Sing a Song of Seasons *Archer*

[Matt Donovan]

The city was beginning to wake with the setting of the sun, or at least the less human element was. The shutters would soon go up on the casinos and whilst many would be hurrying back to their homes to shut their doors against the dark and the creatures that walked in it, others would be stirring and dressing in their finest, ready to embrace the night-life in the city of the undead.

Matt stirred gently in the rumpled bed as the last rays of the days sunlight played across his skin. His dark lashes fluttered and lids opened revealing eyes of a perfect bleached blue that glowed with an inner light and unearthly knowledge. His short, black, fur-soft hair stood in stark contrast to the simple white linens of the pillow and the soft line of his tall, sculpted form was broken only by the perfectly muscled arm that draped protectively around his waist.

Archer was a warm and comforting presence beside him, the sound of his slow regular breathing and the steady beating of his heart an oasis of happiness in a harsh and dangerous world. His eternal companion, so long separated from him but never so again. Resonant power hummed from the single shining, perfect feather tucked away in its pouch, safe beneath Matt's pillow, never beyond his reach, always with him... just like Archer.

He sighed contentedly as he turned slightly to gaze on the most perfect countenance in all creation. Strength and love were written into every angle and plane of Archer's beautiful face. His blonde hair as fine as silk and mussed from sleep glowed like gold in the fading light. When his eyes opened they would shine the most perfect blue ever seen in heaven or on earth. The symmetry of the intricate feather tattoo that covered his back was marred only by a single blank spot.

With the delicate touch of a healer and a lover, Matt traced around the edges of the old wound with his fingertips, knowing intimately the exquisite sensations that his touch would generate in the hypersensitive wings of the sleeping archangel. “It is time to wake, my heart.” he murmured teasingly.

Archer had done all he could for the vampire woman and her child but it had not been enough to stop her lapsing into the sleep of the dead and the casino where Archer had brought such joy and love with the sweet sound of his angelic voice had been given to another vampire, one they did not know. The effort had also drained a great deal of Archer's strength and Matt had enjoyed keeping him home and to himself whilst he had rested.

Sadly he also knew that the vampire's patronage had been an important safeguard in their avoiding the Princes of Hell, and whilst Archer wished to remain incognito in New Vegas that was something they would need to renew.

Matt continued to trace his fingers along the lines of Archer's wings, playfully teasing and seeing how long Archer could continue to pretend he was still asleep...

[Archer Michaels]

Archer was tired, very, very tired. The call for help had been received by the archangel from the vampire who did not like him. Although now he felt he had a friend for life.

The healing had been nearly impossible and took every ounce of his power. Still, in the end, his friend Angelique had entered the sleep of the dead. He knew it would be temporary, so she could heal and rest from her ordeal. The additional healing done to the child's lungs was what had taken his last ounce of strength but when its little cries had been heard and the tears had rolled down the cheeks of the 5 fathers, including the vampire King, he knew he had succeeded.

His own father would see this child as an abomination as it was not his own creation, but to Archer, it didn't matter who created it. It did not matter that it descended from the Alpha Vampire, created by the old Gods, it was a life. Its sweet little face was so angelic he could not help but love it. The fact that it had a slight glow to its eyes had made Archer fear for himself for a moment before the King had laughed that he had not escaped Angelique's lusts while she was in heat. It was explained that whilst it was impossible for him to be a father, his essence had leaked into the child, making him part of him. The king declared Archer to be among the fathers on the spot with the agreement of Thor, Kai, Stoney and the father prime, Gabriel.

He barely remembered Matt carrying him home and putting him to bed. His only memory was of waking at some time or another to pull Matt against him and tangle his arms and legs around him before succumbing to exhaustion again. How long had it been? Suddenly a finger was tracing his tattooed wings, sending a shiver through him, "Mmmm," he hummed as his body reacted to Matt's touch with an unrivaled arousal, causing him to think of things only Matt could do to him. He kept his head on the pillow and his eyes closed but he smiled sleepily, "If you keep that up, it will be awhile before we get out of this bed." he murmured softly.

[Matt Donovan]

Matt laughed gently. “Perhaps you are not yet recovered enough and I should keep you in this bed for oh... a few more days or so, just to be sure?” His pale eyes were sparkling with mischief and he could already feel how much Archer's body was reacting to his touch. He had missed this closeness for so long, he was indeed reluctant to get out of the bed himself. “Perhaps I should even let you sleep some more?” he smiled sweetly but his fingers did not echo the innocent sentiment as they continued their intimate dance over the sensitized lines of Archer's wings, “or perhaps not...” he murmured and shifted so as to place a soft kiss on his lover.

