Date: Mon, 3 Sep 2001 09:38:22 EDT
From: DEANECHRIS@aol.com
Subject: Bless Me Father 9 - Nuptials (TG - Magic/Scifi)

BLESS ME FATHER 9 - NUPTIALS

by Deane Christopher

Edited by Steve Zink


	To say that Karen was mad would have been the grossest of
understatements.  The former Catholic priest felt that two of the people
that she cared for deeply had egregiously betrayed her trust.  Both had
duped her through a simple act of omission.  Both had neglected to inform
her of what Karen believed to be a very pertinent detail.  Both had
neglected to make mention of the fact that they were angels, and that she
and her newborn, Danielle, were their present assignment here on Earth.

	Infuriating Karen even more was the fact that those two friends of
hers were not just angels, they were from the upper echelon of the Heavenly
Host in that they were both notable archangels.  Fact is, they were two of
the most celebrated of all the archangels.  Though one was operating under
the earthly guise of a quirky nineteen-year-old female, Karen had come face
to face with the extremely intimidating revelation that her two friends
were none other than the Archangels Gabriel and Michael.

	Muddying the waters even more was the disquieting fact that the
former Catholic priest had come to realize that she was well on the way to
falling in love with the Earthly guise of the Archangel Michael.  Worse,
Mickey De Angelo, the name the Archangel Michael had assumed, had all but
acknowledged the fact that he was already hopelessly in love with her.


+


	Arriving in the basement in the wee hours of that Sunday morning,
Karen harshly snapped, "Gabriella!  We need to talk!  And, we need to talk
now!"

	Raising her head slightly off her pillow, Gabriella groggily
stammered, "Now?  Can't it please wait till the morning?"

	Shifting Danielle in her arms, a miffed Karen returned sharply,
"No, it can't!"

	"What time is it, anyway?" a slightly disoriented Gabriella
murmured.

	"It's a little after two."

	"Oh... so I guess I'm to take it that you're done with your snit,
and you've decided to start talking to me again?"

	"Gabriella!" Karen sternly admonished.  "Don't be a smartass!"

	"All right, already!  Let me go to the bathroom first, and then
we'll talk.  Okay?!"

	"All right, but please make it snappy!  I've got a lot on my
mind..."


+


	"First off," Karen began as she nonchalantly raised Danielle to her
left breast, "why in Heaven's name didn't you tell me you were an angel?"

	"Because, you didn't need an angel when you and I first met.  You
needed a friend.  And, I was more than happy to be that friend."

	"All right!  Fair enough... so, I guess my next question is, were
you ever going to tell me?"

	"Honestly, Karen, I can't answer that question because, I'm not
really sure...

	"I guess if a situation ever came up where I thought you had a need
to know, I wouldn't have hesitated telling you.  Apparently, Mickey thought
you needed to know the truth of the matter.  Otherwise, I don't think he
would have volunteered the information.

	"Let me guess!" Gabriella continued.  "The two of you were having a
heart to heart conversation in which you told him about your past.  That's
to say that you told him about how you had once been a man yourself.  And
then, knowing him the way I do, Mickey reciprocated by telling you that he
was something other than he appeared to be.  Correct?"

	"Yes.  That's pretty much how it was."

	"Well, then it all makes sense.  Mickey always did favor the
straightforward approach...

	"Karen!  You do know that he loves you, don't you?"

	"That's what he told me."

	"Well, if Mickey told you that, then it goes without saying that he
does.  You see, our Mickey the Militant may be a lot of things, but he's
definitely not a liar.

	"In other words, Karen, if Mickey said that he loves you, mark my
words, girl!  He does!"

	"But, can he?  Can an angel actually love a human being the way he
said he does?"

	"Yes, Karen. We can.  And, we can do that because, as it stands
now, Mickey and I are as human as you are, much the same way Jesus was both
God and man all wrapped up in one nice and neat little package.

