Five years later

They had built a fine church over these years. There were vines growing up the walls on both sides of the large wooden doors, he noted. They were even blossoming right now. A woman's voice singing the praise of god drifted out from the partially open door. A voice he had never forgotten.

Kat stopped singing as she heard the sound of knocking. "Welcome!" she twirled around. "The house of god is always open!"

At the sight of the visitor she froze, her hands covering her mouth and tears gathering in her eyes. Not possible...

Vine smiled and walked up to her. "It's been a while, hasn't it?"

"You jerk..."

Eh?

She suddenly hugged him fiercely. "I was sure you'd died! Why didn't you come tell me you're still alive?!"

He returned the embrace gently. "I'm sorry. I woke only recently."

Then he pushed her a little farther, still smiling. "Look at this," he said and pulled his shirt over his head.

She quickly turned around, her cheeks burning. "What do you think you're doing...I'm a servant of god..."

"Kat." He laid a hand on her shoulder. "Just look." When she didn't move, he circled around her and slowly lifted her chin to make her look at him.

Just what was she supposed to look at? She saw shirtless men all the time in the village, but none of them could make her feel like Vine did. Demon's temptation or not, five years ago she would have willingly given up her faith, willingly accepted damnation, just to stay with him.

Gingerly she reached out to touch Vine's chest where his heart was. The skin was unblemished. "The mark..." Questioning eyes turned to meet the former angel's. "Does this mean...that you've been forgiven?"

Vine scratched his head. "I don't know. My hair and wings are still black." He pulled her closer. "Maybe I'm on probation period or something? I don't really care. I'm just happy to see you again."

Kat smiled. "And you said god doesn't care."

Vine gave her an impish grin. "I'm still not convinced, not until he personally comes down here and tells me what kind of test this is."

"Vine!"

Both turned to look at the boy dashing to them.

"Shaye." Vine patted his head. "I see you've grown. And you've regained your ability to speak."

"Where did you go?! You made mother worry over nothing!"

Vine looked at Kat from the corner of his eye. "Mother?"

"He was all alone in the world. How could have I abandoned him?"

"I see." He knelt to be closer to the child's level. "I'm sorry about that. But what's important is that I'm here now, isn't it?"

It might be only a little while in the eternal life of an angel, but just maybe he could stay a few years. At least until humans once again became suspicious of his unchanging appearance.