There was no part or aspect of his eternal companion that Matt did not adore. The beauty of his features and body, the heavenly melody of his voice, the gentle passions that glowed in his eyes and the deep and abiding love that filled his soul. Every part of him was glorious and he was all Matt's and Matt was his. It was the wondrous thing about angels that they were capable of such encompassing and unstinting love, and though Matt loved Archer more than anything else in all creation, still there was room in his heart for the love all of creation too. “I love you, my heart.” Matt purred to his lover, words spoken often and always with the deepest devotion. “I shall always love you.”

He pressed his body closer against Archer's recumbent form, torn now between his desire to please and pleasure he dearest love and the need to do what was necessary to protect their safety in New Vegas. He whimpered softly as his own body began to react to Archer's arousal. He should not have teased him so, he thought belatedly; always it was Archer who had the strength and control and it was Matt who was helpless in his arms. He whimpered again, kissing Archer's eyelids as a shiver ran down the length of his long lean frame and Matt realised that it was in fact himself he was tormenting...

[Archer Michaels]

As much as Archer would love to stay in bed with his beloved all day, he knew their safety in New Vegas was most important at this time. A handful of angles already knew they were there and had been sword to secrecy. How long that secret stayed secret remained to be seen. For now, he was just another angel working in a casino lounge as a performer with his dearest love at his side, safe from the wars they had no desire to return to.

He pulled Matt into his arms and held him for a moment and kissed him gently, careful not the stir the fires of desire and more than they had been stirred. It was easy for the embers of their need for each other to be stoked into a raging inferno in seconds. He broke the kiss and cupped Matt's cheeks with his hands, smiling softly at him, "I love you too. And as much as I would like to stay in bed with you all day and reclaim time that will take decades to make up for, I have our safety to consider." Matt had always been so passionate, Archer liked that. It was one of the endearing things about him.

Archer pulled the sheet off himself and rolled out of bed wearily. He was still worn out from the effort it took to keep the vampire Angelique and her child alive. So much effort had gone into saving the baby, all he managed to do was keep the woman from going into the sleep of the dead. It was her wish that he save the baby first and so he had.

Archer sat there for a moment then laughed heartily, "I have forgotten where I left my clothing!" he exclaimed. He still did not understand the concept of furniture so the dresser sat empty near the bed. Matt knew so much about living in this world, he was so glad to have him back. "Will you help me find them?" he asked coyly and stood up to face Matt who was still laid out like a Michelangelo painting atop the sheets in all his glory. Archer hissed with appreciation, "My God, you're beautiful." he murmured.

[Matt Donovan]

Archer's strong arms wrapping around him was heaven to Matt, his touch both loving and soothing. He moaned softly as Archer kissed him, pouring his growing passion into that single kiss, temporarily sating his desire to express his love for Archer in that one sweet and gentle gesture. He took a steadying breath as Archer broke away. Yes, Archer was always the strong one, Matt was so easily swayed by overwhelming emotions. He felt everything so very deeply it was hard for him to be alone; Father had not created him to ever be alone. He wondered if that was why Father told Archer and Andy that he was dead. Was he supposed to have given up in his abandonment and perished? If that was so then Father had critically underestimated the power of Matt's love for them.

Matt sighed softly as Archer cupped his face and smiled. He knew Archer was right; had it not been his own intention too when he first woke him? Matt laughed a little at himself then. He never could control his feelings around Archer, not since the very first moment he had set his newly transformed angelic eyes upon him. One only had to see them together to realise that Matt's serene exterior and placid demeanour contained a burning and unquenchable passion for his beloved. The sweet sadness that he had borne in his eyes for decades was gone now, replaced again by a bright and playful innocence as it had been in the beginning.

Matt just watched Archer roll out of the bed, admiring his classical warrior's physique. Even after eight millennia, the incredible breadth of his muscled shoulders, the tapering of his waist and the marvellous musculature of his powerful thighs fair took Matt's breath away. The weariness still evident in Archer's movements continued to concern him but when Archer began to laugh his amusement was infections and Matt laughed along with him. Sometimes he wondered how Archer had ever managed before he had found him. A great deal was owed to the vampire woman Angelique it seemed for her care of him.

