CHAPTER SEVENTEEN: THE QUESTION.

It was a total waste of human money for Emmy and I to go to the movies. We never watched the screen. We took turns staring at each other. And when we weren't doing that, we were kissing or laughing at nothing in particular. At some point in the movie, the guy tells the girl he's going to have to save the world from a nuclear reaction plant.

"We saved the world and they didn't put us in a fancy movie," Emmy whispers.

"Yeah, but it took us a year. This guy saves the world in an hour and a half," I remark.

She beams at me and I take her hand. I tell her it's time to bail out of the movie. Emmy agrees. We head out of the movie theater. Once outside we're surrounded by the bright lights of Times Square.

"I'm hungry," she announces.

"We could get anything you want, anywhere in the world."

"Hot dog from that guy," she says, pointing to the hot dog vendor a few feet away.

"That's all you want?"

"Yeah."

"You're a cheap date."

"Not so fast, First Guardian. I also want a pretzel and drink."

"That's a lot of money."

"A girl's gotta eat."

We head to the hot dog cart where my girl puts away three hot dogs, two pretzels, and soda. I look at her with total astonishment.

"What? My appet.i.te's back."

"You ate enough for four people."

She laughs and wipes her mouth. I shake my head and marvel at how easy it is to make her happy.

"So what do you want to do after our fine dining experience?" she asks.

"I was thinking we could have another experience," I say, taking her hand in mine.

I pull her close to me and press my lips against hers. It still amazes me that anyone can feel this good. Kissing her always causes my wings to flutter uncontrollably. Her eyes are closed so she doesn't notice just how much her touch affects me. It's crazy; I should be able to kiss this girl and not completely lose control.

"I was thinking we could go to Bangkok, they have a hotel there with a spectacular view. Or maybe we could go to the mountains. Or maybe-"

"Marcus. Slow down."

I laugh at the thought of Emmy

telling me to slow down.

"Sorry, look if you're not ready, you know that's fine with me. In fact it's great. I mean I don't really need to...I mean we don't have to...I mean-"

I sound like a complete idiot.

"Marcus. I want to make love to you and I want it to be tonight. I was just thinking it would be nice to be together where I spent the most time thinking about us-my room. Is that okay?"

"As long as I get to be with you, yeah."

"Can you give me a few minutes before you come over? I want to freshen up," she says.

We head down an alley, I throw out a Port and she hops onto it.

"I will see you in a half hour," she vows with quick kiss.

She disappears and I decide to walk to her place. By the time I get there she should be ready. I've played this moment over and over again in my mind. The thought of finally being with her causes my wings to go crazy, seriously.

Marcus, be cool. Just remember she's human and don't let the light from your soul overwhelm her. The first time she has s.e.x shouldn't be the last time.

I try to maintain my cool and just think of it as any other night, but it's just not working. The thought that I will finally be able to hold her and be with her for the entire night overwhelms me with antic.i.p.ation. That's when I realize I'm not walking, I'm flying.

d.a.m.n...

I don't even know when I took to the air. It doesn't matter. I told her I would give her some time to herself and that's what I'm gonna do. So I stand across the street from her building window. I have a perfect view of her bedroom window. As she gets ready, she puts on a playlist. I can hear her music floating in the air.

She's playing "Staying Alive." It's her favorite song to be silly with. The best part about it is she will eventually give into the emotion of the music and start dancing. She dances this awful 70's disco dance that should be outlawed. I remember the first time I caught her dancing to it. We had been in a huge argument and she wasn't talking to me. Miku made me go and invite her to dinner so we could learn more about her.

I walked into her apartment and found her dancing to "Staying Alive." I never told her but that was the moment I knew I loved her. When we first met, I knew I wanted her but that's different than love. Standing there watching her outdated, heartfelt moves, I knew in my soul I was in love with Emerson Hope Baxter.

Okay, that's enough time. I watched her come out of the shower with a towel on, change outfits four times, and thank the city of Detroit for attending her "concert." Finally it's time to be with the girl I love.

