Chocolate Chip Shanshu: Six
by Poison Pen
A little after three o’clock, Connor pulled the car up in front of the small bungalow, and frowned at it. “Are you sure about this?”

“Not at all,” Angel said, grabbing his duffle bag from the back seat. “Wait until I give you the thumbs up before you take off.”

“Sure. You’ll keep in touch, right?”

“When I can, and if it’s safe.”

“I still think you’re making a mistake.”

“I know,” Angel said, taking a long last look at his son. He pulled the boy into his arms and hugged him fiercely. “I love you.”

Connor hugged him back. “I know, Dad. Take care of yourself.”

Angel let him go, and got out of the car.

The walk up to the front door was one of the longest of his life. He had no right to be taking this path, but he needed someone. An ally. He didn’t want to be human and alone.

His finger trembled as it pressed the doorbell.

Beyond the door, he heard a rush of footfalls. A dog barked, and a woman shushed it before opening the door.

She looked exactly the same. Her dark blond hair framed her creamy face, and her blue eyes lit up at the sight of him.

Those eyes widened as she realized she was seeing him standing at her door in the middle of a bright, sunny afternoon.

“Angel?” she whispered, reaching out to run her hand over his cheek. Tears welled in her eyes as she touched him.

“Hi, Nina.”

“You’re alive.”

“Yeah. Strange, huh?”

“No. Not strange. I always knew you’d . . . I prayed for it. For you.”

He turned his head in her hand, and kissed the inside of her palm.

“You came back to me. You said you would, but I didn’t believe it.”

“Where else would I go?”

Nina’s eyes grew distant for a moment. Dark. And then they cleared. She smiled, glancing at the car, which still idled by the curb, and then looked down at his bag. “Is that everything?”

Angel nodded.

“I’ll clear a spot in my closet,” she said, turning back inside the house.

Angel looked over at Connor, and gave him the thumbs up.



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