It was no wonder then that Archer had considered Angelique as his good friend despite her being a vampire. There was no hatred in angels even for vampires, but they were powerful creatures and could rarely be trusted around angels because of how swiftly they came to lust after angels' blood. Angelique must have been quite special to have gained Archer as a friend and Matt hoped that one night he would get to meet her and thank her for all she had done to help his beloved. Until then, well the child could not have done better than to have Archer as his guardian angel and Matt would help him to safeguard his friend's child in any way he could.

Matt gave Archer a seductive smile from where he was lain stretched out on the bed. He knew that Archer loved to look down at him like that and Matt adored the look that came into his eyes when he did. “And you are magnificent.” he purred back, his pale eyes roaming up and down the length of Archer's tall, well-built frame, lingering over all his favourite places. With a chuckle Matt too then rolled from the bed before his passions escaped from him once again. “Much as I hate to draw a shade over your glory...” he murmured softly, still smiling. “I think perhaps it might be prudent for now if I did help you search.” The abandon with which Archer often shed his clothing had led to some interesting games of hide and seek when it came time to dress again.

Tonight however Archer needed to cultivate a vampire that neither of them knew anything about, so Matt would ensure that he looked his best, well his best with clothes on anyway... and finding suitable clothing for Archer to wear would at least distract Matt somewhat from his desire to drag Archer back into the bed. He hunted around the apartment, searching for the most flattering things for Archer to wear, though he couldn't resist repeatedly glancing back at Archer and basking in his perfect beauty. He was also pretty sure that Archer was spending more time watching his ass than he was looking for his clothes, a thought that just made him grin.

Matt eventually laid out Archer's outfit for the night on the bed. He had found something amongst Archer's scattered clothing that he had not actually seen him wear before and Matt had mischievously resolved that tonight Archer was going to learn how to fasten a bow-tie. He sat down again on the edge of the bed; if Archer had to cover himself with clothing then Matt could at least watch him as he did. It would take far less time for Matt to ready himself; his meagre clothing was in the closet.

[Archer Michaels]

The search for Archers clothing proved amusing and endearing as Matt selected and rejected several articles of clothing. Mostly it was the clothing he had gotten from the donation bin at one of the churches. The churches were no longer places of worship but rather places of refuge for those in need. The clothing Matt finally settled on were the black shirt Angelique presented him with on what she declared to be his birthday since it was the day that fell exactly one year from his fall to Earth. How he wished she could have met Matt. The two of them would have liked eachother. The black slacks were the first pair of trousers he had ever worn, also given to him by Angelique. The bow tie, on the other hand...That had been found in the poket of a pair of slacks from the church and he had no intention of wearing it. He had tried a tie once...once...it had felt like someone was choking him no matter how much he had loosened it.

Archer slowly put on his clothing while Matt watched. The way Matt looked at him always made him feel like a God. He used to feel guilt over that feeling but now, he didn't care. Essentially, he had plans to take over Gods work, once it was prudent to bring the hosts of Heaven together and take back the world.But for now, he had to do what he needed to do in order to make sure he and the other angels survived, especially Matt. He swore he would never lose him again. Once he was dressed he held up the bowtie and shook his head, "I do not wish to wear this, my heart, but you may have it." he said and handed it to Matt, "I would look better on you." he smiled and sat back on the bed. "Now, if you wouldn't mind getting dressed, you countenance is one that only I should be priveleged to see."

Archer would never know what it was that drew him to Matt like a magnet, or a moth to a flame but he would forever know that he loved him beyond any other creation on earth. He picked up a comb and began to run it through his silken locks until there was no catch or tug and his hair shined like it was touched by the sun.

[Matt Donovan]

Matt watched Archer contentedly. His every move was grace and poetry and Matt would never tire of just watching him, whatever it was he was doing. He could tell from the far away look that had come into his eyes that Archer was thinking deep and serious thoughts. The war in heaven had complicated the simple existence that the angelic hosts had led for aeons and maintaining an earthly existence was even more complicated in its own way. Whatever Archer was planning Matt would be beside him when it came to pass.

He gave a wistful sigh when his lover was finally clothed again, knowing that it was now his turn and he retrieved the soft pouch from beneath his pillow and hung it again around his neck. The treasure contained within was with him always and it hung over his heart where it belonged.

Opening the closet Matt reviewed its contents; there was very little to view. When he had first come to New Vegas he had arrived with only the clothes he had on his back. Only since he had found Archer again had he entertained the luxury of possessing more clothing than he could wear at one time. Adding to his small collection had proven tricky however given that human clothing was not easily found in the sizes required by angels, and Matt was the most extreme example of his kind.