	"However, though it was always possible for an angel to fall in
love with a mortal, I've got to tell you, it's never actually happened
before.  That means, you and Mickey are breaking new ground."

	"Oh!" Karen sarcastically countered.  "I can't tell you how happy
that makes me feel to hear you say that, Gabriella!

	"So, tell me.  What's your Boss going to make of all of this?  I
mean, am I going to my eternal damnation because one of His angels has
developed the hots for me?"

	"Heaven's no, Karen!  How can you even think such a thing?  Look,
if Mickey loves you and you love him, it's only because The Lord has
allowed it to happened..."

	A few minutes later, Gabriella yawned and then asked the obvious,
if not quintessential question, "You do love him, don't you, Karen?"

	"Yes, Gabriella.  Though I'm still suffering from a bad case of
shell-shock stemming from all this angel business, I really think I do...

	"But, I'm not all that sure what I should do now."

	"Are you open to suggestions?"

	"Sure... why not?"

	"You ought to call him and just lay it all out for him."

	"Okay..." Karen replied thoughtfully.  "I think I'll do that.  I
think I'll call him later today and tell him that the two of us really need
to talk."

	"No!" Gabriella was emphatic.  "I mean that you should call him
'NOW'!

	"That's to say that you should finish breast feeding that baby of
yours first.  Then, right after you put Danielle to bed, you should march
yourself back down to the living room and give Mickey a call and tell him
exactly how you feel about him."

	"You're not seriously suggesting I do that tonight?"

	"Oh, yes I am!"

	"But, I'll wake him up," Karen incredulously countered.

	"So?  I mean, you didn't think twice about waking me up, now did
you?"


+


	Karen took Gabriella's advice to heart.  After returning Danielle
to her crib, she went back downstairs to the living room and, picking up
the phone, punched in Mickey's number.

	"Here's the deal, Michael!" Karen began curtly.  "You want to date?
Okay!  We'll date!  And, you can start off by taking Danielle and I to Mass
this morning..."


+


	While Karen was never completely comfortable with the notion that
her beau was the angel-general of God's Heavenly Host, the former Catholic
priest soon realized that she did indeed love him.

	While tidying up around the kitchen one weekday morning about three
weeks later, Jean Miller sought to assuage her curiosity by asking her
daughter a couple of questions.

	"So, tell me, dear.  How's this thing going with you and Mickey?
Excuse me.  I'm sorry, Karen.  I keep forget that you prefer Michael over
Mickey."

	"That's okay, Mom.  No apologies necessary.  If you still want to
call him Mickey, that's perfectly fine with me...

	"But, getting back to your question, Mom, I'd have to say that
things are going pretty good."

	"You really like him, don't you, dear?"

	"Yes, Mom.  I do.  I like him a lot."

	"Well," Jean Miller was quick to offer her opinion, "there's no
getting around the fact that he likes you...

	"So, dear, do you think he's going to ask you to marry him?"

	"I think that's pretty much a given, Mom.  The only question is
exactly when he'll get around to doing it..." Karen replied dreamily.


+


	Two days later, with ring in hand, Michael popped the question.
Giddily, Karen, feeling every bit the young woman that she had become,
accepted.  Whereupon hearing the news, Jean Miller and Gabriella stepped in
and, without so much as a by your leave from Karen, began planning the
former Catholic priest's wedding for her.


+


	Six weeks later, Karen, radiant in an understated, yet ever so
elegant pearl white satin wedding gown, was escorted down the central aisle
of St. Catherine's Catholic Church on the arm of Gus Miller, her former
friend and the man she had come to lovingly accept as her father.  As
father and daughter proudly passed out of the vestibule and began to make
their stately way down the aisle, Karen hazarded a glanced over at the
ornate oaken confessional were she - as Father Daniel Parker - had granted
the former Karen Miller absolution for her sins.

