of my elbow, not harshly but not gentle either, she pulls me into the tunnel that I came through and silently we walk through the darkness.

By the time we move the wall of the fireplace and walk through it my feet are starting to drag slightly.

"I'm supposed to call when we are finished but I don't think you'd want Nate seeing you all sweaty and messy. So go down the hall and the second door on the left is a shower. Once you don't look like a run over rat any more I will call and Lily can nurture us with her amazing cooking." That sounds so heavenly that I almost forget about school and classes that are waiting just around the corner tomorrow.

I nod at Jem as I walk past and the corners of her lips curl slightly. So I know she acknowledges my attempt to show that there are no hard feelings for the injuries I sustained while with her.

My mind wanders as I walk down the hallway and enter into the bathroom that Jem indicated.

I had never really taken the time to dwell on the fact that I have the power to heal, and in the training room with Jem I had acted out of instinct. Without thinking it was easy to just reach out and touch her. The warmth that flooded from me into her was like letting the bit of sunshine in me rush out. And I notice for the first time I'm shivering. I feel cold inside where my apparent power was residing.

Now I understand what Jem meant by telling me to stop, because I was hurting myself. I was literally draining myself of my energy.

My body racks with another shiver as I think of doing that again. Turning around I shut the bathroom door behind me and look around. It's half the size of Nate's room and it's floors are a dark shiny wood, like the rest of the house. There so much wood on the floor I'm surprised the trees surrounding the house haven't taken revenge.

The tub was so huge it reminds me of a small hot tub. A granite covered top holds two sinks and a long row of cabinets, their doors are mirrors. What they reflected back was a shorter than average teenage girl. I am skinny despite the unhealthy food I engulf daily. I have a few of the dreaded red bumps on my chin and my hair is a frizzed mess. It's waves have long since gone limp and I look paler than usual. The healing and fighting had taken more out of than when I come out of a class after a exam.

I turn slightly and look at every inch of exposed skin I can. But I don't spot one green, curled design anywhere. I was to busy with Jem to really observe my skin.

With a deep tired sigh I quickly turn the water on high and pulling the grey curtains around the tub I spy a bottle. Reaching I pick it up from the corner of the tub and I read the label, Old Spice: Fiji, body wash. I recognize the comforting smell that is Nate and realizing he will be here soon I quickly get to work on making myself presentable.

By the time I'm done getting all clean and fresh smelling a white dress hangs on the doorknob. It has thin spaghetti straps that lead to a low cut, yet modest, bodice and it flows into a lacy skirt that stops at the bottom of my knees.

Ok that's a little creepy that someone came in here while I was showering. My thoughts don't mirror my emotions though, because if they hadn't of left this for me I'd either have the option of getting back into my sweaty clothes or wearing a very short looking towel out.

Slipping it on I find it fits me almost perfectly and it's only a little tight around my chest and stomach. I also find a thin brown belt, that fits snugly around my waist, hanging on the door as well.

It looks like a dress that a country girl would wear to a town dance. I love it.

I twirl around and the lacy skirt goes in a wide arch around me. Rushing to the mirror I wipe away the mist clouding my vision. I looked healthier now. My color had returned so now my cheeks were a rosy red, and my emerald green eyes were now a startling lime.

My hair on the other hand is a crazed mess of tangles, but it's at least back to its soft state again. I rummage through some of the draws under the sink and luckily I don't have to feel like a creep for too long because a brush lies in the first draw. But it's pink and unless Nate has another side to him that I don't know about, this belongs to another woman.

A fiery ball of jealousy unfurls in my stomach and I have a sudden need to punch something. I don't even know where it's come from. I do know that Nate and I have been through a lot and the thought of a woman being with him, it makes me want to scream.

"That belongs to Pepper." The deep voice comes from behind me at the door way and very gracefully I spin, scream and chuck the brush at whoever is standing there.

Nate doesn't even flinch as his hand shoots up and grabs the brush that was aimed straight for his head. I'm a better shot then I thought.

My heart in my throat I barely manage to croak out, "What are...you doing in here?"

He smirks and I'm reminded how painfully handsome he is with his dark hair accented with lighter shades, and his matching eyes.

"I did knock twice and when you didn't reply I got a bit worried."

"Worried? What that I had fallen in the shower and needed help getting up?" My temper flares again and I take a step forward and try to focus on anything but his distracting looks.

"The water had turned off seven minutes ago so I was assuming you were out and dressed. If you didn't have any clothes on then you would have said something when I knocked." He takes those last few steps closer to me and I involuntarily suck in a breath as his natural scent swims around me. I can almost see the electricity crackling between us.

Nate traces my angry, taunt jaw line with his finger and my eyes flutter close at his gentle touch. I can't help the rush of emotions that crashes through every defense that I had been trying to hold up against him.

I feel him lean in closer until the slight scruff on his face almost brushes my cheek. This time I shiver, but it has nothing to do with being cold. He's going to kiss me. And I want him to, so bad I lean forward myself. Anything to cross the threshold keeping us separated.