Matt had always found that sweat pants and a granddad shirt were the easiest items for him to obtain that would accommodate his unusual build and they were more comfortable to wear given the sensitivity of an angel's wings than stiffer more formal clothing. He had never had reason before to dress-up. Tonight however it served a purpose and he would do his best.

The pants could not be helped, they were at least plain and black. He had however recently acquired a button-down shirt left as a donation at the church. It fit so well that he was sure someone must have made the donation with him quite specifically in mind and his heart went out in gratitude to his unknown benefactor. The shirt was in a sky blue and so the pouch did not show through the thinner fabric. Matt hoped Archer liked it because he didn't really have anything else he thought was suitable.

He dressed without haste enjoying Archer watching him and as he finishing buttoning up the shirt he smiled shyly at him. “Will it suffice my love?” he asked softly. Matt picked up the bow-tie Archer had declined and slipped it around his neck. “If you think this better on me then I shall wear it for you...” he giggled playfully, “...but you should tie it for me.” he added with a hint of mischief in his eyes. Matt would at the very least steal another kiss in the process.

[Archer Michaels]

Archer liked to watch Matt’s long athletic body move. The muscles were so well defined he could see even the smallest of them working in tandem with each other to cause movement in the long lanky form. Every movement was poetry in motion. An angel’s body is always in proportion to his height so it was not like an overly tall human that looked almost freakish, but a human who had been shot by an enlargement ray so that his body was still perfect in aesthetic terms. It added to their beauty and attraction.

Archer could have put music to the way Matt moved, and as he watched, he began to hear that music in his head. Even covered with clothing, Matt was still so beautiful it nearly brought tears to his eyes. He knew how difficult it was to find clothing for himself, much less find clothing that fit Matt since he was quite obviously the tallest angel and one of the only creatures in the city with that height. He had plans to call in a couple favors from vampires that would put Matt and himself in at least one set of clothing each that was actually made to fit them when they were required to dress nice.

He held the tie up in his hand and his eyes nearly crossed trying to figure it out. It was to no avail, the thing was quite beyond his expertise. He smiled as he blushed and put it down, “I’m afraid such things are beyond my knowledge, dear one.” He said softly, “but, I promise to learn how to tie one so that next time, you can wear it.” He looked to the curtainless window when he heard the sirens across the city and watched the nearest casino as the walls were lit up with spotlights and the shutters fell.

“Lockdown has ended.” He said and quickly moved to kiss Matt, “Good morning.” He snickered and grabbed his hand. It was a good thing angels were not required to wear shoes because finding a pair to fit on their feet would take a wish from a Djinn. He remembered Angelique had ordered one of her men to scour the city for a pair of shoes large enough but he had come back empty handed. There had been a promise to have some made but it had never come to fruition to Archers glee, he had no desire to put those clunky things on his feet.

“Lets go meet our new employer.” He said with confidence that his employment arrangement with his previous benefactor would still be in place. They were archangels, the best of the choirs of the hosts of heaven, and his music was very popular in the city. He tugged Matt’s and as he moved towards the door.

[Matt Donovan]

It had become game of Matt's to occasionally tease Archer with these snippets of human trivia. He loved the look of wonderment in his lover's eyes at the nonsensical inventiveness of it all. Matt giggled as Archer peered at the bow-tie as if it were some demonic minion of Hell to be vanquished with sword and Holy Fire, and indeed if it had been doubtless it would have perished simply from the intense look of concentration on Archer's divine visage. Matt giggled again and kissed the tip of Archer's nose as he finally surrendered victory to the infernal piece of cloth.

An angel had only to see a thing done once to learn it and to do it once to master it. Humanity had a saying, “practice makes perfect” but angels were made perfect. Archer however had come to earth too late to witness the heyday of the black tie affair and so it seemed had never seen this particular small skill performed. Matt had thought not and was about to take Archer's hands to guide him in the task when the sirens sounded marking the beginning of the vampire's nightly activities.

“And to you also my love.” Matt chuckled at Archer's good humour. He returned the kiss happily and gave up on the bow-tie for now. There would always be later for them, endless tomorrows now they were together, never again to be parted. For matters of importance Matt had impeccable timing but for the sake of simple punctuality he was quite hopeless. The human obsession with the precise measurement of time beyond sun-up and sundown had come long after his mortal time and for some reason he had never really adjusted to it.

Matt had no real doubts that Archer would still be wanted and coveted as a performer at the Casino, but he was less certain which of the arrangements that Archer had established with his friend Angelique would still be honoured. It was time to find out. He took Archer's hand, feeling as always the love and strength that radiated from him. “Lead the way my love, your audience awaits.” Matt purred. Though he was rapidly learning the lay of the city it was still Archer who knew the safest routes for two angels to take when the Princes of Hell were out and about.