Thank you Omnis...

I make myself take a moment and reduce the flapping of my wings to that of a normal Angel. Then I head across the street to where "my everything" awaits me.

"Off to have s.e.x with my child, Marcus?"

Oh, you have got to be freaking kidding me!

I turn and find Julian behind me.

"What are you doing here?" I ask, working really hard not to lose my temper.

"So you're really gonna do it?"

"This isn't your business."

"Like h.e.l.l. That's my kid."

"Look, I'm not doing this with you okay? If you can't tell how much I love your daughter by now then you just don't get it."

"I know you love her."

"Then what's your problem? If Emmy didn't want us to be together tonight she would have said something. Your daughter isn't shy. She says what's on her mind."

"You think this is about the two of you having s.e.x?"

"Isn't it?"

"No, it's not."

"Fine, then. What the h.e.l.l is this about?"

"You have loved and protected Emmy every single step of the way in this mission. I respect that."

"Okay..."

"When you went to Difi and set her forest on fire, she retaliated by ripping Femi's heart out. Now Emmy and the rest of your team has killed her son."

"What's your point?"

"The Guardians go back into the Light in a few days. You will not be permitted back on earth. What happens when Lucy wants revenge and you're gone? Who do you think she'll go after?"

A chill runs through my entire body as I face the window where Emmy is now playing with Ms. Charlotte. It never once occurred to me that Lucy would go after her. How could I be so stupid? How could I have missed that?

Julian, seeing me in deep thought, puts his hand on my shoulder.

"Marcus, I was wrong before. You do love her. It's that love that's blinding you from reality. It did the same to me. But unlike me, you have a chance to save Emmy."

"I could have Angels around her 24-7."

"The Council won't allow you to use their resources like that."

"I could have her placed in some kind of a Holder."

"For the rest of her life?"

"Everyone knows we have to go back into the Light. So Emmy and I are over no matter what."

"It doesn't matter. As long as she means something to you, she's not safe."

"Julian, what do I do?"

"Emmy will always be a target because by getting to her, they can get to you."

"You want me to break up with her?"

"No, it wouldn't work. She'd never believe all of a sudden you just don't love her."

"You're right. She'd never buy it. d.a.m.n it!" I shout, smashing my foot through the headlights of the nearest parked car.

Julian is in deep thought. Suddenly, he looks up at me as if a light bulb has gone off in his head.

"Marcus, you have to make her worst fear come to life."

"Which is?"

"You and Ameana."

"What?"

"You have to get back with your ex. It's the only thing you can do to secure Emmy's future."

I can actually feel the happiness being drained from me. My getting back with Ameana would crush Emmy, but it's also the best way to convince evil that Emmy no longer means anything to me.

"Julian, I can't..."

He tells me how sorry he is that things have to be that way. I can barely make out what he's saying. My only focus now is the beautiful girl in the window waiting for me.

Julian walks off and leaves me standing in the same spot: Across the street from the only girl I love. I should have been at her door half an hour ago. It's only a matter of time before she calls me and asks why I'm late.

I think maybe I should chance it. Maybe Lucy won't come after her. In that moment, I am blissful. In that moment, I run across the street and hold her. We spend a night sharing our pa.s.sions, secrets and dreams. She runs her fingers through my wings and her touch brings with it a state of pleasure so pure, it moves the heavens.

Then I think: what if Lucy does go after her? Lucy has lost the map in other Cycles but this is the first one where the clue is a human. Julian's right; it's not in the nature of evil to forgive. There's no telling what she would do to Emmy. To make matters worse, I keep hearing Julian's voice in my head: "What happens when you're gone?"

That question is the reason why I don't run over to see her. That question is the reason why I don't pick up my cell when it rings, and the reason I'm about to cruelly push away everything I've ever wanted.

"Are you busy?" I ask awkwardly, standing in the doorway of her room. She turns and faces me.

"What is it?"

"I was wondering if we could talk."