	For Karen, the poignant, to be almost palpable irony of the moment
came close to overwhelming her.  Back in the days when Karen had been the
male Father Daniel Patrick Parker, he had served for many years as the
pastor of St. Catherine's.  As pastor, he had officiated over the exchange
of vows that lay at the heart of the Sacrament of Matrimony on more
occasions than she could recall.  And now, she was about to stand before a
priest like she had once been and pledge her troth before God and man.

	As giddily happy as she was, Karen was also keenly aware of the
singular honor that she was being accorded.  Not only was she marrying one
of God's foremost archangels, but standing up for her and Michael De Angelo
were two other archangels.  Gabriella had not only readily agreed, but had
pretty much insisted on servicing as her Maid of Honor.  And in like
fashion, the Archangel Raphael, in his earthly persona as Ralph
Christenson, was standing as Michael's Best Man.

	Then, to make the day even more of a special occasion than it
already was, once the wedding Mass was over and Karen and Michael were man
and wife, the whole wedding party reassembled in the Baptismal niche
located just off St. Catherine's vestibule.  Though she had taken it upon
herself to baptize her newborn shortly after giving birth to her, Karen
thought it appropriate to incorporate Danielle's formal baptism as an
addendum to her own wedding ceremony.  And, it should be noted that no baby
ever had a pair of Godparents that were more capable of fulfilling their
duties than little Danielle's.  Ralph, Michael's Best Man and Gabriella,
Karen's Maid of Honor had graciously accepted the honor and obligations of
becoming Danielle's Godparents.

	The reception was held at the local Knights of Columbus Hall.  By
Karen's request, it was a simple affair, catered as it was by covered
dishes provided through the goodwill of friends and family.  But, though
the reception was kept as casual as possible, a good time was had by all
those in attendance.

	Two factors determined the length of Karen and Michael's honeymoon.
The first was purely economic.  The second was Danielle.

	While she fully trusted her mother and father to look after
Danielle, Karen was in no way comfortable with the notion of leaving her
daughter for more than a couple of days.  So, after a lot of discussion
with all the parties involved, Karen and Mickey elected to take a short,
three day honeymoon.


+


	"Oh..." Karen weakly managed.  "That was fantastic!  Or, I guess I
really should of said that you were fantastic!"

	With a muted chuckle, Michael replied, "Well, as much as I like
hearing you say that, why don't we just say that we were fantastic and
leave it at that...

	"So, tell me.  How's it feel not being a virgin anymore?"

	Snuggling up against that new husband of hers, Karen dreamily
offered, "It feels wonderful...

	"Trouble is, it'll probably just grow back."  Karen was clearly
referring to that persnickety reccurring hymen of hers.

	"Oh, no it won't.  I have it on good authority that this time that
cherry of yours is going to stay popped."

	"Oh!  You do, do you?"

	"Yes, my love.  I most certainly do.  But, just to be on the safe
side, I guess it falls to me as your husband to keep that new little
you-know-what of yours reamed out good and proper."

	"Yeah... I guess it does, at that..."


+


	The next morning, as Karen and that new husband of hers were having
breakfast in their hotel's restaurant, Michael grew serious and said,
"Karen, there's something I really think you ought to know about Danielle's
genetic makeup."

	"Michael!"  Karen wasn't sure she wanted to hear the answer to the
question she was asking.  "Are you trying to tell me that you're really
Danielle's father?"

	"No!  Not by any stretch of the imagination!  Truth be told, last
night was a first for me as it was for you!"

	"Okay..." Karen continued uneasily.  "So, if you're not Danielle's
father, I take it that you know who is."

	"Yes, Karen.  I do."

	"So, are you going to just leave me hanging in suspense here, or
are you going tell me who my baby's father is?"

	"Oh, I have every intention of telling you.  I mean, why else would
I have brought the subject up to begin with if I wasn't planning on telling
you?"

	"Okay.  So, tell me already!"

	"Well, as strange as this is going to sound, Karen, genetically
speaking, you're Danielle's father as well as her mother.

	"That's to say that when God caused your sexual reassignment, He
did a little finagling so to arrange for Danielle's DNA to reflect both
your present DNA and your previous DNA.