But all my lips meet is air and my eyes snap open to find Nate has leaned back slightly and is looking at me with an unreadable expression. Hurt has me creasing my brow and crossing my arms over my chest.

"Oh so after you come in here all silent and creepy you no longer want to kiss me?" As soon as the words pop out of my mouth I want to reel them right back in. Where is this sudden bold side come from?

And looking into Nate's dark eyes I can tell it was a mistake. Because I no longer see any sarcasm or laughter in his black irises. All I see is a raging fire. But I can't help the angry curiosity. He doesn't just get to come and mess with my head and then change his mind at the last second.

Opening my mouth to explain this I feel a sudden movement that jerks my head forward and I find myself pinned to the wall. Nate is holding one of my arms and his other hand is placed right next to my head. I draw in a sharp breath at his close proximity and I can't find a reason to tell him to back away.

"Trust me Marie. The last thing you want a man with centuries of experience to do, is kiss you. Especially right after you have used his shower, are in his house in a short dress, and with nobody at home." Nate takes a deep breath as if to calm his screaming emotions, but his eyes hold the same amount of electricity. It seems like he notices for the first time he has me slammed against his bathroom wall because he quickly let's go and backs up a safe distance.

"Sorry about that." His muffled reply sounds half-hearted and I know that he didn't mind the fact that he had me trapped in his arms only moments before.

"It's alright I did call you out on it. I just didn't think you would attack me for it." Not that I minded.

His slow easy grin slides back into place and I really do curse how handsome this man has to be. "Well in all fairness you did try to behead me with Pepper's brush. I think we are even now. Oh and have I ever mentioned that you look cute when you are jealous."

That arrogant little..."So why are you here with me?" Alone. "Where did Jem go?"

"I told you I would take you out on a date and I figured you would need a break from all this." His arrogant smile is still wide but I notice the way he slips his hands in the front of his jeans in a self conscious way that makes me wonder if he has a spilt personality. One side that makes my knees feel like jelly and the other side that makes me think he is the most sensitive person in the world. I can't tell which side I like more.

When Nate sees my reaction to him he leans forward and brushes his thumb across my cheek bone ever so gently. I feel the same thing happen as it had only seconds before when he touched me. My eyes close on their own accord and I lean forward into his warmth.

"And don't mare that beautiful face of yours with make up. It just gets in the way of those bright green eyes I love." His lips brush against mine with every word.

When I feel a sudden burst of cool air I snap my eyes open to find nothing but empty space where Nate had just been. I sigh and rock back on my heels trying to understand my sudden boldness to express my emotions.

I feel a thrill of excitement at where he is going to take us. And a sudden disappointment also makes me understand how much I had wanted that kiss.

When I emerge from the bathroom with dry wavy hair and no make up, at the fact that I didn't have any on hand and it had nothing to do with him asking it of me, I feel a sudden flutter of nerves in my stomach.

I had never actually dated anyone before. Some guys had been interested, but I never felt much more than annoyance when they forged on with their advances.

But this six foot three mass of muscle and danger attracted me in a way that went beyond his looks. Even though those were a definite plus. My very soul practically begged me to trace that strong jaw line of his.

So when I find him lounging on his couch with one arm draped across the back rest I come to an abrupt stop and stare at his smiling face.

I feel like I'm forgetting to do something important. Like breath.

His smile widens as he rocks forward and stretches up. I marshal my facial expression so he doesn't see me openly appreciate his lean figure.

"So I was thinking that it might be nice to take out my fiancé on our first date." He says.

"You do realize that sentence made no sense right?"

"I figure it wouldn't be as bad to say that it's been our first date for a couple of decades now. That would just sound crazy." He brushes a stray hair out from over my eyes.

What are we talking about again? "Well...I did promise to show you what I was comfortable with." As the words leave my mouth I feel a deep blush over take my face.

There is no denying the electric current running between us and yet I can't seem to cross that line I was so willing to break in the bathroom. There is not much I really know about Nate. If we are going to even think of going with the serious relationship we had been in for a long time I don't want it merely based on physical attraction. I want to know Nate. I want to become his best friend. Someone who I can talk to about anything no matter the situation.

He seems to read this in my eyes because his smile becomes less like a wolf's and more like a fox's. I'm pretty sure that's an improvement.

"I think I understand." He holds out his hand and I feel relief pour into me. Slipping my small hand into his, our fingers interlace in a perfect fit. The warmth from his skin sets my heart into a pitter pattering race.

Nate smiles ever so slowly to let me know he sees the reaction I have to him. I feel angry at myself all of a sudden.

I am not going to be one of those girls who can't go a minute without melting in the presence of a hot guy.

Stepping back I tilt my head and glance at the door like I'm bored and want to leave. Now all I need to do is have him not touch me or look at me with those heartbreaker eyes and I'm all set. This is going to be an interesting date.

"Going to play the distant card? Alight, well I guess it's good I like to play." For some reason it sounds like he's talking about a lot more than an innocent game of, let's say chess.