((You want to post them arriving and tag Amelia?))

[Archer Michaels]

The casino that Archer worked in is where the club was that he sang in. While Angelique had provided him with a room, he didn't like it being locked down in the daytime, finding it difficult to get out unless he teleported to hallowed ground. Doing that was always a risk because some of the angels, especially the archangels, recognized him. While they would most likely keep his secret, he never knew if one with a hot head and fire in his heart would recognize him and spread the word that he was there. They would converge on him, demanding that he help them get back up to the war. He could do that but since he didn't believe in the fathers war, he would have to refuse. If the princes of hell found out that the general of the hosts of heaven was in New Vegas, they would stop at nothing to kill him. Archer had his own plans. He would wait for enough of the army to arrive then plant the seeds he needed to allow them to realize that they were merely pawns in a sadistic game between the father and the king of hell. They deserved more than that after millenia of faithful service. Mankind deserved more than that.

The apartment building that Archer and Matt lived in was only a stones throw away from the casino where they would meet the new owner. He knew she was expecting him and that many of the workers there had been let go due to the new atmosphere that owner was taking on in the establishment. The looks that Archer and Matt got from passers by always put a smile on his face. Two outrageously tall men, dressed nicely, walking barefoot hand in hand must have been an incredulous site for many of them. Archer knew just how to move just far enough out of the way of the vampires who were emerging from their homes so that they could not smell him. A gentle nudging of Matt here and there kept him safe as well. A vampire had to practically have their nose against them to smell their blood but some vampires knew how to recognize an angel and knew about their blood. On the occasion that one let his instincts get ahead of him, the archangel would simply conjure his great-sword. the sight of it was always enough to deter such dealings.

Archer gripped Matt's hand for the entire journey that took all of 5 minutes to make. He let go of Matt's hand to enter the place, because shoulder to shoulder they would not fit through the door. As soon as he was through the door, his hand which was now feeling empty and cold made its way back to its constant home in Matt's hand. He looked around, smiling at the new theme that the owner had chosen. He would like working here even more than he had before. It was more friendly. Suddenly he stopped. His mind filled with images and he gasped softly, "Do you feel it, my love?" he asked as his head turned in the direction the feeling was coming from.

Not far from where they stood was a glass case. Inside was what would appear as nothing more than a broken vase. He gasped again as they approached it and placed his hand on the glass. "I don't believe it. How did it survive?" he asked regarding the sacred artifact. "Lamed-Mem-Lamed-Kaf" he whispered softly as he examined the sacred artifact, "Look at the seal." he breathed softly. The raised image of a bird with a hallowed out middle where a gem had once stood adorned the broken vase that had been pieced together meticulously. "Touched by the Son...Hallowed." he said as his brow furrowed, trying to understand why he was looking at something that almost no humans would understand the significance of. "We can teleport here."

[Matt Donovan]

Matt was excited to be accompanying Archer to the casino. He wanted to be a part of everything that Archer did and feel everything he felt. That was how they had always been since the first moment in heaven. New Vegas was still a dangerous place for angels and for Michael in particular. Matt had not directly encountered one of the Princes since he had arrived. He had found Archer quickly and the two had been particularly careful since. He had sensed their presence though and the club Hades, intruding on his awareness as it did with its intense concentration of evil, was a forceful reminder of the influence the demons had gained in the city.

He was paying careful attention to Archer as they made the short trip to the casino. Matt knew how much Archer still worried about him whenever he left his sight for even a moment. He would come to grips with all the byways of the city soon enough, though it would likely take longer for Archer to shed his anxiety over him he felt. When they were together, side by side, Matt was supremely confident that they could face any danger and so squeezing Archer's hand gently Matt simply enjoyed the walk, smiling softly at those people who stopped to double take at the pair of them. He had to keep looking back at Archer himself because he was just too magnificent not to.

Archer's sudden stop was echoed by Matt who instinctively tightened his grip on Archer's hand. Slowly he nodded . “I do beloved.” he murmured, closing his eyes to better absorb the images and feelings that impinged on his less worldly senses. A small tremor of shock ran through him and he opened his eyes and let Archer lead him by the hand towards the source of the emanation. The stunned surprise was quite clear on Matt's face as he gazed at the object in the case. “It cannot have...” he murmured in a shocked tone. “ It did not survive... yet here it is. But how..? It was destroyed utterly... Father said...” Matt's voice tailed off as the magnitude of it struck him like a blow.