	"In other words, were you to exhume Father Dan Patrick Parker's
body and run a DNA test on a sample of his remains, the results would
clearly show that he is unquestionably Danielle's father."

	"That's incredible!"

	"Yes.  Yes, it is.  But, as incredible as it is, it's nonetheless
the truth..."


+


	Two weeks after the wedding, Gabriella paid Karen a visit on her
way home from work.

	"So, what did your hubby think of that rather unusual wedding
present you got him?"

	"You mean that?" Karen bobbed her head in the general direction of
the massive broadsword that hung prominently on one of the walls of the
DeAngelo's apartment.  "Well, after he got finished laughing his ass off,
he informed me that he really liked it a lot..."

	Several minutes later, Gabriella changed the subject as she
cheerfully inquired of Karen, "So tell me, kiddo.  How's it feel being an
old married woman?"

	"It feels wonderful, Gabriella.  Absolutely wonderful.

	"I can't believe I'm actually saying this, but I've got to say that
I've never been happier in all my life.

	"I mean, as much as I liked being a priest, I love being a wife and
a mother so much more.

	"I mean, it's so much more rewarding, it isn't funny."

	"So, I take it that Michael's turning out to be a pretty fair
husband."

	"Oh, yeah!  Frankly, I don't think there's ever been a better
husband than Michael."

	"Maybe not..." Gabriella had to agree.  "But, I'd be willing to bet
that if you had gotten married and had children instead of entering the
priesthood like you did, you could have given that new husband of yours a
real run for his money."

	"You really think so?"

	"Yes, Karen.  I do."

	"Well, it's nice to hear you say something like that, Gabriella.
But, you know as well as I do, Michael has a distinct advantage."

	"True... but, nevertheless, I have no doubt that you would have not
only been a good husband, but a really great father as well..."

	A few minutes later, Karen changed the tact as she said, "You know
something, Gabriella?  You would make a pretty good mother yourself.

	"Fact is, now that I think about it, you really ought ask The Big
Guy to give you a dispensation so that you could go out and find yourself a
man of your own."

	"Funny you should say that, kiddo.  Because, it appears like I
already have."

	"Really?"

	"Yes!  Really!"

	"Who?  Do I know him?"

	"Oh, yeah... you know him, all right."

	"It's Ralph, isn't it?  You're in love with Ralph!" Karen, unable
to contain herself, gleefully exclaimed.

	"Yes.  You're right.  It's Ralph, all right."

	"Wow!  That's great!  You and Ralph!  And, I assume that Ralph
loves you as much as you love him?"

	"Yes... that would seem to be the case..."

	Karen sarcastically continued on to add, "Well, if that isn't a
match made in Heaven then, I don't know what is!"

	"Tell me about it," a clearly disgruntled Gabriella returned in
disgust.

	"Hey!  What gives?  What's wrong with your being in love?"

	"Nothing!  Everything!  Oh, I don't know...  It's so confusing..."

	"That settles it.  You're in love, all right.

	"So tell me, Gabriella.  Just how and when did all this happen..."


+


	Gabriella did just that.  She told Karen how it had all started
innocently enough at the wedding reception when she, as the Maid of Honor
had danced with the Best Man.

	"I don't know what happened, Karen," Gabriella excitedly gushed.
"But, when Ralph took me in his arms, something extraordinary occurred.  I
guess you could say that I began to see him in a different light.

	"As well you know, the two of us have known one another for
uncountable eons.  But, though we have, I've got to tell you, kiddo, he has
never had that kind of effect on me before.  Nor, I should point out, have
I on him.

	"That's to say that we've always had a very healthy platonic
relationship prior to that wedding reception of yours."

	"But," Karen sought clarification, "I take it that that's all
changed now."

	"Yeah... you could say that..."

	"Let me ask you a question."

	"Sure... shoot..."

	"Is this the first time the two of you have functioned as human
beings?"

	"No.  We've both taken on human form on numerous occasions in the
past."