I feel my face heat up under his heavy stare, and before I can say something to get me out of this embarrassment he chuckles, while throwing his arm around my shoulder. His scent, warmth, and touch is so familiar I almost stop right there. I want to remember everything we had ever done together, whether it was fighting or laughing. I hated this mystery that clouds my memory every time I tried my hardest to remember something from my past lives.

Of course I can remember how to throw a punch but when I want to know everything about Nate I draw a blank.

When we walk, me contently drawn to his side, outside and I see us heading for a black shiny jeep I'm a little more than surprised.

Wow I really love flying with him. I realize this as disappointment fills me at the thought of being a normal human, and driving.

Nate doesn't miss a thing. "I know we have done a lot of flying lately but most of the time it was needed. We can't exactly go flying in broad day light all the time without some idiot with a camera reporting that there are giant birds coming to eat all humanity. You have no idea what an imposition that is when I want to get some coffee before the mid morning rush." I laugh and before I can grab for the handle on the passenger side door Nate has it opened for me.

He leans against it and smirks because he knows I have to get very close to him in order to get in the Jeep. This man. Instead of showing irritation I lean even closer to him than needed and smile right back. We are a whisper away from each other and I say my words quietly. "Thanks, love. Always nice to have a gentleman around. And I was wrong before, I think I am enjoying the view."

Acting like his intense eyes aren't searing through me right now I hop into my seat and even fluff my hair just a bit. But on the inside a atomic bomb just went off and everything is shaken up. Because that act I just put on there? Yeah, I can tell I'm going to pay for it later on tonight with the way he is looking at me.

It takes us about twenty seven minutes to get into town and by then Nate has me laughing so hard about the first time we met I swear my lungs can't take it.

"So when we came down as angels for the first time I just flat out hit you in the face?" I say this with every bit of politeness I can, but really I am trying not to burst out laughing. It sounds like something I would do; hit first, talk later.

Nate smiles at the memory and rubs his chin like it still hurts. "You had a bad temper when you came down and you didn't really fancy the idea of taking orders from anyone. Especially not me."

As we enter the heart of my town the trees I'm used to are no where in sight. We are driving past a few local stores and of course like everywhere else in the world the golden arches of McDonalds can be seen in the distance.

Getting off topic I turn to Nate and raise one brow. "Look I know we are taking things slow right now but if you take me to pick out a happy meal toy I will walk to Eliza's house."

"No, I thought we could catch a movie actually. I hear there is one about a firehouse crew out." I roll my eyes at his joke but I can't fight the growing curiosity.

"Come on tell me, where are we going?"

"I think I need to remind you that you are very impatient." He replies.

"It's ok, I already know that. Now come on tell me!" I don't really have to fake the impatience in my voice. Nate just shakes his head, smiles, and stares straight ahead.

That's when we stop on the shoulder of the road and Nate turns the engine off. I realize while we had been talking Nate had driven us to almost the end of town. And by heart I know exactly where he has brought me. I can't help the the childish grin the lifts my face as I turn to him.

I see a mix of emotions I can't even begin to describe but it makes my mind go all fuzzy, and my stomach curl at the same time.

His slow smile brings a blush to my cheeks. "If you try to open that door I am going to take you up on that offer to walk home."

With those charming words he gets out of the Jeep and walks around to my door. When he opens it I slip from my seat so my sandals hit sidewalk and for whatever reason his cute gentleman acts annoys me.

"I think I can manage to open a door myself Nate." He places his hand on the small of my back and ushers me into the cutest, little family-run ice cream parlor.

"Of course you can but I doubt any other guy would be so polite as to do that for you. And besides I know how much you love to get something sweet when you have had a bad or stressful day." Nate throws me a smile as we wait behind a couple with two red headed twins.

The inside of the shop is as familiar to me as my own room. Blue and green paint fades on the wall behind large old time pictures of people eating and laughing. It's not very large so only two square tables sit along the facing walls with four plastic chairs placed around them. As usual every chair is taken.

I glance over at Nate and find him already staring at me. "So, um, where exactly are we going to eat?"

"I'm going to drive us five minutes out to were there's a hill that overlooks a large part of the forest around here." Nate replies.

I raise my eyebrow and try ignore the fact that Evil 1 and Evil 2 of the redheads are screaming their head off right next to me.

"How do you know I love to go up there?" Even though this is beyond sweet I want to know how he can possibly know all these details about me. But...is it really worth it asking? Never in my life had anyone possibly done something like this for me. No guy had ever treated me with such kindness and yet made my stomach twist in knots. So why push the questions. I need to just let things go where they may go and stop worrying.

"You know what? Never mind I don't want to know." The red headed devils got their ice cream and are currently being rushed out of the shop as they start eating the ice cream doggy style.

We get up to the bar that holds plastic cups filled with spoons and one old time looking register.

"Two scoops of Rocky Road on a sugar cone for me, and two scoops of mint chocolate chip in a cup for my girlfriend."

I smile at him, pleasure and pure happiness taking over my senses, at both the fact that he knew my favorite comfort ice cream and because he called me his girlfriend.

**Quote: "I ain't afraid to love a man. I ain't afraid to shoot him, either!" ~~Annie Oakley **