“Another lie.” he breathed. Another manipulative deception. He looked down at his own hands as if seeing them for the first time. “With these hands did I scribe a lie into the annals of heaven...” his voice had dropped now to a bare echo of itself. “Oh my love, if that too was a lie what is there left free from dissembling? is there left any grain of truth in heaven? To what purpose did I scribe if it was not for Truth?” It had been difficult enough for Matt to grasp that Father had lied to Archer, but to have had him scribe more lies into the annals of heaven itself, that wounded Matt to the core of his nature; a tear rolled down his cheek for the loss of that small faith.

Taking a deep breath, he placed his hand against the glass case. No, there was no doubt; it was exactly as it appeared to be. Matt returned his eyes to Archer. “Yes we can.” he said and managed a small smile for his love. Everything he thought he knew had just been brought into question but the one thing he could still rely upon absolutely was Archer. “I should like to discover how this thing came to pass... and why it is here.”

((TAG: Amelia))

[ameliagreyson]

After dismissing her blood slave Tyrban for the evening. Amelia took her time getting ready. She fussed at the clothing and fussed more over how to style her hair. It was unlike her but she would much like to make a certain gentlemen notice her. Maybe more so then he already did. With a soft laugh over her own machinations she finally settled on a long beige skirt dotted with embroidered emerald butterflies that swirled around her delicate ankles and its matching top. Since she would not be going down into the lab tonight she could wear something a little more appealing to her feminine side. Work in the lab was often messy and required suitable clothing that a lab coat could protect.

She slid her feet into a pair of cream kid boots and laced them up in a trice. Soon she was down in the office of the newly renovated casino and had taken care of the most pressing matters. A note from her secretary brought a smile to her face. The gentlemen that would be singing were due to arrive, glancing at the clock she winced. Sooner then she had realized. Ah well now was not the time to dwaddle then; Amelia mused silently to herself. At once she extricated herself from the desk chair and hurried out of the office area. Amelia took the hall that would lead directly into the main atrium of The Ivory Tower.

Amelia steps slowed as the two imposing figures of man stood looking down upon the glass case. They had found her gift. A generous smile bloomed upon her face. It was a wonderful thing then. It pleased her to make things easier for others, and this was going to make travel for these gentlemen very easy. "I do hope that it is acceptable for you both that this is here. I wished to make your travel and the accessibility of the casino easier for the both of you." Her voice rang out quietly in accordance with their relevance of the vase with the case. She had no desire to startle them but wished to announce her presences all the same.

[Archer Michaels]

Archer knew that many of the older creatures of the world knew that Angels, in human form, could teleport to hallowed ground and hallowed objects but how and where she got an artifact that had been touched by Christ himself. Tears filled his eyes and he thought about his eldest brother in hiding from the horrors of the war. He was not able to stand by and watch the children of God be left to fend for themselves, being ravaged by disasters, virus’s and terrible creatures. “This was our brother’s.” he said softly and stroked the glass, “Please keep it under special care.” He turned to face Amelia.

“We thank you for our hospitality and this gift that is more special than you can imagine.” He said with a soft smile, wiping a tear from his cheek. “I miss my brother and you have brought a part of him back into my life. I shall rejoice every time I appear before it.” He inclined his head respectfully, “Lady Greyson, I am Archer Micheals, and this is my eternal companion, Matt Donovan. We respectfully request to continue our employment in this establishment.” He offered a hand to the woman in greeting. “As angels, we should bring much pleasure to your patrons.” He looked at Matt with a grin. “We have prepared an audition.”

Archer’s voice went serious, as did his face. He did not wait as he began the song he had written for his Father who was still in heaven, overseeing his war. It was a song he had been working on for a very long time and as his voice rang out, people stopped to listen. He looked at Matt, inviting him to join in.

“Leaves are on the ground, fall has come. Blue skies turning gray like my love. I tried to carry you and make you whole, but it was never enough, I must go
And who is gonna save you when I’m gone? And who’ll watch over you when I’m gone?
You say, you care for me but hide it well. How can you love someone not yourself?
And who is gonna save you when I’m gone? And who’ll watch over you when I’m gone?” He sang.

When he stopped singing, the people who had stopped to listen, wiped tears from their eyes and began to clap. Archer looked at Amelia and waited for her response. He and Matt needed this job to protect their identities and to live as normal of a life as they could. “Did that please you, Lady Greyson?” he asked softly.