	"All right, then... let me ask you this, how many times have you
operated as a human female?"

	"Well, though I have upon rare occasions occupied the body of a
woman, it's not something that I've been called upon to do a whole lot."

	"Okay," Karen said as she endeavored to quantify Gabriella's
statement in her own mind.  "So, what you're saying is, functioning as a
woman is not something that comes naturally to you."

	"No.  It sure isn't.  Truth is, Karen, I really have to work at
it."

	"Well, if you do, it sure doesn't show...

	"All right.  Let me ask you another question.  On those occasions
in the past where you had to function as a human female, did you have a lot
of interaction with Raphel, when Raphel was functioning as a man?"

	"No.  Come to think of it, I don't think I've ever had cause to
interact with him a whole lot on those rare occasions when I was instructed
to assume a woman's persona to carry out an assignment."

	"Well, there you have it!" Karen beamed.

	"Have what?" a thoroughly perplexed Gabriella found herself forced
to ask.

	"Your answer, of course," Karen cryptically teased.

	"What answer?  What in world all you talking about, girl?"

	"I'm talking about Ecclesiastes."

	"Ecclesiastes!" a completely bamboozled Gabriella exclaimed.  "What
in the world does Ecclesiastes have to do anything?!"

	"Think about it," Karen charged.

	"Oh... I see where you're going with this.  There's a time for this
and a time for that.  Right?"

	"Yeah... there most certainly is.  And, to my way of thinking,
these feelings that you and Ralph have for one another are nothing more
than God's way of informing the two of you that this is a time for love."

	"Do you really think so?"

	"Oh, yeah!  I most certainly do.  Given all that you've told me, I
think that this is God's way of rewarding the two of you for everything
you've done for Him.

	"Besides, wouldn't it be easier for the two of you to keep an eye
out for me and Danielle were the two of you married?"

	Gabriella, unable to find fault with Karen's logic, found herself
forced to agree.  "Yes, I guess it would be, at that..."


+


	Three months later, in a ceremony that was pretty much a carbon
copy of Michael and Karen's, Ralph and Gabriella became man and wife.  Gus
Miller, extremely flattered for having been asked, walked that 'adopted'
daughter of his down the aisle of St. Catherine's.  Likewise, Jean Miller
thoroughly enjoyed functioning in the role of the bride's mother.  Karen,
on Gabriella's insistence, was the Matron of Honor, while that new husband
of hers stood as Ralph's Best Man.


+ Postscript +


	"Oh, my!  Isn't she precious?" an elderly, mid-eastern lady
cheerfully beamed as she deftly maneuvered her cart into the checkout line
behind Karen's.  "You must be very proud of her."

	"Yes... yes, I am..." an extremely flattered Karen returned with a
smile that bordered on beatific.

	"And, well you should be, dear.  She's absolutely beautiful.

	"Truth is, she reminds me a lot of my baby."

	"Oh, so you had a little girl, too?"

	"No.  I had a little boy.  But, there's an inner something about
your little Danielle that reminds me of my son."

	Taken aback, a clearly startled and astonished Karen gasped and
began to weakly stammer, "How?  How in the world did you know that my
baby's name is Danielle?"

	"Because, dear, I know a lot of things.  And, I know that your
little Danielle is destined to do great things.  And, I can assure you,
dear, you will be very proud of her achievements.  As I was of my son's,
and as I will be of hers."

	"Are you are who I think you are?" a shaken Karen questioned.

	"I guess that all depends on who you think I am," the elderly woman
chuckled as she kindly replied.  "But, I'd like to be your friend, Karen.
And, if you will allow me to, I'd like to part of Danielle's life as well.

	"Tell you what.  After we're finished here, how about we go next
door and have a cup of coffee and a doughnut together.  My treat.

	"Oh!  And, I guess I really should introduce myself.  My name is
Maria Lords.  But, if you can find it in your heart to do so, I'd like you
to just call me Aunt Mary..."

+ The End +